view thru my eyes

The EquitablePCI Bank Stockholders Meeting finally happened and it was a thrill.

I arrived at the place at 2pm, way ahead of the 3pm scheduled start of the meeting. But photographers and cameramen were barred from entering the building. So, we had to contend ourselves with shooting the picket outside and the platoon of secutrity guards. We could not even get pictures of any Go family member as they took an entrance at the basement of the building.

Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN arrived at around 3pm, and was wondering why we were not allowed inside the meeting. She was going back and forth of the lobby of Santiago Hall, making calls to whoever could allow us in. She was also adamant on why we allowed ourselves to be pushed out of this public meeting. One of the photographers was quick to say, "Eh, may mga baril sila( They have guns)."

At 3:35 pm, things picked up when Winston Garcia of GSIS stormed out of the building and called for other stockholders to nearby Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Other stockbrokers followed crossing to the other side of Makati Ave.

It was quite surprising to see that a ballroom had been reserved at the hotel. The SSS-GSIS-TMEQ group probably foresaw this conflict, and this time came prepared for any action. Last year, the group was surprised by the turn of events at the stockholders meeting.

By 4:30pm, the group, composing of about 54 of the stakeholders of the bank selected 15 board members, who in turn would be selected to positions. The Go family was left out as a minority shareholder, holding five board seats.

On the other side, it was said that the Go family selected 10 board members.

By 5:30 pm, the group at Mandarin held a closed-door meeting, probably to discuss their future actions.