lost? run home.

(POSTED LATE)

I was watching The Taking of Pelham 123 on HBO this afternoon, not knowing that a real live hostage drama had been taking place in Manila. At some time after the movie, I stumbled upon a local news cable channel featuring this lone tourist bus parked in a rather peculiar manner in the middle of what seemed to be a deserted highway. The camera didn’t shift to any other direction for several minutes so I thought that the TV station was merely having some technical difficulties. Later on, I learned that what had been happening inside that bus is what will give the Philippines fifteen minutes of fame and probably years of shame. The event would certainly go down in history as the famous Manila Bus Siege.

Last Saturday (August 21), Ninoy Aquino’s death anniversary was commemorated. He was the man who triggered Filipinos to act against an abusive regime and that which then led to the People Power Revolution in 1986. This revolution was the defining event that impressed upon the rest of the world that Filipinos are advocates of peace and diplomacy. This became our people’s unified identity. I grew up upholding this ideal. Despite whatever undesirable news I heard about my country, it was what made me solidly proud of my heritage.

However, sitting in front of the TV tonight, I was slapped by the realization that this idea from childhood has sadly already become radically transformed. In fact, I realized that I have already long forgotten about it and now recognize my people in a completely different way. The old identity is now hidden in an obscure location within my consciousness, eclipsed by events such as mass political killings, police brutality, relentless corruption and numerous reports of human rights violation. Indeed, our nation is under siege -- taken hostage by violence, greed and hunger for power.

One of the things I am fervently praying for is redemption for the Filipino people. This redemption is the kind that would change how the world and the Filipinos view themselves. Deep down, I still would like to believe that most of my countrymen remain to genuinely value harmony and condemn violence. I still am hoping that the true worth and numerous admirable attributes of our race be recognized. However, until concrete and commendable actions from Filipinos themselves are witnessed, redemption may be a far-fetched dream.

Should we have to wait for other Rolando Mendozas to come out? I believe there should be no room for the likes of them in our country. I hope the rest of the Filipino people agree with me.

Labels: blah, making sense