“Whatever.”

I’ve received several hits because of “Trillanes whatever,” so thanks to Joel, here is a (semi) transcript of that conversation.

Trillanes: As soldiers, we will face this.
Ces Drilon: So how are you going to face this?
Trillanes: Whatever.

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There goes the Peninsula lobby.

Two days ago, Chiqui, Mary and I met the Y&R regional director for digital at the Peninsula lobby. We had tea and Coke Light, then strolled inside to the Old Manila restaurant for dinner. It was a lively dinner, punctuated by phone calls from clients, capped by optimistic plans.

The lobby is now tank food. Crunchy glass and crumbs of brass.

I can imagine the hotel management drinking themselves into a stupor somewhere safe and away from it all.

Or maybe not. Maybe they’re there trying to salvage the carpet and the giant flower arrangement and the cutlery and the tables.

Trillanes, Lim and Guingona have now been accompanied to a police bus. All the cameras have turned away from the Peninsula, for the moment. Both sides will spin this moment as their moment of victory. The Pen will just have to sue.

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Why the Peninsula?

While tanks roll down Makati Avenue, soldiers in camouflage train their guns onto the Peninsula topiary.

It’s just another coup attempt in the Philippines. Joel and I didn’t notice anything amiss, driving along Ayala to the office around eleven this morning. In fact, we thought the traffic fairly light compared to Ortigas. When we arrived at work, people were crowded in front of the tv. “Trillanes is at the Peninsula.” “The military’s fighting.” “It’s a coup!” “Oh no, not again.”

The Makati police tried to serve a warrant of arrest to Trillanes and Lim this afternoon, past three, but weren’t able to. Heaven knows why. They probably couldn’t get past all the media people waving their cellphones and mikes in front of anyone in uniform.

Now the media people have been told to evacuate the Pen, after several warning shots disturbed the uneasy wait for something, anything to happen. Several are still in the Rizal Ballroom, says the news on TV. I wonder why they picked the Pen. The buffet? The Amorsolo (ooops, Abueva, as my friend just edited for me) ceiling? The piano and bongo drums on the second floor?

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