Iloilo airport security and safety

“The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I’d rather fly.”

—Len Morgan

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

EVEN if airplane passenger Roland Lañojan, 54, a resident of Tayong Sagay, Camiguin Province has survived and was reportedly in stable condition at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) after being shot in the shoulder by police at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo on the afternoon of January 28, the incident will definitely put a dent on the image of the airport.

We can’t blame some flight passengers to worry for their safety when they travel because of what happened.

The shooting occurred after Lañojan reportedly refused security inspection and airport authorities found he was carrying a bladed weapon, according to the initial investigation by the Office of Transportation Security (OTS).

The incident reportedly sent passengers scampering in different directions. It’s good no one was hit by a stray bullet or injured in the scuffle.

No city can afford to compromise the safety of passengers in the airports or any crowded public place where people depart and arrive from different destinations and origins.

Airports, in particular, must be safe places because they are critical infrastructure handling high-density crowds and serving as major, often targeted, transportation hubs.

Ensuring safety in the airports protects against terrorism, smuggling, and violent acts while preventing accidents, managing risks to passengers, and securing valuable, restricted areas.

 

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The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) made the right move to continue conducting an investigation and giving assurances that due process and accountability would be observed even if there was no casualty in the incident.

It has been a top priority when it comes to public safety and security for airports to prevent threats, such as terrorism and crime, in densely populated terminals including those located outside Metro Manila like Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Silay.

They protect travelers from harm and secure restricted zones like runways and maintenance areas. Tight security also prevents the transport of illegal substances and smuggling.

Risk Management & Operational Efficiency:

Stringent security measures must be given emphasis in the risk management and operational efficincy, including AI-powered video surveillance and physical barriers, protect passengers, staff, and assets while ensuring smooth operations.

This explains why in the Aviation Safety Standards, Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) are critical for preventing accidents during takeoffs and landings.

As major travel hubs, airports rely on public trust; proper security, including trained personnel, ensures confidence for passengers.

 

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HEAL OURSELVES WITH TEA TREE. Tea tree oil is a great alternative to chemical healing ointments and balms. A natural antiseptic, it's great in emergencies for cuts and grazes as well as for cleaning up after animals (for children) who have not been housetrained.

LET'S GET OUTSIDE. Instead of heading for the bright lights of the gym next time we work out, let's take a step into the fresh air. Running, walking, and working out outdoors have little effect on the environment.

GET SOME FRESH AIR. Let us spend time in nature. Taking a walk, having a picnic, or simply sitting outside and watching the sky deepens our connection to the natural world, motivating us to be better stewards of the earth. I do this each time I visit Boracay Island in the Philippines and in my two other favorite places: Nagoya, Japan and Denver, Colorado.

CHEW IT UP. Let's choose mastic-based gum for our chewing habit--normal gum takes years to biodegrade and can cause problems for wildlife because of its stickiness. Mastic gum is made from the resin of the Aegean mastic tree and is 100 percent natural. It is available in gum and capsule form from health food stores.

A WEIGHTY MATTER. Ten treadmills in the average gym use the same amount of electricity in a day that it would take to run our hairdryer non-stop for a year. Let' stick to weights and non-electric machines like spinning bikes.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

Once a year life is like this

“It'll work, if God, wind, leads, ice, snow, and all the hells of this damned frozen land are willing.”

—Matthew Henson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ALTHOUGH “we were caught prepared” (not “unprepared” as we usually hear in normal conversations) when a monster snowstorm slammed the East Coast early morning January 26 (when the 2026 Dinagyang Festival fever was still at fever-pitched in Iloilo City) bringing as high as 17 inches of snow in the neighborhood, we didn’t expect to be “defeated” by the abnormal weather condition.

“Defeated” means the storm did not only interrupt our normal lives like work schedules and appointments, among other regular activities and tasks, it also endangered our lives.

In fact, eight New Yorkers were reported killed mostly in Queens amid below freezing temperatures.

The amount of snow that fell from the sky was scary as it immobilized the boroughs and paralyzed a city “that never sleeps,” stranding commuters, cancelling flights, and closing airports, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services.

The weight of snow caused roofs to collapse and knocked down trees and power lines.

Thank God this kind of life in America happens only once a year.

 

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Major parts of the East Coast were still freezing literally, two days after the brutal winter storm or as of this writing.

In fact, as cleanup continued across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, forecasters were already tracking another potential winter storm for the weekend.

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center says confidence has increased that parts of the immediate East Coast could see impactful snow and wind, though the exact placement of the heaviest impacts is still being refined.

If the storm tracks close enough to the coast, it could also produce strong, gusty winds, especially along coastal areas.

If we thought the worst part of the winter was digging out from a foot of snow, New York has some bad news for us, warned Laura Ratliff of Timeout, who emphasized that the storm may be gone, but a prolonged stretch of dangerous cold is settling in—and it’s going to linger.

“Forecasters say we’re about to enter one of the coldest periods of the season, with wind chills dropping as low as -20 degrees in the mornings and daytime temperatures struggling to climb out of the teens,” Ratliff reported.

The National Weather Service has issued Cold Weather Advisories for parts of the Tri-State area, warning that frostbite and hypothermia can set in quickly with prolonged exposure.

 

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When Meta (formerly Facebook) was launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, along with fellow Harvard College students Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Eduardo Saverin, we were told its mission was to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together; to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.

Today, many users have been traumatized and terrorized mentally and emotionally months or years after maintaining a “friendship” with strangers who only bilked them with cash and kind, played with their emotions by offering fake love, sexually harassed and even assaulted them, destroyed their reputations, envied their gains, success and titles, spied on them, and gossiped about them.

All of a sudden people we knew only for the first time in the social media were saying bizarre stories about us.

Let’s beware of wolves masquerading as social media “friends.” No matter how difficult it is to deal with them, let’s continue to promote and embrace love in whatever means with no ifs and buts.

This is the only way to maintain a peace of mind while we are part of the social media.

 

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LET'S GO NONTOXIC. Let's request a nontoxic environment in our child's school. Cleaning products, lawn care, teaching supplies and paint can all be switched for more environmentally friendly versions.

LET'S THROW THE LICE. Head lice are becoming resistant to chemical shampoos designed to kill them. In addition, if we use them we're flushing insecticides down our drain. Let's make a conditioning rinse with our usual conditioner, vinegar, and tea tree oil, then comb through thoroughly once a week until the lice are gone.

HAND WASH HEROES. It has been estimated that four percent of domestic waste consists of used disposable diapers. One of the best choices we can make to reduce landfill and help the environment is to use washable diapers instead.

LET'S GET ARTY. Let's encourage our children's school to recycle paper they use in the art room. For every ton of paper we reuse, 17 trees are spared.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

Iloilo City becomes world class

"It's not what you look that matters. It's what you see."

 —Henry David Thoreau

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

NOTHING can beat the Ilonggos when it comes to unity, panache, radiance, splendor, preparations and hosting of gigantic events like the exciting Dinagyang Festival.

Thus, we take exception when some media networks in Imperial Manila sometimes inadvertently zero in only on Cebu’s Sinulog and Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan festivals and “skip” or “ignore” Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival when making a feature story or special report about the cultural and religious events related to the feast of Señor Santo Niño (Child Jesus).

With its storied past and magnificent cultural and ati dance presentations, Dinagyang Festival holds a special place in the hearts of devotees even from other regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities in the entire archipelago.

Since 1967 when it first roared off the streets in Iloilo City, Dinagyang Festival has improved by leaps and bounds over the years and is now known worldwide—in the USA, Australia, Japan, Korea, UK, many parts of Europe—because of the word of the mouth, media technology, excellent teamwork and organization by local leaders, and positive remarks from visiting foreigners.

The choreography in the ati competitions, for instance, is now at par—if not better—with the mardi gras even in New Orleans (USA), Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), Binche (Belgium), Venice (Italy), Cologne (Germany), and the Polynesian festivals.

 

 

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We witnessed how the Americans were amazed when Dinagyang Festival ati warriors from Tribu Pan-ay and Tribu Panayanon gyrated and pirouetted in New York City during the Philippine Independence Day Parade in June 2011, 2013, 2018.

When it became known as the "Queen of All Philippine Festivals" after the world Dinagyang (from Hiligaynon word “dagyang” which means merrymaking) was coined in 1977, the festival in the City of Love has been highly touted, lauded, and awarded for its vibrant, organized, and culturally rich street dancing.

Ilonggos have shown the world they lived in a great city with a great festival and a great hospitality.

The successful stagings of past and modern Dinagyang Festivals said it all.

In the 2023 edition, Ilonggos were able to solidly exorcise the stigma of the pandemic that pulled the festival away from the streets for a while, and handled the spectacle with a reinvigorated energy, confidence and pride.  

 

 

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It is expected to translate into triple whammies—a boom in investment opportunities, a Renaissance in local tourism, and a bright prospect for peace and order.

Vatican, as well as the Roman Catholic hierarchy, would be fascinated by how the Ilonggos venerated the Child Jesus, Señor Santo Niño: wholistic and unalloyed.

Hospitality is what the Ilonggos are known for; and it has been manifested in the way they welcomed, hosted, and entertained guests from other parts of the country and outside the Philippines.

Visitors witnessed the amazing display of indigenous talents and materials in the two-day Kasadyahan and ati tribe competitions and in the awesome exhibition of cultural and religious presentations days earlier, including the iconic and the much-revered fluvial and foot processions that featured the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fiber boats, dragon boats, jet skis, yachts, barges, and bancas.

The PCG’s 3503 MV Romblon has always been leading the fluvial parade from Fort San Pedro and passing through the Guimaras strait towards the Iloilo River.

Kudos to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), Iloilo City Government, the Iloilo Provincial Government, the regional, provincial and city tourism offices, Philippine National Police Police Regional Office 6.

 

 

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We are not alone. There are billions of galaxies, according to Carl Sagan. 

Thanks to Albert Einstein who broadened the Law of Mechanics initiated by Galileo and Isaac Newton with his Theory of Relativity. 

Truly, scientific achievement in the 20th century has become the major yardstick with which to measure a nation's cultural advancement.

It is estimated that the Earth is 98 billion years old. 

Dinosaurs lived on earth for about 100 million years before they were annihilated by a cometary impact, among other theories. 

We humans starting from homo sapiens have not even inhabited the Earth for one million years but many of us already think we are already the most knowledgeable creatures in the universe.

 

 

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One manifestation of possible life in a certain planet is the presence of micro-organisms. 

Scientists have reportedly found a micro-organism in planet Mars. 

Was Mars inhabited by living creatures millions if not billions of years ago? 

How about in Jupiter, Saturn, among other planets in and outside the Solar System not yet explored by human beings from planet Earth?

Those who condemn the person who rejects an organized religion should study Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"

The evolution of human thought is among homo sapien's best contributions to civilization.

 

 

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Ayn Rand, author of "Atlas Shrugged", was reportedly a cougar like Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of Europe's most powerful women, Elizabeth I, Catherine II, and Mae West.

"Who are you?" was the first question Sophie Amundsen got from an anonymous letter sender in the New York Times bestseller "Sophies's World", a novel about the history of philosophy, written by Jostein Gaarder, author of "The Solitaire Mystery"

 

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Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.

 (The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)