Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - She took her place at the end of a long queue at check-in, did the same at security check and through immigration, took off her shoes for inspection, had her bag scanned at the x-ray machine, and submitted herself for frisking for deadly weapons like any other passenger.
And this while airport authorities were going up to her one after the other, offering assistance. Let me carry your bag for you, Ma'am, or let me hold that for you. She waved them off with a smile. "No need to make a fuss," she said.
The passenger was Victoria Eliza 'Viel' Aquino-Dee, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's younger sister, dressed simply in a black and white blouse and slacks.
"That's how she has always traveled. She wants to be treated just like any ordinary passenger," said Bing Lina, manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's (NAIA) Terminal 1.
Aquino-Dee and her husband, Richard Dee, were taking a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok Wednesday. Lina offered to assist the couple through the stringent security procedures at the NAIA, but she declined graciously.
"The sisters (of bachelor Philippine President) are all like that. Even Ballsy (Ma. Elena Aquino-Cruz) and Pinky (Aurora Corazon Aquino-Abellada)," Lina said, referring to Aquino-Dee's older sisters.
"They have bodyguards, but they just ask them to leave upon entering the airport, and they line up like everyone else," he said.
What about Kris, the flamboyant fourth daughter of former President Corazon Aquino?
"I have never had the occasion to assist her on her flights," he said.
