AN ECHO OF TRUTH: Quirino Bloodbath

As I've watched the tragedy on national TV that Monday evening, I felt goosebumps on my forearms and on my nape. It was as though I was watching a movie. But it was no movie, it was real with 15 lives at stake and everybody's starting to ask:

• -Why was that aggravated ex-policeman in the bus?
• -Why did they let him in, in the first place?
• -What made him do the bus hijacking?
• -Why did the driver who escaped from the bus criedl out that all Chinese on board were dead?
• -Why was the ex-policeman's brother taken unto custody?
• -Who made that anonymous call?
• -Why did the police wait for another 12 hours to make a move?
• -Why didn't they (Philippine Police) have goggles and gas masks when they thrown out tear gas inside the bus?
• -Why did the police positioned on the side of the bus where they could be seen on the bus' side mirror?
• -Why blame media?
• -Why was PNoy smirking when he finally gave his statement?
• -Why is he acting like he's lurking away from public scrutiny?
• -...and alot of why's, who's and how's..

I am pretty sure that you, who are reading this, has already known the answers for most of the questions above. Because you are reading this one, I am quite confident that you had likewise read a lot of news, a lot blog articles, watched various video clips, and even saw pictures of smiling insensitive jerks in front of that bus.

But now, I want you to read this one...

A written postscript based on his personal account on the incident. From someone who was actually in the bus when everything happened.

Here it goes:

Postcripts To A BloodBathby Eric Po on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 1:14pm

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands. The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention.

Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head. Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate. I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary.

I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth. Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle.

Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally admits his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker.

As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang.

I know I will survive, I will come home.

Bang Lu Min, Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

I hope you felt a different kind of relief after reading what I had just shared. It's like as if you have come into a different light, like seeing it at a different perspective.I pray for justice to be served and open-mindedness to prevail.

My deepest sympathy to the victims including Rolando Mendoza and his family.

BLACK RIBBON CAMPAIGN - Make this your profile pic to counter the impression that we Filipinos (as a... whole) are insensitive to the recent tragedy that happened in our country. Let us mourn with Hongkong and China. Let them know that we are just as sad and angry as them. Let us share their grief and pray for the victims, their families, the police authorities, the government, the Hongkong people, the Filipinos, and for peace and healing in both countries. PLS SHARE

I NEED THAT MAGIC CARPET RIDE!

July 6, 2010
10:46 PM

I am mad!

I’m mad with you, my brother.

I’m mad at you because you are so selfish. I hate you for being so irresponsible and being so dependent. How could you do this to me? How could you impregnate your girlfriend without even thinking you cannot even afford to feed her for a week! And now, you act like everything’s alright and it is me whose getting a lot of pressure and worries and problems? You even asked your ex-girlfriend for the two of you to be together. How lame! How immature! #@!*&%! What lies did you promised with this pregnant girl?

I am mad with you, my father.

Why is he so close-minded? Why on earth would he stop understanding the situation? Why is he too ashamed to face reality that his son had his girlfriend pregnant out of wedlock? Would that matter if you're a servant of the Church and you didn’t care what your future grandchild’s gonna be like? Why would you just let your daughter take care of everything? Couldn’t you understand that she cannot handle everything?

I am mad with the pregnant girl who’s living with me now.

For heaven’s sake why did you let yourself get pregnant? What were you thinking? Do you think you’ll depend with your family for the rest of your life? Do you think this guy who got pregnant will eventually marry you? Do you think he’s matured enough to handle things such this? You know, you’re so stupid. I am actually asking where you brain is at! What did you tell your parents? What assurances did you make with them to just leave you here with me with that very delicate condition?

I hate this part right here. (Pussycat Doll)

I hate it!

I am getting miserable with it!

Where’s my previous life? Where’s the previous me? Help! I’m drowning. My tears are swallowing me.

Late this afternoon, I run through the mobile number of my Aunt (My Mom’s Sister) and called her. She was surprised by the call and a pang of worry has struck her when she heard my voice. I was terribly crying. I don’t care if she sensed my trembling voice but I must talk to her. Her soothing voice which is almost identical as Mom’s, has moved me more to tears. I cannot fight it. I am hopeless. She tried to console me. And I said I am okay (even if I am not). And the other line ends with the beep, she must end the call to do her errands.

I sat on my swivel chair, sobbing.

I kept thinking, how would could everything be if only Mom was still alive? Wouldn’t my brother be a father? Would Daddy understand? Would I be happy? If only she’s alive, I know she wouldn’t let the girl stay with me. I am pretty sure she’ll beat the hell out of my brother’s immaturity. I am definitely sure that I am at peace and I fell full security.

But Mom’s in heaven. There’s nothing I can do about that.

Thus, this means I’m the only sane person who can handle this.

(Isang malalim na buntong hininga.)

Carry ko ‘to. Kakayanin ko.

I can manage to have this girl deliver her baby safely. Have them stay here for few more weeks and send both of them home. Simple, but I do not know if I can get through with it alive. (Isang malalim na buntong hininga ulit)

Aladdin, could you please lend me your magic carpet? Could you take me to the island where Cast Away was shot? Please?

God, please guide me. I lift this up to you.

(Sobs).

... of Mother's Day, Proper Waste Disposal and well, uh... Politics..,

I JUST THOUGHT (Part 1)
An Environmental and Political Thought

May 8, 2010 On my way from Cagayan de Oro to Butuan

I rode a van packed with at least 14 people upon going to Butuan. The van don't have aircon so I had to endure the heat of the four-hour travel. Blame me. I felt lazy to go traveling that day. The scorching heat made me stayed longer inside the rented house in CDO alongside with the fact that I won't be able to go online if I'll be at home until Monday. So, I ended up hurrying into the Agora Bus Terminal at already 1 in the afternoon. There, the queue was already unbelievable and the sun was hotter than ever, that I don't wanna imagine myself being there for at least 3 minutes. Thinking wise, I crossed the other side of the terminal and found a van bound to Gingoog. Luckily, I was the last passenger for the larga-puno-van to go. <"Larga-puno" (adj.) A local term used for public vehicles who do not follow any scheduled time of departure; if the vehicle is full (at their own definition of full), they'd go; in any case that you're in a hurry and would want the vehicle to go even if there weren't enough passengers, then you'd pay for the vacant seats for it to go>.

Beside me was a woman of around in her early thirties and along with her was her daughter of around four or six. The girl felt hungry, so she called up her mom and asked for something to eat. The mother scoured in her bag and gave a 30-gram packed of Skyflakes to her daughter. The girl munched the crackers and she glanced at me once in a while. I smiled back at her. When the girl almost finished up the biscuit, she took the bits of biscuit from the plastic wrapper into her hand. She then crumpled the wrapper and gave it to her mother. The mother almost instantly opened the van's window even wider and threw the plastic nonbiodegradable Skyflakes wrapper out of the vehicle's window, carried out by wind, and would surely end up in the street. I JUST THOUGHT, how could a mother of sane mind do this if mothers are supposed to set good examples for their children? I am not overreacting, am I? I mean we're fighting for our own existence here because of GLOBAL WARMING and ENERGY CRISIS, we even turned off our lights during EARTH HOURS and here's a mother littering in front of her child. I just thought how many mothers has done that, that same day, in the whole world, how many tons of Skyflakes wrappers or if not, junk food wrappers and juice tetra packs that would end up in the streets and would take years to decompose? If we clamor for change, let's start from ourselves. If you are mother and setting a good example to your children isn't enough, then try to be the BEST example for them. Mommy friends, instead of Happy Mother's Day, Happy BEST-example-to-your-children Day! :)

An hour later, after I have gotten over my disgust with the littering mother while I felt asleep, the road came very unbearable. And there right outside the vehicle window was a very terrible corruption site. The road from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to Gingoog were jackhammer-ed holes and huge construction equipments were deserted along the highways. These public roads were fully concrete and, well, if not for some asphalt-filled holes, they are satisfactorily functional the last time I passed through here about weeks ago. I wondered why dug and redo it when it was okay all the while? And then I JUST THOUGHT, could these highway projects been a cover for corruption for this coming elections? I was wondering why construction projects usually increase during election season. Remember the "RE"construction they've made along that streets from Lourdes to that intersection in Velez.

Now, I'll ask you, how many roads were redone this past election? How many roads are still not yet done until now? Would you believe that there still Filipinos who haven't seen any concrete road in their entire life in most remote areas?


Come to think of it; I just thought of it.


‎17 ‎May, ‎2010 10:57:50 PM edited
Siargao Island

AT FIRST THOUGHT

I have been a serious critic, my whole life...

In some ways, I thought some of these critical thoughts may do me harm so I am always deciding to keep them inside...

But of most of the time, I feel I could make a difference if I'll tell the world what I have been thinking all the while...

And so blessed would be this day; I finally gotten out of the nutshell.

Thoughts of fathomless boundaries - may it be too personal, too scandalous, too politics, too funny, or perhaps a why-I-don't-like-the-color-of-your-shirt-because-it doesn't-suit-you kind of thought, will ultimately be here.

Keep those drums rollin'...

Hear Ye... Hear Ye...

Mwalandiridwa Merhaba Bienvenue Benvidos

Dobro došli  Nayak lak  Kwareganigure

Kalos orisate Bruchim habayim Suswaagatam

Velkomnir Irashaimasu Selamat datang

Witajcie Bine ati venit Dobrodoshli

Dobrodošel Yin dee

WELCOME TO MY CEREBRUM! 

Disclaimer: Everything I am publishing inside this blog will solely be under my discretion, in my own words and in my own understanding. If you'll beg to disagree, feel free to leave an unharsh comment so as not to hurt my feelings. If you feel that I totally misunderstood a topic, enlighten me in your most professional way; show your credentials if possible.