Illusions of prosperity
Spectacular views and images like these make one feel like nothing’s wrong in our country. Everything looks so urban and prosperous. Of course, greater empirical observations across the country prove otherwise.
These were taken the night before The Peninsula Hotel in Makati (seen at the lower left of the first picture) was taken by rebel soldiers with noble intentions and legitimate reasons. Some of my brods and I were at the penthouse of another brod that night for some function. The view was simply and irresistably spectacular.
This is Ayala Avenue from atop, at night. The business district looks so vibrant, healthy and bustling from up here.
Another entry on penthouse views. Haha! At least these pics you took at the Ritz are clearer (except the last one). Looks like you were drunk when you took the one on top of Annapolis. Hahaha!
Clear, chin-up view. Makati remains the top Philippine city in terms of high towers according to emporis. But try to look down and creep inside the big bang in Makati-Ayala Avenues crossing yesterday. I believe that is just an example why our country remains a holder of craps than sky scrapers.
You made Makati look so purty. I have very fond memories nga of the Manila Pen, I can’t believe someone would actually get a tank into the lobby.
how funny this celeni is… unfortunately, majority, i repeat, MAJORITY of filipinos do not have very fond memories of Manila Pen like you do. and i suppose they would not be affected as you are if it case it gets bombed either by the military or by military extremists.
You are too cute Jeff. People would’ve had fonder memories of it (myself included) if something more um… “historically benchmarking” happened yesterday.
youre too cute celeni. i think what he meant was that unlike you and the privileged few of this country, majority of Filipinos wouldnt care less if they bombed the manila pen.
How can they not care? Of course they will care! It’s a matter of choice of words. I guess what Jeff meant was that most Filipinos will be indifferent whether or not they decide to cross-fire in the Pen, Makati Shang or Malcañang.
Anyway, this is so irrelevant, but anyway, yes, either of those places would have had a special attachment in my heart anyway. Because of uh… “fond memories”.
mauubos din ang luha ng bansang ito.
Breath taking views indeed
Unfortunately, I think what those rebel soldiers did was hardly noble. Knowingly endangering civilians by putting them in compromising situations and practically using them as human shields would hardly qualify as noble. There is no legitimate reason to justify such blatant disregard for the consequences of their actions or the lives of the people who might get caught in the crossfire.
Even if I did empathize with their cause, there are more democratic and peaceful ways of attaining change. This stunt only makes people that were ambivalent become averse to their cause.
If most people couldn’t care less if Manila Pen is bombed, they should. Perhaps it should occur to them that it would affect the people who would get killed, the economy, our social stability, and more importantly their job security in the long run - and I’m not talking about that privileged CEO but those laborers working in factories that are heavily dependent on foreign investors. Its about time they cared, its about time all of us cared.
Of course, if you feel differently its no big. That’s just what I thought
hi sam. though i don’t condone the method they used to undertake their ‘rebellion’, may i remind you that the President has quelled all legal and ‘peaceful’ venues. elections? rigging. impeachment? bribes. investigations? silence, executive orders and propaganda.
true, there’s a more democratic and peaceful way for the people. the venue’s on the streets. though the state answers dissent on the streets with barricades, water canons and violent dispersals, its the only potent means of challenging the administration that is available to the ordinary Filipino.
Conceded that the president has co-opted many democratic mechanisms, but I don’t think that we’ve exhausted all peaceful ways just yet. If that were true then that would be testament to a flawed system and not just the people who head it because how could one person legally paralyze all check and balance mechanisms? But thats an entirely different discussion on its own.
As for taking to the streets, ideally this would be perfectly peaceful and perhaps to some extent effective in overthrowing an illegitimate leader. But perhaps why such a recourse has lost its potency is because time and time again we’ve resorted to taking to the streets in the passionate fervor that it merits but when the leader is over thrown and all the frenzy has died down, the question still remains, what happens the morning after?
Obviously, this extends to quite a lengthy conversation. Perhaps we can discuss it in better detail next time
Cya around
Hey, do you have high resolution versions of these? I just returned from the Philippines on a 6 month business trip and was never able to get any high quality pictures of the skyline and would like a few for my apartment
Thanks!
Ryan