You Won't See Me

The Beatles, on what would be their final world tour, arrived in a place unlike any other. The Philippines was home to America's biggest military bases in the region at a time when Vietnam was ramping up to its height. The Marcoses were photogenic, and on the surface at least, poster children for democracy—Ferdinand and Imelda were dubbed the 'Jackie and JFK' of Asia, by Life Magazine. The Beatles management saw the tour as a lucrative opportunity to open up new markets.

At some point before their arrival, invitations were sent directly and via the local promoter, to lunch at the Presidential Palace. Whether those invitations were responded to or not is disputed. But when escorts arrived to get the band on the morning of July 4, 1966, their manager, Brian Epstein, refused to go. This did not go down well. Over 300 people, including Imelda and her family, were left standing on live TV.

Despite two large and successful concerts, official displeasure left the Beatles fearful for their security and desperate to leave. A torrid time at the airport at the hands of Palace guards left them swearing never to return—and determined to end their touring career. Initially, the band distinguished between the fans and the officials, but later they all got lumped together into one 'bad' experience. The Beatles went on to greater creative heights as a studio-based band. The country, so little known in the West, became defined by the story.