We CAN always rebuild
(From the front page of Khaleej Times as photographed, 24 August 2010 issue)
I am writing this after watching President Noynoy gave his statement, which I consider to have come so late, on Manila hostage crisis. He was calm (yet the smiling could be disturbing, but I think that’s inherent of him) when he was asked by the media. This probably had you wished to see a little more outrage. On the other hand, had he appeared a batshit insane, you would wish that he would be reasonably reactionary. It depends on how you will view it – that he graced under pressure or the statements had no backbone at all. If you will ask me, I was not impressed nor disappointed. What matters to me as a Filipino citizen (and to those who are not) is his recourse on this crisis, regardless if he delivered it calmly or not.
One of the interesting questions asked of him was about the lessons learned from this untoward situation. That linked every element altogether. President Noynoy thought that the media coverage hampered the negotiation with the hostage-taker. This probably will lead to the needed establishment of self-policing mechanism for all concerned. Another issue is not only the insufficiency of equipment in SWAT Team. What happened today could have happened in any other country. But the quality of negotiation is the deal breaker. What we have witnessed calls for a much needed enhancement of negotiation skills. I am no expert. But for anything suicidal, you tend to come to promise the moon and the stars and even the sun. Considering that person is in his less amenable state. As it progressed, you can always (not so obviously) renegotiate.
Who are (some of) on the hot seats today?
(a) A colleague who is in Hongkong right now. She fears that she will get radical reactions from her counterparts. That she cannot fearlessly roam in the touristy spots until she finishes her short stay there. I would love to be in her shoes. Well, maybe it is easier said than done. But I guess she is in a perfect situation to speak for our government and the Filipinos. I have had my share of queries from different locals and expats in the UAE, ranging from serious yet obvious problems in the Philippines to urban legends. It is always challenging but delightful to speak for the Philippines. I remember the day when I returned to office after my whirlwind vacation in September last year and was significantly affected by typhoon Ondoy. My employer and a number of colleagues teased me that I must consider moving permanently outside our motherland because of the storms, volcano eruption alerts (Mount Mayon was moody that time), instability, and more. I politely and proudly said that I will always be a Filipino and I know in my heart that Philippines is the best place in Earth because we have everything in there, including the problems that bind all the Filipinos.
(b) The Filipinos based in Hong Kong and other places who need to deal with Hong Kong citizens. National sentiments are understandable but can go beyond our understanding. I pray that they will especially be objective to our kababayans who are gracing domestic help.
(c) Venus Raj who is currently competing for the Miss Universe title. I bet she is anticipating more than enough that she will be asked to comment on the issue. Grace under pressure is much relevant. (Edit: 25 August 2010, she made it to top 5! We can joy-jump and scream all we want.) I am not competing for any title, but I am sure that tomorrow I will be asked to comment on this particular issue, especially that it will probably make it to tomorrow’s UAE broadsheets. Just like they asked about President Noynoy’s victory, Ampatuan case, and other matters.
(d) Our tourism. It is a fact since the day we were born that Philippines is beautiful. And as I get to travel to other countries, the more I realized that it is indeed beautiful. I would like to speak for my fellows who are categorically OFWs. Did you know that without us knowing, we willingly promote our country in between conversations with non-Filipinos whenever necessary? It just comes, you have a casual chat with some people planning their vacation, and you cannot help but be proud of our country and ask them to go to Philippines instead of the other less beautiful and overrated islands. We feel triumphant when we get to convince them not in a way that it was mainly sales talk, but because it is a labour of our sincere words and pride. However, I must admit that majority of those whom I have talked to are either not aware of the beauty of the Philippines or oriented but have so much hesitation to come there because of the different concerns – safety, weather (believe me, there are people who are afraid of raindrops), and more. And then this hostage crisis occurred out of nowhere. The government of Hong Kong issued a travel ban to Philippines (under the severe threat category: avoidance of all travels). I think that the reaction was understandable, but that is too much. If we will consider the gravity, it is like they are quantifying the risks tantamount to the concerns why Filipinos are discouraged to travel to Iraq. It is immature to judge a nation just by the action of one man.
As I have tweeted earlier, I would like to put it here:
Is this the death of tourism in the Philippines? NO. We CAN always rebuild, if we want. An isolated case cannot put a good nation down.
I agree, it is an isolated situation.
Let’s keep the trust others still have in us. I know two big bosses who can afford the most expensive treatments and beaches but chose to go to the Philippines still.
That’s well-said. Let’s sustain and start anew from whatever is left to us.
Manila hostage crisis, Travel ban from Hong Kong | witsandnuts…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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grabe sobrang nakakatakot at nakakalungkot ang nangyari! pero let us pray nalang na sana hindi na maulit ang ganitong pangyayari as well as pray for all our kababayan abroad including you na sana safe kayo palagi.
Thanks, Eds. We are praying for everyone. Especially for the victims and their families and the Filipinos based in Hong Kong.
It is an isolated case – I’m just learning about this now.
I was clueless yesterday until I came home from the office and turned on the TV. At first, I thought it was a local bus carrying non-tourists.
It may be an isolated case (at least how it happened) but the 11-hour crisis will definitely leave the whole country (citizen and economy) suffering to an extent. I am praying too that it will not remain a stigma.
Right on the stigma. You know what, I felt it this morning. I think I am just not being sensitive, but it was a different day that a number of people (including some of the officemates) intently looking at me – all thoughts, no words.
actually i was wondering why it took almost 12 hrs before the hostage ended. ganun na ba kababa ang negotating skills or even kabagal ng mga swat natin to contain the situation at madami pa ang naging casualty.
That’s the saddest part – sa hinaba haba ng prusisyon sa barilan natuloy. It could have been better.
I agree that it is an isolated case. But clearly it was the way negotiator and SWAT team handled the situation disappoints other citizens watching the news live.
Yes, the quality of negotiation is the deal breaker.
i read somewhere that the palace released a statement that “tourism in the philippines will not be affected.” ….that is the biggest **ll**it i’ve heard so far! sorry wits! he he! they’re making a fool of us!
wawa naman mga pinoy sa HK. gel and my sisters and brothers are on an out-of-the-country trip right now. thank God they’re not in HK!
I have an idea that your sister/my friend is traveling right now when a common friend inquired from me about the executive bus/timing from Singapore to KL. I hope they are traveling safely.
What happened today could have happened in any other country. But the quality of negotiation is the deal breaker>> true. it’s really sad that this will affect our tourism. after all the big efforts done by ace durano in china also hong kong… it will be gone to almost zero. just because of this event. but this we have to face.
I felt the efforts of Ace Durano. We will try to rebuild everything. No matter how much time it will take.
i am more than disappointed with what i saw on the TV last night. It is a very disappointing case that the police have not handled well, it may be isolated but will forever be etched in memories of people. I just hope that the Lord will heal our land.
It’s a wound that will take time to heal, that no immediate great news about the Philippines can cover up or compensate for it. God bless our country.
maiba ako–i ponder why this incident triggered a barrage of comments from the tourism sector. the Maguindanao massacre, the recent police torture of a suspect, media killings, corruption, kidnappings, Abu Sayyaf, etc. those are the reasons why despite the beauty of our country, kulelat pa rin tayo pagdating sa tourism; kahit magagaling ang mga Pinoy, mahina pa rin ang foreign investments–not only this specific incident at Luneta.
There are so many factors that make the tourists hesitant to come to Philippines even before this tragedy. I think that this especially caught the eyes of many because of the nature of the situation that apparently showed how poorly crisis management is handled in the Philippines. Bull’s eye.
Well, this is an Isolated case but yet we all know that a sin of one person can change the reputation of a country like the Philippines. Most of all, many of our fellow Filipinos are in overseas so that they are prone to a redemption or revenge especially from the Chinese people because of their anger. We just hope that in the coming days, a good news will appear for example “Manny Pacquiao defeats Mayweather”, this will help to take the people’s the attention from tragic incident happened last night in Manila.
We inherently fear the stigma this situation gave us. But I am a believer that there is no sorrow on Earth that the heavens cannot heal.
Isolated case–it’s a doctor looking to symptoms and not the cause. Do you have to count the number of horrible incidents to face up to the fact that yeah, it takes but one extremely poor handling of that solitary incident to point out the conglomerated ills of Pinoy government and society as a whole?
Chuck the numbers, lay the excuse of poverty to rest. And please face reality and dare to dig a little deeper than stupefying yourselves in escapist vindications, like Pacquaio defeating Mayweather Jr, or Good Lord, Pacquaio becoming president of the republic!
Believe your political Golden Boy Ninoy Aquino when he wrote, “Fault, if it must be fixed, belongs not to any single man or people. It lies in the fabric of the society—and in what went into its making. Too many Filipinos are without purpose and without discipline. They profess love of country, but love themselves individually—more.”
That’s what this is all about. And there are many who nod along with the lame excuse, “This is an isolated incident.”
Thank you for sharing your insights, Chayo.
I have been direct about my being unhappy with the way the negotiations were done. I am aware of the repercussions of the poor crisis management that was witnessed by the whole world. And we actually feel it the more since we are overseas. In reference to the use of the term isolated case on my blog post, it was not meant to be blinded by the issues, but do take it as written by someone hopeful and perpetually optimistic about the Philippines.
Let me tell you who are the real people in the hot seat.
It’s the family members of those victims who passed away in this tragedy.
Rest in Peace.
I agree with you, Ken. The victims themselves and their families are the utmost considerations here.
A very well written blog post analysing and responding to the unfortunate events of yesterday. I did get much of the media (BBC news doesn’t cover much), but I do believe the situation should’ve been better handled. I hope that lessons are learnt and improvements can then be put in place
I feel sorry for the victims, their families and everyone else affected by this. The Philippines is a beautiful country with wonderful people. The actions of one shouldn’t be used to judge all.
Thank you, Sinta. I am still optimistic about the Philippines. God bless our motherland.
Jingoy Estrada, trying to do some media publicity for himself , told the Philippines media that he was being insulted by the H.K immigration officer, stating that the officer threw his passport at him after examining it. The alleged incident even gets to national news papers, It’s good that the person queuing behind him who said it is all lies, call DZMM, even give his name (full name). said “walang katotohanan iyan” akoy nakapila sa likuran niya.(there is no truth to that, I was queuing at his back) ANO BA ITO? “SHAME ON YOU, JINGOY !” YOU ARE A SENATOR!!!!!!!
It would have not lasted for so long if only the cops paid attention too much to this case.. There were missed chances. They acted so cool without worrying too much about the lives of the hostages inside the bus.. I didn’t expect it would end this worst.. Gov’t, especially the police dept., should learn their lessons.. I hope this won’t happen again.. if so, then goodbye tourism..