So many things has happened this day and I am sure, I am just one of the millions, Filipinos or not, who have heavy hearts, puffy eyes and aching head as we witnessed a tragic hostage-taking crisis unfold before the world.
It was as if all eyes were not just glued to the scene but to the whole country’s reputation.
I feel grief for the families of those who were caught in this tragic incident. If I have the power to take back the time for them, I would surely put them away from harm’s way.
I would not go into details about the lack of competency that the police forces showed, that would probably too depressing.
I would not also go into the details of how the media clamored to give the “latest updates” and get the best views thereby giving some sparks on the thought that the hostage taker is [probably] watching and listening to everything happening outside the bus.
I will not also go into details regarding the lack of political personalities present in the scene. I’m not surprised, elections happened a few months ago.
On the other hand…
I felt helpless watching these things happen to foreigners who wanted to see the beauty of our country.
It was as if the heavens grieved as it poured so much rain not just where the tragic incident is happening but all over the metro.
I feel unsafe, for my family and for myself. It felt like the hostage crisis stripped us of all the positive things the new presidency has brought us.
My youngest child ask if this bus was like the same bus we saw near the toll gate with Japanese-looking tourists inside when their class had a field trip. And I said “yes”. She said “What if that happened to us during the filed trip?”
The thought stunned me. What if that was the case?
Do I still feel safe for my children?
The answer is no.
Prayers are great but without action, these are naught. Deep inside, I feel that we can start to rebuild by being more positive in our own little ways and this starts from within us. And go back to praying that everything will be just fine.