When the prestigious Wines of Portugal 2025 was gearing up for its Manila showcase, one wrong move at the airport could’ve turned a world-class event into an international embarrassment. Dozens of winemakers flew in. Shipments worth millions were on the line. The clock was ticking.

But crisis? Not on the watch of the Bureau of Customs’ power trio.

Because when other agencies drag their feet, Customs delivers. Hard. Fast. And flawlessly.

Front and center is BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, whose aggressive push for clean, efficient, no-nonsense service is now becoming the Bureau’s trademark. Under his leadership, “delay” is no longer part of the vocabulary. And this event proved it.

At ground level, NAIA District Collector Atty. Maria Yasmin “Yas” Mapa showed exactly why she’s one of the most respected operators in the airport zone. Her office moved with precision—no drama, no excuses, no bureaucratic choke points. Every document, every clearance, every step? Executed with clockwork discipline.

And then there’s the man the tabloid crowd knows well—
Special Deputy Collector Dr. Siegfried “Yeye” Manaois.
The enforcer at Pair Cargo. The guy who gets things done.
Dr. Yeye didn’t just assist—he steamrolled obstacles, cut through bottlenecks, and moved the wine shipments like a man on a mission. His team worked the way international exhibitors wish all customs offices worked.

Because of these three—Nepomuceno, Mapa, and Manaois—the wines arrived on time. The bottles were uncorked on schedule. And the Grand Hyatt became the stage for Portugal’s finest vineyards to wow Philippine importers and distributors.

The organizers didn’t mince words. They fired off an official letter of gratitude to the Department of Finance, giving full credit to the Customs officials who saved the show. And in the world of global trade, that’s the kind of praise money can’t buy.

The event wasn’t just a wine tasting—it was a showcase of how the Philippines can actually get things right when the right people are in charge. It strengthened trade ties, boosted cultural exchange, and proved once again that Customs can be a catalyst—not a roadblock—when leadership is strong.

So here’s the bottom line:

Wines of Portugal 2025 succeeded because Customs showed up big.
And the Big Three—Nepomuceno, Mapa, and Manaois—just gave the country something worth toasting.

Raise your glasses.
Public service just delivered a vintage performance.

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