A KOREAN tourist expressed his gratitude to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) employees after his pouch containing more than P120,000 cash was returned to him almost a month after losing it at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Hwang Sung Ha, who was scheduled to depart on Monday (November 26) via Asiana Airlines flight OZ702, was speechless after seeing his pouch.
The Korean arrived at airport around 10 p.m. on October 31, 2018 and he accidentally dropped his pouch at the arrival area of NAIA terminal 1.
The pouch was later found by Judith Mertola of Lucky Jet Travel & Tours around 12:30a.m. on November 1. When she made a check, the pouch yielded an Asiana Club Visa card, a Shinsegae Duty Free card, US$2,056; 31,000 Korean won; 6,020 Thai baht; and P20 — equivalent to P120,614.87.
MIAA’s Lost and Found Section tried to locate Hwang but to no avail.
On Monday, Hwang was about to check-in at the Asiana Airlines counter for his flight back home when an airlines ground handling agent approached him, inviting him to the airport’s Intelligence and Investigation Division office to claim his pouch.
“He was so happy and grateful to learn that his pouch was found by an honest airport staff,” an airport official said.
Hwang admitted to airport authorities that he was dismayed and would have left with a bad impression of the Philippines.
“This experience is worth sharing with my colleagues and relatives. I will tell them that
Filipinos are honest and hospitable,” the Korean told airport officials.
Hwang promised to visit the Philippines again. (Ariel Fernandez)
