MANILA, Philippines -- Seven months after rebel soldiers occupied the Manila Peninsula Hotel in an attempted uprising, the military was back in the luxury hotel in the heart of the country's financial district, this time as welcome guests.

With the military top brass in tow, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano attended the joint meeting of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex), the Makati Business Club (MBC), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

In his speech, Yano introduced business leaders to his staff and the major service and unified commander chiefs, including Major General Arsenio Arugay, the chief of the National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), whom he described as the man in charge of securing the capital.

Also present were Army Chief Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado, Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Pedrito Cadungog, and Navy Chief Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag.

On November 29, 2007, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, an ex-Navy lieutenant, and Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim led rebel junior officers from the Magdalo group occupy the Manila Peninsula to press for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation on allegations of corruption and vote-rigging.

Yano joked to reporters that he felt "déjà vu" when he stepped into the hotel lobby, which was destroyed when a tank was rammed into it to end the Magdalo group's occupation. It was reconstructed several weeks after.

The military chief said he reiterated his assurance to the business community that power grab attempts have been contained.

"I am very confident that, as far as we know after those incidents, no additional personality has been added to the core leaders [of the uprising] who are now in detention," he said.

During the meeting, the military also signed a memorandum of understanding with the business groups to explore possible management training and housing for soldiers.

"They pledged this kind of support. This is the first time we have met all these big groups, the who's who of Philippine business, in one setting. This is a welcome development," Yano said.

Makati was also the staging ground for other past uprisings.

On July 27, 2003, the Magdalo group seized the former Oakwood luxury apartments to protest alleged corruption in government, and the military's alleged involvement in bombings in the south.

In December 1989, the bloodiest coup attempt against former president Corazon Aquino was staged in the Makati business district. Lim and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, who were then junior officers, led the uprising.