Major, major and another major... help us!!!

I am very overwhelmed of this week's events that I am almost fed-up of the recent Hostage taking in Manila and the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. Most of the news whether in television, radio, newspaper and even in the office are these two "Major-Major" happenings this August, 2010. Right now for 2011, another major crisis had just woke us in reality.

I. MAJOR 1: Manila Hostage Crisis

It was a cloudy Monday morning when a tourist bus was being hostage by an ex-policeman Rolando Mendoza. There were 21 Hong Kong nationals, a bus driver, a Filipino tour-guide, and a Tse (a Hong Kong tour-guide), on the Hong-Thai bus that time. Negotiators had came to ask for what the hostage-taker wanted, and the ex-policeman wanted to have his case be filed for reconsideration on the office of the Ombudsman, since Mendoza was accused of Extortion as a result of dismissal from the service on 2009.

The negotiations was in a smooth sail during the day when Mendoza was still considerate to have the hostage victims had their lunch and even some of the victims were freed especially children and the old ones. Afternoon came and the Mendoza was impatient enough with the slow-paced negotiations with the authorities. On the other hand, the media was on a live coverage with what was happening on the Quirino Grandstand, with its never-ending flash reports on TV that somehow made the crisis worse.

Evening came when the warrant-less arrest of Rolando's younger brother SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza was seen on TV that triggered Rolando's anger by killing the tourists inside the bus. Since that the bus had a television, this was the eye of Rolando to see on what was happening outside. After the first shot was fired, the police came to the rescue with their mallet, tear gas, and machine guns. Rolando was shot dead and also their were 8 tourists killed after the assault. Lastly, who are to be blamed with this tragic end?

                                                Rolando Mendoza was shot that caused his death

• Media

There are lots of "what if's" on my head when I saw what happened on TV and these are, what if the media had limited their scope of authority. Considering that the bus has a television and this could be the best spy of the hostage-taker during the assault. I know that media is all about freedom, but sometimes, too much freedom can be abusive that can result in this kind of tragedy.

• Police

What I saw in TV was not a real rescue but a drill. It was like practicing for an upcoming drill exercise. It was embarrassing to watch how our police acted that time, as if they don't know what they are doing and were afraid of what was inside the bus. Have they forgotten their pledge as protector and security?

• What Now???

Our country just started a new administration and now we faced another embarrassing image throughout the globe. No one of us wanted to happen this and no one deserves to be blamed. We are now judged by the affected country which is Hong Kong, and there were even reports that our fellow OFWs were being fired by their employers due to the hostage crisis. Recent reports says that Philippines was block listed by Hong Kong to be traveled which is not a good sign for our tourism industry.

@ Yahoo! Video

II: MAJOR 2: Miss Universe 2010

III. Major 3: Makati Bus Bombings

January 25, 2011 (Tuesday) when a bomb exploded inside a public utility bus (PUB) along Buendia Avenue and EDSA at around 2:00 in the afternoon. On the initial report, there were 2 people killed and 17 people wounded. On the next day, there were all 4 casualties ( 3 males and a female). Different angles were being investigated on what caused the bombings. Some say that it was a destabilization plot against the Aquino administration since the bombings was dated to his late mother's birthday Cory C. Aquino.

President Benigno Aquino III (PNOY) immediately denied the allege theory for the purpose of the bombings was just a terrorist attack and quoted “Let’s look at the evidence first before passing judgment. I don’t want to libel anybody. I have my suspicions but I could not engage in speculations.” As of this date, investigations are still ongoing and following some leads for future prospects.

The Goldwyn bus liner after the Makati Bus Bombings.

Justified mistake

How far will you go just to win a friend? How eager are you to hide your own mistakes just to accuse a supernatural belief? And how desperate are you to blame your physical weaknesses?

These are just the questions that keeps boggling my mind every time those people post their pathetic shout-outs on social networking sites. Maybe you are thinking also the same question; WHY?

• SPARK-FIRE-FLAMES

I have been so tired of listening different versions of the story and the worst is, it never ended in a simple exchange of dialogues but instead, had it done in cyber space, the Internet. The story started with a simple so called "joke", exchange of text messages, then BOOM!!! It started as a slight spark that eventually ignited into fire and soon to a huge flame. The situation can be handled if they just talked then settled the issue as soon as possible, but due to differences, they decided to extend the agony through their prides.

The team was starting to falter and was trying to cope with the situation that many had thought that it will just come into pass. But it was just a start of bigger and a much complicated one.

• Neutrally Bias
  

I am a neutral person who doesn't take sides on certain issues, thus I gave my own opinion and ideas in solving small issues. I have been to many groups and jobs, and experience is my best teacher that had molded me to be a better person. But in other cases, you really cannot teach old dogs to learn new tricks, isn't it? The issue was so simple, it's all about personal differences and the answer is just too simple as well, it is called acceptance.

• Supernatural

This is not about the TV series but it is all about the second chapter of the previous issue that made me so blown that lead me to conclusion, it was all about sorcery. How in the world that the cause of its severe oral sores and its seizures were from black magic and sorcery? At first, I was into a make believe situation and was shocked on why a certain friend can do that. I made a distance from her and even changed my profile name on Facebook because I was afraid that I might be the next victim of this sorcery thing.

I was hesitant to her offers, like food, drinks etc. until I asked myself, why am I doing this to her and judged her as to be someone whom was never been different to me. And everything went into revelation.

• Division of the house

This was a tough decision to make, to whom will I stand? the -chosen few- or the -selected ones-.. But I chose to be chosen by the few than to be selected by people who categorizes their friends. I finally found people who criticizes me the most than making fun of me, because these are the people whom are true, criticizes you NOT because that they are perfect but they want you to improve out of something you lack. They are not "user-friendly" friends that only manipulates your weaknesses to take their own advantage.

• COLD WAR

The issue was not yet resolved even it reached to the higher authorities, but instead, it made an avenue for competition. It was all about, hearsay, back-fights, and gossips. They even accused her to have made sorcery as a result of the hospitalization of one of them which happens to be diagnosed by her doctor as asthma. Most of the times were dirty tactics, unhealthy competition that even lead to selfish working habits. I almost wanted to give up because of the working environment that its not too friendly to see and experience, but why I should be affected when my purpose is to work.

And now, the war has not yet stopped but eventually reached to the internet where they claimed as they were on the right side and God will be with them.

• "Good things happen to good people"

As a conclusion to this never ending accusations and cold wars, I will address this to those people who were affected and also to the "too affected" ones. This is a all about pride, and nothing but pride, plus the fact that there are also people who want to take advantage of the situation.

You feared God the most right? But where is your faith to God? It turned out that your faith was washed out by those fortune-tellers whom you consulted first before your creator. How in the world that you can accuse a person for doing such a thing as sorcery, when there was a diagnosis from a doctor. Are you afraid of the reality that it was not anymore normal but a symptom of a greater infection?

Why can't you tell everybody that it was really sorcery that happened to your misfortunes in life? Are you afraid that the issue is too sensitive or maybe not everybody will not believe you or just laugh about it or the worst is, would know about your real identity?

Why you have to accuse somebody just to convince that you are really a friend? It's evidently that you are loosing people because of being a blabbermouth. You tend to make statements that was not even uttered by the person. But when you are confronted, you tend to deny it and upbraid your self acclaimed kindness.

As I don't want to be in the issue, I have been part of it since the accusations started. I don't care if you say that I should mind my own business and not your own prerogative, because accusing a person is NOT also your prerogative but by God. I know where I should stand, and that is knowing the right thing.