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MANILA ON THE ROCKS
With Hong Kong tourists involved in the mix, major news outlets CNN and BBC exposed the hostage situation for the whole world to see. Flights from Hong Kong to Manila were on “black” travel alert, and the Philippines are being labeled alongside Iraq and Afghanistan.

iammarielozano: My hubby is in Hong Kong w/ business partners & possible investors. They were glued to CNN watching the hostage drama.

carlosceldran: is watching the bad PR on Manila on CNN now. Ugh. I can't blame HK for the bitterness against us.

piamagalona: Isko Moreno is on d phone to CNN. He says it's d bro who created dis mess. I AGREE!

iamtimyap: Hostage situation all over CNN and BBC. 13 hours, 15 hostage victims. 1 parked bus in the middle of Quirino Grandstand. Epic. FAIL.

LiterallyC: "Philippines, worst country to go to." -- CNN

THE MEDIA FIASCO
The unprecedented media coverage, as it turns out, plays a key part in the hostage drama’s violent outcome. The last straw for Rolando Mendoza reportedly came after openly watching his brother get arrested on the tourist bus’ television screen.

jimparedes: Media blackout dapat. Cd it be that the guy may have panicked when he saw his brother hysterical on the TV inside bus?

fnmedina: I saw how susan enriquez crawled even when the police already cordoned for media to back off, meron din matigas ang ulo

tintinbabao: Trabaho ng pulis na magorder ng media blackout so bakit di nila ginawa? wag sisihin ang media sa nangyari.

Pres. Aquino: One would hope you have your self-policing mechanisms. In other countries, pwede pakiusapan ang media. Dito, walang harang.

riaroxas: @cesdrilon wid all due rspect, ma'am. wen ABS askd 4 news blackout wid u, media folowd. hw come ur team didn't wid dis? lives wer endangerd.

THE AFTERMATH
The morning after continues to display the smugness of last night’s events, vaguely overshadowed by Venus Raj’s winning ways in the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. Concerned citizens are currently talking about it, exchanging insights on this fateful tragedy.

MMDA: Info: Around 800 persons in Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Blvd ryt now offering prayers re: incident yesterday. Traffic moderate.

Pres. Aquino: The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep feelings of sorrow to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the people of Hong Kong through Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Mrs. Leung, hostage survivor: "There were so many people on the bus —no one came to our rescue. Why?" (Her husband died during the shootout.)

piahontiveros: As for me, I shall wear black this whole week to remember the dead of August 23rd.

KatDeCastro: It may not have been the best answer but the truth is, Venus Raj uplifted our spirits this morning and that's what matters. :)