Keeping Capt. Ri safe in Manila

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

We already know that Capt. Ri Jeong-hyeok has crash-landed in Manila—straight into the hearts of hundreds of Filipino fans.

Indeed, Korean actor Hyun Bin, who played the heroic Capt. Ri in the K-drama-romance hit "Crash Landing on You," arrived at tycoon Enrique Razon's Solaire Resort last week to a wild and swooning crowd eager to catch even a glimpse of the dapper and dashing captain. Cameras flashed, selfies abounded, and hearts of gushing fans thumped with excitement.

But did you know that while visits by high-profile celebrities like Hyun Bin put fans on cloud nine, it is almost always a security nightmare for those in charge of keeping these VIP visitors safe?

Fortunately, Michael Ray Aquino or MRA, vice president of security of Solaire Resort and the rest of the Razon Group of Companies, knows his stuff well and has made sure that Hyun Bin remained safe throughout his four-day visit to Manila as Solaire's brand ambassador.

As someone interested in cloak-and-dagger-style behind-the-scenes security planning for dignitaries, tycoons, state leaders, and celebrities alike, I asked MRA how he was able to secure the man known as Capt. Ri.

Behind the glamor, I learned, was a well-oiled machine. There was a security detail, with MRA—a former intelligence officer in the police force—in charge, moving with clockwork precision. It was many things all rolled into one—a celebrity welcome, crowd control, and entirely about keeping the star safe from being swept away by his own admirers.