Coups d'etat and the Filipino Culture

The commotion over the supposed 'Trillanes revolt' yesterday is very telling of the Filipino culture. You've got to love the whole 'Bayanihan' thing we Filipino's got going, which is the basis of all the dynamics of coups and revolutions here in our country. 'People Power' anyone?

Yesterday was basically a repeat of the Oakwood Mutiny, with the call for support to the masses with the whole 'this is the Time' speech while the posse of the Senator took residence in a hotel while waiting for its supporters to arrive. See, the whole thing hinges on the arrival of supporters, aka 'the bayan'. Filipino's don't go shooting political opponents unless they'll remain anonymous about it. No sir, when it comes to high-profile revolts we prefer to do it bloodlessly if possible. After all popular support is the name of the game.

Trillianes whoever was thinking the right way, though on the wrong time. It's Christmas season, and no Filipino wants a tense affair that will blow away the Christmas spirit. Wrong time for a revolution - we like to enjoy our holidays.

When I said thinking the right way, what I meant was the takeover of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Forget strategic defensible position - if your expecting a large group of people to show in support, you've got to show them hospitality Filipino style.

Of course the press was there in force. A news station must catch the blow by blow of the event. To do otherwise is unthinkable. Tsismis- er, the news must reach the masses. If there is no media coverage, then how can the revolters call for support or give statements?

You gotta give kudos to the level of dedication our reporters have.
The army kept telling them to leave the area but they wouldn't. Though the Filipino tendency to be 'usiseros' does get in the way sometimes (or maybe all the time?). If they weren't there, it probably degenerated into firefight, which I think at least one side wanted to happen. Tired of telling them to go the army tear gassed them anyway and even arrested a whole lot of them.

It was kinda entertaining to hear about the APC crashing into entrance of the Manila Pen. Like any good jeepney driver, they sure can fit any vehicle into any space they'd like.

And telling of what Filipino culture is indoctrinated into my generation, the fuss I hear around is not of the youth discussing the implications of this act, or if the country is in the throes of destabilization, or debating on who is in right in this affair. No, all I hear is the outcry of the teenagers who can't party into the wee hours of the morning and can't buy their usual midnight coffee from Starbucks anymore because of the imposed curfew.