Peninsula after siege

The Peninsula Manila will be business-as-usual starting tomorrow with a Christmas Concert at the Pen, according to fellow Guys4Mountaineer, PR Director for the hotel and friend Mariano.

Here's the complete message he sent me at 0233H this morning:

"What a day! The hotel's a shambles, AFP types are all over the place and crisis PR is not exactly my cup of tea, but what's important is it's all over and ALL hotel staff and guests are SAFE! It'll be business as usual at The Pen and on Sat., Dec. 8, we'll be having our Christmas Concert at the Pen! There's a lot I have to be thankful for and part of it's been hearing from you and realizing that I have friends and family who care. ISANG MALAKING PASASALAMAT SA IYO!"

- Mariano Garchitorena, via text message


Updates (Dec. 1):

1. The Peninsula Manila will re-open on Monday, Dec. 3 at 1500H according to an advisory on their website.
2. As per update of Mariano, the annual Christmas Concert at The Pen featuring the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Company and the UP Concert Chorus will be held next Saturday, Dec. 8 from 1700-1900H at the Pen lobby.