I am not usually the type of person who quetches his complaints or displeasure. Normally, I just sit down and try to assimilate everything. But I reckon you already guessed that today will be different.
We are again famous around the globe. In fact, CNN and BBC highlighted us in their shows, and you know how wide their viewerships are. However, we are covered heavily by these leading news stations not because we had found the cure for AIDS or our economic growth had skyrocketed to 10%, but for some other reason. Thanks to Senator Trillanes et al. I am not going to discuss what happened since most of us are already familiar with it already. Apparently, Senator Trillanes et al are getting the hang of standoffs, coup plotting and hotel crashing. This time last 2003, the same event also occurred if you may recall. Senator Trillanes took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center serviced apartment tower situated in the Central Business District to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. To cut a long story short, the coup plotters failed. They also underwent court hearings.
After four years, the plotters have again found a chance to air their concerns. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Brigadier General Danilo D. Lim, and 25 other Magdalo officers walked out of their court hearing and marched through the streets of Makati, called for the ousting of the president, and clutched the entire second floor of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. But history repeats itself, they failed for the second time.
As an Economics student, I know how such event can affect the Philippine economy. Shortly after the standoff, there are already signs of retardation in market gains. This might also raise the uncertainty rate, drawing foreign investors back from laying out money in Philippine enterprises. Altogether, this particular event will create an unstable image of the government, which actually makes me huffy. But part of me wants to commend Senator Trillanes et al for exemplifying valiance and nationalism. I just don't know what to react anymore.
On a lighter note, I guess the administration people of Manila Peninsula will also change the hotel's name, like what the Oakwood owners did. So you know, Oakwood is now known as Ascott. But I guess even if they did alterations, everything will still be part of history.