Typhoons and terrorists

SINGAPORE - We were nearing our hotel here after going through a very orderly experience at Immigration when the one who met us at the airport suddenly asked: "What happened in Cebu (he pronounced it see-bu)?" My reporter's ear suddenly cocked. What happened? That was about 7 p.m. Friday and we had been out of touch for several hours, having spent most of the day on our flight (from Bacolod), at the NAIA waiting for our flights to this city. So I prodded our driver again. What have you heard about Cebu?

***

"I heard on TV that ASEAN summit postponed," he said. "I think they were afraid of terrorists." Terrorists? that was something new. I knew before we left that some groups were planning rallies and demonstrations against the gathering of Southeast Asian leaders, but I had not heard anything about terrorists, unless, perhaps, the reports that some countries had again warned their citizens against coming to the Philippines, Cebu particularly, but our joke was that they were afraid the hotels would terrorize them with their jacked-up rates for the duration of the summit.

***

I called up the DAILY STAR at once and was told the postponement was due to the expected typhoons. Well, we had feared that typhoon, too, because we were flying out of the country, but our trips, both from Bacolod to Manila and to Singapore were quite pleasant. So what had scared off the participants? So far as I knew, the rush-job on the multi-million convention center had succeeded.

***

What worried me, though, was the possible effect of that terrorism story on our country, and how news about that came out in the foreign media. That night, I tried to get the news from TV, but the programs here do not include much news about the Philippines. Also most of them are in Chinese, Indian, Malay, or Japanese - with a few in English and none at all in Tagalog. I ended up watching sports and getting further upset with the reports from the Asian Games in Doha.

***

Anyway, I am in this "fine" city with my sister Perla, brother Nene and his wife Mellie, and their son Joebert for the wedding of our nephew, Alfredo Ariel "Chico" Leonardia to a Chinese Singaporean girl, Ee Ling Tan, that was held, together with the reception, at the historic Raffles Hotel here Saturday. Chico is the son of Amiel and Lou Leonardia, who had met and married while teaching at Silliman University. Ee Ling, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Swee-Liang.

***

The intimate and exclusive rites were in three phases: first the civil ceremony officiated by Justice of the Peace Chan kai Yan. Later, a religious ceremony was performed by Rev. Salvador Martinez who gave very meaningful advices to the couple, followed by a solemn Tea Ceremony during which the parents of the couple were honored and bestowed their gifts and blessings to the newly weds. A truly sumptuous buffet, as only the famous Raffles could set up came next, with the guests lingering over coffee and bonding long after the toasts were given. A program was also presented by Chico and Ee Ling's friends, especially those by his U.P. days, and who had come to Singapore for the event.*

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