I agree with everything "grahamb" said in terms of sequence of events. I have flown out of MNL probably 10 times in the past year, (the most recent being once in Jan and once in Feb 2005). Just a few more comments:

*before you even enter the Ninoy Aquino airport grounds in your taxi (or other car), there is a guard checkpoint...and the guard checks the glove compartment and trunk (boot) of the car and the underside of the car with mirrors...

*before you enter the departure terminal they will check your air ticket and passport to make sure the names match...just have your ticket out and ready and your passport opened to the page with your picture and name and give them together to the guard (best to point out your name on both documents)...takes only a few seconds if you do that ....otherwise its 5 minutes or more of fumbling....

*after you pass the metal detector, go to the check-in counters and if you use the *G counter (they have one, sometimes two counters) its pretty quick....I have never waited for more than one or two persons ahead of me....the economy check-in lines look like a nightmare though with lines snaking around forever

*have 550 Pesos in hand before you get to the airport tax window/counter (I just put 550 pesos it in my passport cover ahead of time in my hotel room so its just there).....(its amazing how many people just start to open their pocket books and rummage around AFTER they reach the counter (when they could have done so 20 times over when they were waiting a long time in line))

*the dreaded departure immigration lines have just improved a bit because they now have one (or two) master lines and when you reach the front, you just go to the next available window (sounds simple and logical but last year they didnt do this)....just late last year they had separate lines for each window and I invariably stood in the one line where the immigration officer at that window had a major hangover or just took powerful sleeping pills or had to deal with suspicious looking passports from Kyrgyzstan or something) and the line just didnt move ..

*I dont even bother with the TG Business Class lounge anymore cause its too small and crowded....I either go the second floor massage center and have a one to two hour massage with my favorite therapist (Jovy or her sister Josie) or use my Diners Club card to enter the Manila Club room which is never crowded and actually much more pleasant than the business class lounges. I am also allowed to enter the Northwest lounge with my Citibank Platinum Visa, but I have never seen that lounge open...

*at the gate downstairs, the attendants do a very brief check of hand carries (they know me by name now but they check everyone)....if flying LH, they sometimes dont even bother...

*MNL airport is pretty backwards but not so bad in terms of time going through if you have it down.....but Mumbai and N Delhi are *&%#@$ (OMG OMG OMG ) and Kathmandu is like from the pages of a comedy.....so I guess its all relative....