Contribution
Philippines from afar
There are times that I'm missing the Philippines so bad, especially Iloilo and these times are quite often. I miss the beach, I miss Nang Maria's suman sapay (a native delicacy available only in Barotac Viejo, made of rice flour, red sugar and fat of a pig), and especially Lola Nene's sinugba na isda.
I've traveled to so many places but one thing is in my mind, HOME. Apparently, there has been so many horrible things that has happened, things I never imagined, and things that never happened while I was there, take for example the Capitol siege. This is the most absurd thing I have ever heard, and to think that my sister Amour was there when it happened scared the hell out of me. Watching it from a foreign channel gives you an impression that there's a new Martial Law in the making.
When I came home last February, I was able to talk to some of those who were there when the Capitol Siege happened, one of them, Tita Amy Barba, a relative of mine is still quite shaken. I'm sure many have seen her on television crying like crazy because the military men pushed a gun on her stomach and some where pointing armalite rifles at her. Why? because she was on their (police attackers) way when they ran up to the governor's office, ala commando. I don't know if I'll get angry, or laugh at this act. I mean why would military men, in full battle gear destroy a government building and point guns at government employees, civilians and un-armed men? Isthis still democracy?
Or, why can't they just wait for one more hour like they were asked? What was the rush? The governor is an old man, do they expect him to all of the sudden turn into Johnny Rambo or Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando and take all of them single-handedly? From abroad, and watching the whole scene together with my family and friends is quite embarrassing, my husband, a 1st Lt. of the Austrian army and a special forces in the NATO Kosovo mission thought it was the most hilarious scene in the world.
The Austrian Army is even smaller than the Philippine Army but they were not trained like this, watching those boys breaking the glass door with a mace and tripping one on top of the other is hilarious, it could win in America's Funniest Videos. I mean, you broke a glass door, meaning there would be shards, why rush in, so that you trip? Or was there really a need to break a glass door, because in fact its "a Glass door", meaning it's see-through, meaning they can see from the outside if there was really a life threatening situation from the inside. There were doors, they can use them, no need to destroy a property of the taxpayers of the Province of Iloilo.
And pointing guns, even to the disabled man that was on the entrance? Dragging women and civilians? This is an act of terror, it is terrible to watch them, these uniformed men that the people are paying so they can protect them in the end supressed them. Of course they were only following orders, we all know it, what can they really do when there is a higher authority pointing at them too, but then, they on the other hand got carried away and abused what little power was given to them... I have talked to the Mayor of Barotac Viejo, Mayor Raul Tupas, and I am sure this experience has created a trauma for his family, but they were very brave, their love and loyalty to their father is inspiring. But to the others, especially to all the Barotacnons that were there and were all traumatized, what can Sec. Raul Gonzalez do for them? The fear, anger, anguish will be embedded in their hearts andminds forever.
At the moment, I'm still following Luisa Posa Dominado and Nilo Arado'scase, ambushed in Oton, still missing... only to find outtheyare just apparently among those 199 people missing since Pres. Arroyo took office. Is there a safe haven left for us? What kind of people would keep a mother and a father away from their family without a word or a bit of an idea about what happened to them, if they are dead, if they are alive... the suspense, the psychological and emotional impact is worse than the physical pain.
Iloilo used to be safe, at least to my own perspective. As a teenager I walked the streets till 4 a.m. Oton is a nice, quite town, now even my friends in Bacolod are scared of visiting UP Miagao because they have to pass by Oton to get there. Until now most of my friends in Iloilo are still clueless about what is happening, some, in denial. But I smell something's cooking and I don't know when it's gonna burn, it's a scary thought, it's even scary that thefreedom of the press is threatened. Amidst allthis, the people responsible for these crimes are actually successful, because people are scared. Some people who might have an inkling to any of these crimes prefer not too talk. Some, prefer to pretend that life is normal and that nothing has changed.
But it has! Filipinos abroad are scared to come home, scared for their families, foreigners are scared to come, somehow, we created a new impression, instead of being hospitable and friendly, we became terrorist, think of what happened to the Burnham couples, the rescue mission to the eyes of many was not planned proper, military men just firing around the same way like the terrorists, endangering the lives of the hostages, and if that was not enough, Martin Burnham is dead.
Is there a change coming? When will the Philippines re-surface in all its glory again? Is there hope for the people? Will poverty, graft and corruption all end?
Philippines is a beautiful country, the bounty is endless, possibilities are limitless, the people have faith in God. From afar, I'm missing it so much, even the traffic and the heat. And I am definitely going back home... but at the moment we definitely need more than a prayer.