What happened to the Beatles in the Philippines?

Answer 1

Beatles manager Brian Epstein turned down an invitation to the Beatles to then-president Ferdinand Marcos's birthday party, the day after their first and only Philippines concert, not realizing this would be taken as a grave insult. (It was Beatles policy to decline all state-sponsored visits and invitations, since a British Embassy reception held for them in Washington DC had gone poorly; they had been patronized and manhandled by the people they met there.) The news of their non-appearance made national headlines ("BEATLES SNUB PRESIDENT"), all the usual courtesies disappeared, and they had an extremely hard time getting from their hotel to the airport. Before they could leave, Epstein and road manager Mal Evans were ordered off the airplane for questioning, and Epstein had to hand over their concert proceeds. McCartney said years later that he was proud they hadn't gone to the party, considering that Marcos was a dictator, who mistreated the people of the Philippines.