First Look: First Meridian Lounge Replaces Business Class Lounges at NAIA Terminal 3
Manila has a new premium VIP lounge that travelers can now look forward to visiting before boarding their flights. There have been numerous renovations happening at NAIA Terminal 3 ever since management was taken over by San Miguel Corporation and this includes a big change in the lineup of airport lounges available for travelers. Gone are the popular and very busy PAGSS and Marhaba lounges which offer access not just to business and first class passengers but also various credit card holders. The SilverKris Lounge by Singapore Airlines and the Cathay Pacific Lounge have also, unfortunately, just recently closed their doors. Now, business and first class passengers are invited to a new VIP lounge which hopefully meets the high standards of international travelers.
The First Meridian Lounge is located on Level 4 of NAIA Terminal 3, right where the original PAGSS used to be. But unlike its predecessor, First Meridian Lounge is a purely business and first class lounge, as well as accommodating elite status frequent flyer members from partner airlines. Now that most of NAIA 3's airport lounge access has been consolidated into this new premium lounge, I'm really hoping it lives up to its status because it has some very big shoes to fill.
We went on a short Business Class trip to Hong Kong last month, and since the Cathay Pacific Lounge already closed last May 31, 2026, we were excited to be one of the first to try the new First Meridian Lounge. You can find the airport lounges at level 4 which can be accessed via the elevators on the right side of the terminal after passing through the immigration and security checks. We used to visit PAGSS and the Marhaba Lounge before and it really gets very full with all the credit cards they accepted for access. At the other side of Level 4 you can find the A-Lounge which still accepts credit cards, Priority Pass, and Dragon Pass access while the new PAGSS Lounge only accepts business and first class passengers from partner airlines as well.
The First Meridian Lounge is located at the very end of Level 4. We simply showed our lounge invitation and our boarding passes to the receptionist to get access inside the lounge. We had a very early 5:30am flight to Hong Kong but thankfully the lounge is open 24 hours a day to cater to the different partner airlines and their flight schedules.
The First Meridian Lounge is a 2,600-square-meter privately operated third-party facility serving eligible business class and premium passengers of participating airlines, including Thai Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, KLM and Qatar Airways. First Meridian Lounge offers eligible premium travelers a larger common-use space to dine, work, rest and recharge before boarding.
I do like the bright and spacious ambiance of the lounge, especially with its modern design and layout. Along with spacious seating areas, high-speed Wi-Fi, workstations, shower facilities and real-time flight information displays, the lounge features amenities not typically available in smaller dedicated airline lounges, including infant care rooms, sleep pods, private rooms, children’s play rooms, game and golf simulators and quiet zones.
The place is really big and there are different areas for guests to occupy depending on their needs. The seats at this area come with charging stations for those who need to plug in their devices before their flight.
Various artpieces adorn the lounge which gives it some character and class. These have the names of the artists and their descriptions written beside the structures, so it's a good way to pass the time for art aficionados.
The First Meridian Lounge is divided into several zones. The Library is a quiet zone for those who want to get some reading or sleep done.
They also have a private meeting room which guests can reserve if they need to get some work done.
The Wine Cellar is also a nice place to visit. These wines are actually for sale and not included in the food and beverages selection of the lounge.
For those traveling with children, the Game Room would be a great place for kids so they don't get too bored at the airport. I will be bringing my son Dream on our next trip to Hong Kong so he will surely enjoy playing here.
Now this is something you don't see at airport lounges. The First Meridian Lounge comes with its own Golf Simulator which you can use for free. We did not now how to use it though so we did not get to play it, but I'm sure golfers will appreciate this great activity inside the lounge.
As for me, one of the best things I like to do at airport lounges is to take a quick refreshing shower before the flight. First Meridian Lounge has a nice shower room which I might use next time.
Even the toilets look very posh and modern. I like the marbled floors and walls and they even have automatic toilets bowls like those in Japanese hotels.
Now let's head to the dining area which is where I usually hang out at airport lounges. First Meridian Lounge has a very spacious dining hall that looks like a small hotel buffet.
The lounge offers a wide selection of local and international food and drinks for its guests. We came here at around 4:00am and they were still serving their dinner menu at the time which is offered until 5:00am. After that, they will switch the items with their breakfast menu.
There are several appetizers available like breads, salads, and soups. The lineup of main dishes was quite outstanding. This includes Aglio Olio Pasta, Roasted Apahap Fish with onion leeks sauce, Roasted Chicken with Mushroom Sauce, Shrimp Balls with sweet chili sauce, and a few more.
I believe the best place in this lounge would be the Bakery. This is like a small cafe offering high quality pastries and drinks which are all complimentary.
We ordered a few of the items on display like the ube ensaymada, the ube cheese roll, chocolate croissant, and the fruit danish. Other items available included the sea salt mason, corned beef pandesal, and the chicken curry puff.
Drinks are also included with your lounge access. You can choose from juices, sodas, coffee, tea, and even beers on tap. Of course, they offer San Miguel Beer.
One of the unique areas at the First Medirian Lounge is their dedicated Bar Room. This is a separate room entirely where guests can enjoy unlimited cocktails and spirits while watching the planes come and go on the runway. Unfortunately, the bar room is only open until 2:00am but we could still order some cocktails that we can enjoy inside the main dining hall.
There's even unlimited soft serve ice cream to cap off our enjoyable time at the lounge. We didn't really want to leave yet but our plane was already boarding so we had to go. The First Meridian Lounge is a great alternative to the previously crowded airport lounges at NAIA Terminal 3. While it may not have the same character and charm of the Cathay and SilverKris lounges, it is still a big upgrade over the other airport lounges we have used throughout our flying years. Hopefully it can maintain its level of quality even while its number of guests are expected to increase in the coming months. Congratulations to First Meridian Lounge and I'll see you again soon.
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Review Originally Appeared on IMDb.com https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19387478/reviews/?ref_=tt_ov_ururv
Race prevades everything in America but you got to fight it.
I just finished watching the 2022 PBS documentary The Dream Whisperer which follows the efforts of Dick Barnett, who led the struggle to get the Naismith Hall of Fame (that's the one in Springfield,Mass) to induct his Alma mater, Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial (now Tennessee State University) into The Hall of Fame for their three consecutive Men's Championships in NAIA college basketball.
According to IMG Academy: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) includes nearly 14% of four-year college athletes which typically offer a small-college experience like D3 with a partial scholarship model like D2. There are 250 colleges competing in NAIA sports, with an average undergrad enrollment of 1,846. Student-athletes make up more than 1/3 of the student body at the average NAIA institution. A number of historically black colleges and universities-such as Tennessee A & I existed in this category.
The first truly organized effort to add this 3 time champion team (1957-59) into the HoF took place in 2011. It was not until 2019 that Doctor Richard Barnett, Doctorate from Fordham, member of the New York Knicks two NBA championships (1970/73) and the captain of these 3 teams.
It is important to mention a few additional things:
1. NAIA schools traditionally played other small schools. It can be asked should small schools get in the HoF when many larger NCAA championship programs have not been included even today?
2. On the other hand, it is impossible to know just how good these schools are.were when they don't get to play major universities in the Division I arena. By the way, this will no doubt become a bigger issue with college basketball with the consolidation of the Power 4 conferences who have so many member schools that the will find less need to even play the Mid-Major programs; Begging the question who good are those smaller programs when they are not given the opportunity to play the bigger schools.
3. If this was just an effort to reward the best programs in the U. S. College history, the efforts would probably never have been successful. Clearly we see this documentary as a chance to revisit some very ugly, racist incidents during this team's struggles. One such mention has to be at 15:51 where they discuss that after winning the championship, in 1957, the players got off their airplane in Nashville and immediately proceeded to a segregated luncheon counter in their home city. Yes, they were all denied entry.
A powerful documentary narrated by a great basketball player and a great champion for racial justice. Dick Barnett.(October 2, 1936 - April 27, 2025).
What is the cruelest thing she's ever said to someone?
"The cruelest? Hmm, that is an easy one. I once went after a woman who knew me from my past work, because she allowed her own child go after my daughter, calling her names I won't speak about here. I reminded her of some parts of her own life, and she quickly left and does her best to stay out of my way."
"Normally I try not to be one who is cruel to anyone, but when it comes to my daughter. I will do anything to keep her safe."
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She mentioned at one time getting back into the escorting business, is that something she's still thinking about?
"It was just in quick passing. I now own a lovely bookshop in Silvermoon. The escort was a means of getting me through my schooling in my younger years."
Naia - Drenchen Gelfling Full-Body Puppet - Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction on Julien's Auctions, sold for $16,000 - Lot 108
"A full-body puppet of Naia (performed by Beccy Henderson and voiced by Hannah John-Kamen), a Gelfling of the Drenchen Clan, who serves as a major supporting character in the prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix, 2019). Puppet sculpted by Matt Rose.
Naia enters the story after her twin brother, Gurjin, disappears. Unbeknownst to her, Gurjin allowed himself to be captured by the Skeksis in order for Rian to escape The Castle of the Crystal. When Naia finally tracks down Rian, she intends to kidnap him and exchange him to the Skeksis for Gurjin. Rian convinces Naia to dreamfast with him in order to show her what happened to Gurjin, which she reluctantly agrees to before ultimately believing him after she sees it for herself. Naia is able then to free Gurjin from The Castle of the Crystal, and they both dreamfast with Rian again. Only this time, they are all transported to the Dream Space by Aughra, along with other characters such as Brea and Deet. It is here that Aughra tasks them all with saving their dying world by fighting back against the Skeksis. Afterwards, Naia and Gurjin take it upon themselves to inform the other Gelfling clans of the need for fight and resistance. When Rian and company need reinforcements for the final showdown between the Skeksis in the Second Battle of Stone-in-the-Wood, all of the other clans appear to fight beside them, including Naia with other members of the Drenchen Clan.
This a full-body version of the Naia puppet, which includes her entire torso as well as a pair of legs. Like all Gelflings in the Drenchen clan, Naia features blue and green skin tones, identifiable bumps on her forehead, and fin-like scalloped ears. She is dressed in a wool hooded cloak with a painted Drenchen clan emblem on the back, which she is seen in her first appearance in the fourth episode of the series, “The First Thing I Remember is Fire.”
The puppet's head is made of sculpted and hand-painted foam latex with donated human hair punched into it. Its elaborate costume is comprised of a silk-blend, two-layered tunic with surface embroidery, metallic threading, beading, trim detail underneath, and belted with leather. The layers of the tunic are inner-padded for shaping. Its legs are covered in Jersey-style leggings and cotton socks that are painted. Built inside of the puppet's head is a metal plate with two screws backed with magnets and affixed to the glass taxidermy eyes. Naia's face was fully animatronic and controlled via remote control. The body of the puppet is an articulated pod with foam arms and legs with inner wooden dowels to create bone structures. The arms of the puppets were created to be foam latex up to the elbow and then have the ability to be Velcro'd on and off for easy replacement, as damage was a regular occurrence because of prop usage or rod replacement.
This puppet comes posed and mounted on a stand custom-built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, featuring an identifying emblem.
How much of your income comes from selling erotica?
"I don't openly sell erotica books in my shop, because we do have children that come in daily, as well as coming in for our weekly story time. So I have a catalog pacifically catered to them. So if any adults wish to order some, they are able to view it in private. I don't wish to risk a child happening about a room full of them."
"If you know anyone looking for some, I'm more then happy to give them the catalog!"
