(photo of Lim issuing the group’s statement requesting for the people’s support in bringing down the Gloria Arroyo administration)

I was driving to the Ortigas Stock Exchange on what was supposed to be another slow Thursday while listening to my daily dose of “Tambalang Failon at Korina” on the AM radio when all of a sudden the reports came flooding in: Sen. Antonio Trillanes, Gen. Danny Lim, and the Magdalo soldiers has walked out of their court proceedings and began storming the streets of Makati, followed by reporters and some civilians and some “heavily armed” MPs.

Where are they headed? Another group is supposedly gathering and making its way to the Ninoy Aquino stadium. Is this a coordinated attack? What are they marching for?

(photo by Ellen Tordesillas)

Below is a video of General Lim’s public statement:

The reporters come in with an update: “Senator Antonio Trillanes and his group are calling for another people power”.

Throughout the march some motorists were hoking to the tune of the People Power honk (4 honks in rapid succession). People have gone down the buildings and out on the streets, some were cheering or clapping as they passed by.

The long march ended at the Manila Penninsula Hotel, where they give a brief press conference and a message — put briefly, the present administration has not respected Trillanes’ position as an elected public servant, and it no longer upholds any moral ascendancy, thus they are calling for a change in the current administration.

They plan to stay there and “see what the administration will do”.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure: the nation is once again divided.

More videos:

Update: It has been about 3 hours into the siege. Trillanes and his group has camped at the 3rd level of the hotel.

Update: Warrant of arrest has been issued for the insurgents and is currently in the possession of the PNP. The group is not budging.

Update: Trillanes decides to take a walk outside. Is he surrendering? No. He goes back in.

Update: SWAT and military men have begun moving in. They are accompanied by thanks and APCs. There is heavy tear gas at the lower levels. An APC which acts as the military men’s cover is trying to get into the hotel lobby. It can’t get in. It breaks into the front entrance of the hotel, shattering the front entrance.

It’s like a scene from a Hollywood movie. A handful of men vs an entire army.

Update: Trillanes and Lim have come to agreement to surrender peacefully to avoid any civilian casualties. They will go down as soon as the tear gas goes down. They are joined by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Bishop Libayen (?).

Update: Trillanes has now been arrested and is onboard a PNP “jail bus”. It is now 6:31PM. The end?

Update: Followed by Trillanes, they have also arrested and escorted former VP Guingona to the bus. This was followed shortly by Gen. Lim then by some of their supporters who may be prominent figures but I do not know their names.

Update: Just got home after driving through 3-4 hour traffic. PNP checkpoints + SLEX construction + holiday rush + heavy rains + 2 stalled cars = jackpot killer combo. You loose. Fatality. I had so much fun listening to the very emotional (read: unprofessional) reports flooding into my AM radio.

So here’s here’s what happened: after arresting Trillanes and his men, they have proceeded to arrest and place plastic handcuffs over everyone else that was found on the scene. This included some civilians and media personnel. Of course this infuriates our friends over at the media business. After going through all the emotional and physical pain for the sake of journalism this is the reward that they get. According to the PNP they were to be brought along with everyone to the camp in Bicutan to verify their identities, because there were reports earlier that some mutineers could disguise themselves as media people. Also, they were ordered to leave the area many times which they never did, and according to the military this was “obstruction of justice”.

Update: Journalist Ellen Tordesillas recounts her experience while detained by the Military.

Related links:

• (UPDATE 18) Trillanes, Lim arrested; Makati standoff ends
• (2nd UPDATE) Trillanes, Lim call for Arroyo ouster
• Trillanes, Lim arrested; Makati standoff ends
• Trillanes, Lim walk out of court, call for Arroyo ouster
• MALAYA: Trillanes, Lim, Guingona taken after Pen standoff
• Trillanes, Lim walk out of hearing, call for Arroyo ouster
• Walkout photos by Ellen Tordesillas
• The Day the President Grew Balls

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The perfect job for me is one where I get compensated for anything that I choose to do consciously in my own time.

This means getting compensated for writing an essay on my idea of a perfect job, for taking a hike or climbing a mountain, or for cooking my own food tonight. Wouldn’t it be great if someone out there were willing to give you something in return for being who you are, for simply existing and doing the things you love to do? If I do as much as learn a new sport or gain a new skill, I would be compensated.

But what would the compensation be, and how much? Would it be something tangible, like food or money, or would it be something abstract, like love or fame? How much?

Well, that’s is the problem.

Would getting too little result in unhappiness? Will excessive compensation mean boredom?

That brings us to the issue of employment. The perfect job can only belong to the perfect employer. Now who is this person? Is it a person at all? Is it life? Is it time? Is it be-ing? Is it life? Is it God?

Is it me?

Now that would be a huge problem now wouldn’t it? Because I cannot employ me.

Or can I?

Now that, I believe, is the question.

Dennison Uy
November 2007

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Funny video

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While I do not quite agree with the title and with this article, I think it is still worth linking to this article especially since I get my daily dose of Web2.0 wannabes approving and disapproving site submissions at CSS Vault. Like it or not, design trends are here to stay. Just like drop shadows, glows, 3-D, solar flares, or bevels there are many who try to imitate the Web2.0 look, but they can only be successfully executed by those with talent and skill.

Reposting my comment below:

Good taste. I run a design gallery and more than half of those sites on your list were submitted which I immediately approved. Those designs are definitely top notch but come on, you can probably come up with something better than just a gallery of grunge and vintage-inspired websites?

Notice that none of the websites in the gallery are corporate sites. There is a reason why the “Web2.0″ look became popular and I believe this has more to do with usability, accessibility, and achieving a clean and professional look rather than aesthetics, an area in which we both agree in..

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I have had a couple of clients that are like this:

You spend a lot of time working on a system design, a project study, a site map, and a wireframe. You lovingly package your work and present it to them, looking for positive or even negative feedback — something that at least acknowledges your work and skill, or at least something that shows them that they care about THEIR project, only to be met with a singular “OK”.
(more…)

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High resolution photos of the Nissan GT-R. While it looks awesome, the front design reminds me too much of the 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Bugatti Veyron.

From the Wikipedia entry:

The Nissan GT-R is a sports car expected to be released internationally by the beginning of 2008 as a 2009 model. The prototype which the car is based upon was unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, as the GT-R Proto.

(more…)

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Got this in my mailbox today. Corruption here in the Philippines is really getting out of hand.

Dear Fellow Filipinos,

Good day to you!

Last October 13 , Governor Ed Panlilio of Pampanga came out to declare that he was given P 500,000.00 in cash which came from a Palace Staff Member in Malacañang. The money was allegedly given for baranggay projects and to support candidates for the upcoming baranggay elections. Since Gov. Panlilio’s admission, there have been other local officials and congressmen who have admitted to receiving money from Malacañang as well. Up until today we still don’t know where this money really came from.

But since then, Gov. Panlilio has been under fire because of doing the right thing. Right now, local officials in Pampanga led by Vice-Gov. Yeng Guiao are ganging up on him and marginalizing him by not respecting his authority as governor. Media Publications in Pampanga are even being used to destroy his credibility. If one looks at Gov. Panlilio’s performance thus far in the less than 6 months that he has been in office, the results would speak for itself. He was able to raise the same amount of quarry taxes in less than 2 months compared to the former governor who raised the same amount in 1 year. Due to this, mayors and board members are now demanding part of this collection money and are blackmailing Gov. Panlilio by not passing important policies that will benefit the constituencies of Pampanga.
(more…)

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Listen to hear this telemarketer get owned by “Tom Mabe”