When the Jetstar plane I took from Singapore touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport about 10 in the morning yesterday, I realized I haven’t filled up the Immigration and Customs Declaration forms that are usually distributed on the plane. I asked fellow passengers if the flight stewardess had distributed the forms while many of us were asleep and they replied, “None.”
When we got to the area before the Immigration Counter, we were told the forms were on the stands on both side of the room occupied by passengers dutifully filling up the form.
We asked for the Customs Declaration forms that usually go with the Immigration Forms. The lady in the Assistance Counter told us to get them at the Customs area.
While we were retrieving our luggage from the carousel, a guy was going around distributing the Customs Declaration form. We asked him why they were not placed in the Immigration Counter so we could have filled them up when we were accomplishing the Immigration forms.
The Customs guy said, “I don’t know. I was just told to distribute this to you here.”
Thank you.
We surrendered the accomplished from to the Customs officer. In my case, I passed through the “Nothing to Declare” counter. I asked the Customs officer collecting the accomplished Declaration forms, why were the documents not distributed in the plane and he said it was Jetstar’s responsibility.
So, okay, Jetstar failed to do that. But why was it not distributed together with the Immigration Card so we could have accomplished them together, which would have facilitated our exit. And why are these forms so scarce. In other airports, you see these forms aplenty at the counter. The officer said, “I don’t know.”
Just a minor, simple matter and we can’t do it right.
I’m not sure if this inefficiency can fall under what economic experts call non-tariff barriers. But I know this is the kind of situation that explains why visitors do not come out of our airports impressed. If you replicate that kind of situation in other offices, conducting business in the Philippines becomes a stressful experience.
The workshop I attended in Singapore was about Asean 2015, when the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, would be integrated as a single market, an Economic Community, something like, but not exactly like the European Union.
Part of Asean’s vision, when it was founded in 1967, was “to establish a firm foundation for common action to promote regional cooperation in South-East Asia in the spirit of equality and partnership and thereby contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region.”
From a group of five -Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, the membership has grown to 10 including Brunei, Cambodia,Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam and accounting for over a billion people.
Towards attaining that vision of ASEAN that is peaceful, progressive and prosperous, member countries set a target for an ASEAN Economic Community , inspired by the EU, by 2015.
An Asean Economic Community would have the following characteristics: single market and production base; highly competitive economic region; equitable development; and fully integrated into the global community.
A single market base would necessitate free flow of goods, services, investments, capital, and skilled labor.
Member countries have made significant strides in this area ( a good example is visa- free travel within the ASEAN countries except Myanmar). More need still to be done.
In the Philippines, we have to remind ourselves that doing simple things right matter a lot.
The event is so important that for sure Pnoy and his anointed candidates for 2016 will not let it pass. It’s a good public image. He could use a portion of the aids given by many countries for the recent typhoon Yolanda which I think he would discreetly without us knowing.
mannie, do not be so accusing. remember my friend that under the aquino administration the pinas had been gaining so much economic gains much more than the government of the goyang did in its almost ten years of (mis)handling the country.
government corporations under nonoy’s government are boasting huge savings that they can afford giving their executives million pesos monthly bonuses. but that’s only for executives themselves. for the ordinary employees? manigas kayo!
and to prove that the present government tops others before it, japan granted a loan to finance ships to be purchased as part of AFP modernization program.
o, galing, di ba?
lahat na lang galing sa utang.
.utang na nilang lahat para magpasarap!
Japan is helping not only the Phil but other ASEAN countries as well to counter against China. Japan is mistaken if she could buy ASEAN’s loyalty. Most ASEAN nations even they hate China still need China and are scared of the Chinese. ASEAN would just receive whatever Japan offers and still sides with China. The Phil? Outwardly, we’re against China but behind the scene, we need China and China knows it. Think about the many Chinese including the local Tsinoys in the Philippines. Most of the business tycoons are Tsinoys. Many properties and buildings in Binondo, Metro Manila and even in the provinces are not owned by the Chinese mainlanders. If China has already invaded US economically, she has also invaded her neighbors in Asia.
You mentioned about top executives in the government agencies receiving fat bonuses and pay checks. Many of these guys are carried over from GMA administration whom Pnoy allowed to continue the reason only he knows. Then, he appointed his own people. The poor ordinary employees have to content with their basic pays.
With all the loans given by foreign countries and still coming including the pledges, the money has reached more than enough our country needs to rehabilitate Eastern Visayas. Question is, what would Pnoy do with the rest of the money? Well, use them for the 2016 election supporting his candidates of course. It’s a vicious cycle in every administration. What was blamed on GMA whom many of us hated very much are the same things happening today.
Hi Ellen, I love your last words (your wisdom so great), herewith I quote, “In the Philippines, we have to remind ourselves that doing simple things right matter a lot.”
Yes Ellen, we can do little things now which will translate to solve the major problems of the country, like joblessness, hopelessness, urban homelessness, powerlessness, unlovelessness, laziness and all other lessnesses, then we are ready to join ASEAN vision of ultimate prosperity. So what are or what is this little thing we can do? It’s not new, everyone knew it but never ever done because all budget proponents and all powerful government officials cling to the money not their own. In short put the necessary budget allocation which is the 1.3 Trillion pesos (like the amount of Pnoy discretionary fund) to Agricultural and rural productivity, in recognition of the real nature of Philippine economy that can never change, “the Philippines is basically an agricultural country.” If we do good on this and without corruption, I believed the resolution to all the problems will be systematic.
i choose to be positive so yes. we can keep on hoping that ph will be able to catch up. otherwise, it’s all so upsetting — our lack of good work ethics, mediocre standards, etc. the funny thing is filipinos working abroad are appreciated by because they are good workers and are better disciplined. they try to do their best and are careful of making mistakes, licking their foreign supervisors asses. but slide back to laxity bahala na and puede na attitude on return to pinas. on the other hand, perhaps we’re some shades better than e.g. laos, cambodia, myanmar. but why use these as yardsticks?
I also can’t understand why we can’t be efficient. That doesn’t cost extra budget. Just common sense.
I also can’t understand why there had been a lot of problems with the Immigration Forms. Before, there was an issue with the photo of Vicki Belo in the forms. It turned out she was the one subsidizing the printing of those forms.
Then there was a time when the airports ran out of those forms.
Yes, “we have to remind ourselves that doing simple things right matter a lot.”
Baka dahil nag-resign si Ruffy. Joke only, hehehe!
Thing is the Customs and Immigration is busy collecting bribes than think of simple things to make travel to and from Pinas pleasant.
Let’s pause for a moment and enjoy this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IK5EASvCc4
Ellen,
Tamad at pabaya ang mga empleyado ng Jetstar at ang mga Customs personnel on duty. Getting the name of the Jetstar cabin crew head and the Customs officer on duty that day and then publishing their names and holding them accountable will deprive them of hiding behind the “organization” and evading responsibility. Walang “I don’t know I was just told to distribute this.” Who are you and who told you to distribute? We have to pinpoint responsibility if we want to change things. Everybody hides behind “policy po” or “inutusan lang ako” when in fact pwede naman natin linawin kung sino ang nagkulang. Ano ang policy ng Jetstar, to distribute those forms in-flight or not? Kung dapat in-flight then kasalanan ng head ng cabin crew for taking off without checking kung kumpleto ang forms nila. Ano ang patakaran ng customs – to leave their forms at a counter for those who forgot to fill them out on the plane or to have one of their people walk around the airport handing out those forms? Madaling tukuyin kung sino ang pananagutin. Madaling malaman kung sa itaas o sa ibaba nanggaling ang problema if we begin by looking at the specific experience and the details surrounding it, at the very least we will know if it’s a common occurence or if it happens only when certain people are in charge. Kung common yan then panagutin ang management, kung occasional then panagutin yun mga empleyado on duty.
Folks, please read my most recent post on the previous thread “Rehab Czar” about Lacson. Thanks.
Mannie, ang layo na kasi but thanks a lot for posting. Grabe, I also would like Ping Lacson to answer all the detailed question regarding his material acquisitions in the US.
Thanks Chi. I’m not sure what this Atty. Rodis wrote and said were true. But they appear to be very detailed and credible. However, this Atty. Rodis has a personal ax to grind with Lacson.
Chi, Mannie,
Those are decades old issues against Lacson. If the scarce “issues” and outdated complaints are all there is, then I’m more confident this guys anti-corruption claims are strengthened and proven true. Those who wish him ill better come up with more convincing tales, not mere innuendoes and whatifs.
I think it’s stupid to ask a widow who had just received millions from her ex-husband’s estate where she got money to pay for example, 2 Toyota Sequoias – as if these “Utility” were luxurious.
WTF with the $100 withdrawals/deposits, transactions at he minimum of $10K get reported to the US counterpart of FATF so laundered money does not get “cleaned” in the US. Whatever, doubts the critics had, have already been cleared by US Treasury itself. LOL.
They who have an axe to grind against Lacson have awkwardly boosted Ping’s credibility even more. Losers. They strike at every opportunity, even with rehashed issues.
Responses re: Kuratong-Baleleng and Dacer-Corbito begin in 3…2…1…
Slips of The TonGuE:
-“Utility” vans…
-$100K withdrawals/deposits…
#13 Thanks for your comments. I myself had doubts about the column by someone who has an ax to grind against Lacson. Being a lawyer and veteran writer, he crafted his words in convincing details. If you note my post, I said “they APPEAR to be credible”. I copied and posted the column not to boost Mr. Rodis’ allegations, but to share with my colleagues in this Blog so that everyone’s aware of those allegations and perhaps respond to it. And yes, you responded quite well.
Lacson must answer Mr. Rodis’ accusations. If Mr. Rodis cannot prove his accusations, then Lacson must sue that lawyer for libel.
Laos issue na pala e, hintayin na lang sa tamang panahon kung dapat sagutin.
Lacson must answer Mr. Rodis’ accusations. If Mr. Rodis cannot prove his accusations, then Lacson must sue that lawyer for libel.-Mannie
Better for Lacson to ignore Rodis, who is lawyer of people who hate Lacson. Waste of time.He better concentrate on rehab of Yolanda-devastated areas.
Check out how Rodis supported Gloria Arroyo and Victor Corpus in running after Lacson. Now he, together with Loida Lewis, are now cheerleaders of President Aquino.
Thank you so much Madam Ellen.
I think Lacson has been ignoring Rodis, but the latter keeps attacking the former. With the recent publication of Lacson’s detailed accounts in Rodis’ column which are very damaging, it’s about time Lacson put this to a rest either by rebuking them or take legal action to protect his name. Silence means admission.
I don’t know much about Atty. Rodis’ background but I know he and another close buddy Atty. Ted Laguatan fled Manila during Martial Law. Rodis is popular and quite influential in San Francisco. He was also very close to the late Philippine News publisher based in San Francisco.
If I recall, I read somewhere that Atty. Rodis admitted he supported GMA; but dumped her in 2004 after the “Hello Garci” scandal. That was also the time when the Hyatt 10 left GMA. Atty. Rodis is a well known Aquino supporter. When Noynoy became President, of course he supported him. But so far, nothing much does Rodis say about GMA not even criticism for all her crimes.
#17. Check out how Rodis supported Gloria Arroyo and Victor Corpus in running after Lacson. Now he, together with Loida Lewis, are now cheerleaders of President Aquino.
Mga supreme hunyango! Ang iba bilib na bilib kay Loida Lewis, not me from the start. Ang milyunaryang ito at ‘international’socialite, kung nasaan ang latik nandun sya. Ewwww!
Like many Filipinas who married Americans either to legalize their stay or have a better life, Loida could be one of them. She’s very lucky in the sense that she married a millionire even if he was Black. With all the money and comfort she has now, all she does is politicking using goners like Atty. Rodis.
Without offense to Fil-Ams who never or seldom return to the Philippines, many of them are the noisiest expressing their views and comments based on what their relatives and friends tell them; read in the papers, online news and the so called TFC available in the US. How could they give give fair opinions and be active in the US advocating Filipino interests in the Philippines when they don’t know first hand what’s going on here? So, how often do Loida and Mr. Rodis travel to Manila? Only to received awards given by paid awarding bodies?
I remember when I took Jetstar to and from Singapore Oct.2012, the immigration and custom forms were given to us in-flight. I don’t know if Jetstar has changed its policy.
Jett, I suspect, Philippine Immigrations and Customs, did not provide them the documents. Why would they not give them out if they have them.
This is not the first I traveled that the airline did not give our Philippine Immigration and Customs declarations forms. One I came from Bangkok and it was the same thing. I inquired from the Thai Airways stewardess and she said they were not provided. That was the time when there was a problem who would pay the printing of the those forms.
I was told the Airlines Association was the one producing the documents before but they stopped the service. Then Immigration got Vicki Belo to pay for ti that’s why the was the advertisement of her clinic with her picture on the form. People complained about it. So, I don;t know know who is paying for the reproduction of those forms.
The point is, why is it a problem? Why can’t the government take charge of it?
# 18
If Rodis checked the records using his PACER account (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), he would find out that Michael Ray Aquino was defended by a court-appointed lawyer. In fact, the records show a motion by that lawyer for release of funds to him (payment of attorney’s fees).
I saw that motion myself.
So that belies the insinuation that Lacson paid close to 100 k dollars for the defense of Aquino.
There is also the conjecture that Aquino pleaded guilty to spare Lacson from subjecting himself to a deposition.
The lawyer in Rodis fails to realize that Lacson could not have been forced to submit to a deposition. A refusal places you in contempt of court. But how can there be a sanction, when the trial court is in New Jersey, and Lacson is in the Philippines? US Federal courts cannot compel someone in a foreign land to submit to a deposition. That is the real reason why Karl Buch did not proceed to the Philippines – to save face from a refusal by Lacson, that could not have been enforced by the New Jersey court.
The real reason why Aquino pleaded guilty was because Aquino wanted to lock in a lower sentence. He wanted to see his only child (son) grow up. If Aquino fought it out, there is always the chance that he would get the ten years. The son would have been grown up already once Aquino is released.
How do I know? Aquino’s letter to his Pinoy lawyer-friend.
Thanks, SnV.