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Just finished a brief due for filing with the appellate court. Then around lunchtime, the hotel near the office is taken over by rebel soldiers and the country stands still, as everyone watch with baited anticipation on what would happen next.
A few hours later and several tense moments, the crisis is over. No one was hurt. However, the resulting crackdown on basic civil liberties is alarming. First, the police arrest media personnel. Then, they have imposed a curfew notwithstanding the fact that the same has not been authorized by an enabling law. Old timers remember that what is happening now is similar to the events that presaged the declaration of martial law in 1972.
It seems that my country is not only being assaulted by the seven plagues of Egypt but also by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
You, dear friend, how was your day?
Just finished a brief due for filing with the appellate court. Then around lunchtime, the hotel near the office is taken over by rebel soldiers and the country stands still, as everyone watch with baited anticipation on what would happen next.
A few hours later and several tense moments, the crisis is over. No one was hurt. However, the resulting crackdown on basic civil liberties is alarming. First, the police arrest media personnel. Then, they have imposed a curfew notwithstanding the fact that the same has not been authorized by an enabling law. Old timers remember that what is happening now is similar to the events that presaged the declaration of martial law in 1972.
It seems that my country is not only being assaulted by the seven plagues of Egypt but also by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
You, dear friend, how was your day?
Huh.
EDIT: I just read this article. Weird.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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It seems that my country is not only being assaulted by the seven plagues of Egypt but also by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
You, dear friend, how was your day?
Wow.... what country are you in? I get the sick feeling that you're going to say the U.S....
My day... well... has only barely started. I've been awake for nearly 2 hours. I've been at work for one of those hours. Nothing unusual or interesting has happened yet. Quite the mundane morning, really.
Wow.... what country are you in? I get the sick feeling that you're going to say the U.S....
Based on his description of the event, I’d say the Philippines.
Wow.... what country are you in? I get the sick feeling that you're going to say the U.S....Based on his description of the event, I’d say the Philippines.
My day started by watching his day on the news. How's that for a surreal experience.
My day was actually pretty average. Unfortunately I was exposed to how stupid people are when a friendly debate turned into a shouting match. I left. Too much noise.
I understand that this thread was started to give some perspective on "so you want to b@@%+ about your day", but I just thought I'd share.
Today was okay, but tomorrow I'm going to guess we're going to talk about your day in my civics class. We always talk about current events there, it seems.
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You got it. The Philippines, The Pearl of the Orient. Our constitution is modelled after that of the U.S., by the way.
Arctaris: If you read the article, it says the good senator walked out of a court hearing. The judge presiding over the case was my professor in law school. Moreover, that hotel is a very nice place, as I've been there for meetings a couple of times.
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I find it quite surprising that in scouring today’s newspapers here in Australia (which is not that far from the Philippines) I can only find two articles on this incident. One is very brief, and focuses mainly on the fact that the hotel in question is owned by an Australian. The other is more detailed, but only gives a brief, one line mention to the fact that “a midnight to dawn curfew” has been imposed in Manilla for today.
My wife is from Isabela and spent last night trying to call her brother in Manila, as he is a Marine officer. He was peripherally related to the coup attempted a few years back, but his unit was cleared and he has kept clear of the discontented lately because he has a daughter now--and he wasn't called out for yesterday's excitement.
Except for increasingly frequent incidents of RCMP killing people (Canada's federal police), my homeland is running pretty smoothly these days.
Be safe Raavel. That would not be a pleasant experience to live through, even if you are on the sidelines.
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My wife is from Isabela and spent last night trying to call her brother in Manila, as he is a Marine officer.
I recall a radio report yesterday that at least 200 members of the Philippine Marines were sent in to support the police and cordon off the area to prevent people from joining in and escalating the tension.
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Ok... that's some disturbing news but I am glad y'all are safe.
(It's scary what the U.S. is turning into and the 'sheep' don't care or seem to notice...)
on an entirely happy note...
I saw my baby girl crawl for the first time right before I left for work. (She had already crawled for the wife the night before...)
It kept me in a happy place all day. :D
That's so cool fray. Mine never bothered crawling, she just learned to stand and walk early. Until then we were a little worried. And hey, don't use those walker things that the kid can sit in with feet on the floor because I've read that they delay walking from a bunch of doctors and they have high rates of injury related to higher early mobility (like going down stairs).
That's so cool fray. Mine never bothered crawling, she just learned to stand and walk early. Until then we were a little worried. And hey, don't use those walker things that the kid can sit in with feet on the floor because I've read that they delay walking from a bunch of doctors and they have high rates of injury related to higher early mobility (like going down stairs).
Same on the no crawling. Drew is at 7 months now, been running for 5. He doesn't walk; just two speeds, full tilt run and fall over (which is why we use the walkie deal).
Wow, Radavel, you are living in interesting times.
Glad you're OK. What's your take on this? What are the root causes of the mutiny? Is it a long term problem or isolated incident?
Yesterday I got a call at 5:30am from my mom letting me know my aunt passed away. Spent the rest of yesterday trying to help get the flowers ordered and other arrangements made. Spent today with family waiting for out of town family to come in. Will spend tonight at the visitation and tomorrow is the service. Spending all of this time knowing she's in a better place & in no more pain, but still hating it and the disease. All in all, a pretty crappy few days.
Is it a long term problem or isolated incident?
As someone who has seen it in person, I think the problem of governing in the Philippines would be considered long term.
Sorry for your loss, Tegan.
I am sorry to hear that Tegan. You and your family will be in my prayers.
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Condolences to you, Tegan.
thereal thom, the recent incident in my country is but a symptom of a long standing problem which has its roots in our colonial past. If you review which families are in power today and compare them with those who were in power at the turn of the century, you will find that there has been no change. Political and economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few and unfortunately they cannot afford to relinquish that power for fear of retribution from those who have suffered under their rule.
Sometimes, I fear that we're sitting on a sleeping volcano that would erupt without any warning though there are some of us who still believe that we can make a difference.