In July 1966, Beatles got welcomed in Manila for two concerts. These two concerts were part of their final-ever tour. The guys, when arrived in Manila, sensed “bad vibes” from the time they landed at Manila Airport.
At the airport, Beatles were greeted by severe-looking armed guards and instructed to get on a boat. They were a little scared already, they complied. It was the first time for the band when they got separated from their manager and their aides. The boys were taken to a limo and then escorted to their hotel.
The boys were more scared because the Manila guards had taken their traveling bag, which contained marijuana, which was illegal in Manila. (Luckily for them, their bags were not searched.)
In the 1960s, Manila was under the control of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and as soon as the boys settled in, the guards told them to attend a reception for the country’s ruler. Tired and jet-lagged, they politely informed the security guards that they wouldn’t be attending.
Soon, they were joined in their room by their manager, Brian Epstein, and few aides. They played two concerts that nights and all were amazing. They performed in front of huge crowds of 30,000 and 50,000 people. But their changing room was a mess, and they had a disastrous meal of lumpy sour milk, corn flakes, and some other horrible food.
Beatles Snub President
The next morning, when they woke up, they tried to order breakfast from room service, but their order wasn’t accepted. As the boys casually turned on the television, they saw clips of Philippines President Marcos and a group of disappointed children crying. The boys had disappointed and insulted the President and crushed the hearts of the little children by snubbing them. This was because the President’s wife Imela Marcos had earlier told the young children that the Beatles would be meeting them in person without first clearing it with Beatles or their manager.
The news was spread everywhere that the Beatles Snub President, their worried manager decided to issue a formal apology. As Brian’s apology was telecasted on local TV, the picture mysteriously went off.
The boys got very scared; they packed as quickly as they could and asked to be taken to the Manila airport ASAP. Instead of the enormous motorcade that had welcomed them on arrival. This time there was just a car and a motorcycle escort. As the group arrived at the Manila airport, they were immediately dropped and were forced to carry their bags. But at the airport gates, they were greeted by a furious Filipino mob.
The furious mob attacked the Beatles and their aides. But strangely, the Beatles aides were beaten more than the Beatles themselves somehow though Beatles managed to reach their plane.
After that, an announcement came over the intercom, requesting a meeting with Beatles manager, their press agent, and personal assistants, Neil and Mal.
It seemed like “airport-leaving Manila tax” was being levied, and it just happened to be the same amount of money the Beatles got paid for their two concerts. Epstein paid the money, and they were allowed to return to the plane and leave the country.
The above-defined incident is described as the worst experience Beatles ever had on a tour.
