Paris Hilton arrives in Manila, missing 2 cell phones on deplaning

MANILA, Philippines—Paris Hilton said she was missing two gadgets when she touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a drizzling Sunday night but it seemed the warm Filipino welcome at the terminal’s VIP lounge cheered the Hollywood celebrity and hotel heiress coming off an eight-hour flight.

Hilton, who is in the country for a series of meetings and engagements, arrived around 10:30 p.m. Sunday aboard an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai. She was received by officials of Century Properties, who tapped her to design a beach club of its newest development in Parañaque City.

“I lost my iPhones,” Hilton said to a Century Properties official, the exchange recorded on video and aired on ABS-CBN.

An official of the Manila International Airport Authority indicated the loss was unlikely to have occurred at NAIA Terminal 1 since Hilton, who flew by herself, found out her phones were missing as she was walking at the arrival concourse.

“As she was walking the concourse area, she stopped and tried looking for it in (her) bag,” said Connie Bungag, chief of the MIAA’s media affairs division, over the phone. “We don’t think she lost it here. When she was deplaning, she was already looking for the phones.”

Despite the missing phones, Hilton still carried herself well to the delight of the awaiting crowd composed of camera phone-carrying passengers and airport personnel who seemed to have left their workstations momentarily to get a glimpse of the celebrity.

As the public address system announced the flight’s arrival, onlookers massed up the corner of the concourse area, the dignitaries’ lounge and a Duty Free stall. The crowd swelled as passengers streamed steadily out of the plane.

Wearing a yellow top and jeans, Hilton obliged photographers by snapping a few poses before her handlers barged through crowd who shrieked as the celebrity made her way to the airport’s VIP lounge. Cameras flashed one after the other as Hilton smiled while walking to the holding area.

Teenager Alex Camcam grabbed the chance to have Hilton’s autograph as she passed by her. Camcam later told the INQUIRER she had asked her mother to accompany her to the airport upon learning about Hilton’s visit.

Hilton was to design the centerpiece of the real estate firm’s latest development called Azure Urban Resort Residences-a beach club highlighted by luxurious facilities, such as a spa and massage center and a movie room, among other amenities.

In a statement, Century Properties managing director Robbie Antonio said the company “put our absolute trust in Paris’ abilities to fully-integrate a superior lifestyle that cannot be found elsewhere in the country.”

Hilton would be overseeing the design component of the beach club while the company would ensure in implementing the concept, the official continued.

She would also be opening her signature luxury brand at SM Megamall on Wednesday where she was expected to meet with patrons of her bags. On her Twitter account, she revealed a potential meet-up with world boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee for dinner.

Hilton came from what appeared to be a European holiday with her sister Nicky as seen on the former’s Twitter page. She snapped photos of the parties she attended in the French Riviera and Ibiza in Spain.

According to the Daily Mail website, the Hiltons hosted a party at the Palais Club in Cannes on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).