August 23, 2010, over 20 tourists, handled by Hong Thai Travel, were along Quirino Grandstand (one of the most historical places in the Philippines and in front of Rizal Park) when a seemed- to- be policeman entered their bus and announced a hostage. The hostage taker, former Sr. Insp. Rolando Mendoza, was on a grief against the Philippine Ombudsman for the result of his case that revoked his license and benefits as a Philippine Police.
The hostage drama took about 10 hours that ended in a brutal and bloody way leaving 9 dead including Mendoza. The blame is now on the shoulders of Philippine National Police whose faults were, “accordingly”, lack of equipments, skills, tactic/ strategies and a lot more. Today, the world sees them as GARBAGES and the Filipinos as IDIOTS.
For these, I, as a Filipino citizen, would like to correct everyone who speaks evil against my country and my countrymen at large. To curse us generally because of this tragedy is immoral. It wasn’t in our hands; I mean the whole of us. The issue was about the mistakes of the policemen present and involved in the catastrophe. Our role, perhaps and as our capacity was concerned, was to pray for the safety of the victims despite differences in nationality and faith. And, I assure you that we did (I, personally) because we’re believers of God.
After the tragedy, to be honest, I really felt sad and bad for the victims and for the relationship that might be broken between our country and the world. But, still, I prayed immediately for the souls of the dead and the recovery of the injured. I (maybe, we) also didn’t forget to pray for the forgiveness of the Chinese , British and other nationalities involved for the inadequacy that caused the loss of lives. With these, I AND WE FILIPINOS WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE. I know it isn’t that easy to accept this apology but PLEASE, DO NOT PUT ALL OUR KIND AND LOVING COUNTRYMEN INTO CONDEMNATION.
I stand correctly in saying that it is much immoral and brutal to speak evil against people who never harm you. The policemen involved who committed mistakes have been abdicating lately; our president is despised; Chinese people are asking our government to fire some of our officials despite our government’s humble and caring treatment to the victims, to their families and to China. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT? KILL US ALL? Now, THE WORLD IS HATING US. Even our OFWs in Hong Kong and in the other parts of the world are being belittled and discriminated for the accusation they didn’t want or do! THESE ARE TOO MUCH! I’ll be frank; CHINA AND THE WORLD OWE US MORE THAN THEY SHOULD HATE US. So, I guess, you have the right to be silenced when you think you are being uncontrolled.
First, when Chinese people come to Philippines, they are well-entertained that’s why we are known for hospitality. Most of them establish businesses and investments despite the resources they have in their own land. In spite of being new settlers, we buy their products. Issues like product contamination, giving cheap labor to Filipinos and even maltreating them, sprouted but, still, we revere Chinese nationals and treat them as guests. Most of them are one of the richest persons in our country and we are thankful for their help in our economy especially in employment. (My grandfather had been an employee of a Chinese businessman for long years). They are our TOP INVESTORS and one of our GREAT FRIENDS. WE TRUST them so much that many of us travel to China to work mostly as DOMESTIC HELPERS. Sad to say, several OFWs are being abused and maltreated there. When they get into the case, some of them are not minded. Things will end when they summon to our government and help them go back and sometimes, they come in their COFFINS. We never speak a single word against China and in fact, Hong Kong is one of our favorite places that some of us go there, at least, once a year. Cases like drug trafficking, maltreatment of Filipino workers and even their Filipino households, smuggling and selling of illegal products and services and other more are just few of the things that some Chinese do illegally in our country. To their luck, they are forgiven and sometimes, just overlooked.
We, Filipinos, even sympathize with Chinese traditions. We celebrate Chinese New Year that we even buy their traditional foods like TIKOY and MOONCAKE. We value these in as much as Chinese do. Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was also partly Chinese. The Chinese and Filipino people were, for a long time, good companions that both owed each other a lot. Nevertheless, what’s happening now?
I am, personally, dismayed for the too much evil feedbacks from Chinese citizens especially when I heard how they treat our OFWs in their country after this tragedy happened. ISN’T THIS IMMORAL?! I understand, of course, their animosity but not to the extent of cursing us as a whole. Think about the times when some of them aggrieved our fellowmen. Did we react to it in as much as they do to us now? After their words, do we stop buying their products and abhor Chinese settlers in our land? ARE WE NOT DOING EVERYTHING TO CARE THE VICTIMS AND PACIFY THEIR GRIEVES AGAINST US? ARE WE NOT STOOPING DOWN BEFORE CHINA AND THE WORLD? WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SEVERAL CONDEMNATIONS FOR MANY DAYS ALREADY. MANY HAVE APOLOGIZED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE EATING THOSE HURTING WORDS! AND, NOW THEY EVEN WANT TO INTERFERE IN THE ACTIVITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT! THESE ARE TOO IMMORAL!
The world has done bad things to our country nevertheless, we remain bowing before everyone. Many try to cheat us just to get our precious properties like Spratly’s. They do anything to befriend us and we are always hospitable to them that is why some say we are FOOL. Yet, I’m sorry to say, YOU CAN NEVER PUT THIS SMALL COUNTRY UNDER YOUR HANDS!
Philippines is the home of great men. Philippines is the place where God truly works and cares. Philippines is the place where corruption, calamities and poverty take place but still stands in unity, courage and faith to face and succeed over these adversities. Philippines is one of the richest in natural resources, in labor force, in skills and sportsmanship, in bright minds that other countries love to hire us, in moral values that in fact we prioritize character building subjects (in fact, I am a volunteer teacher of Christian values), in quality education that foreigners come to study here in our hidden great universities, in generous, kind, hospitable, wonderful and beautiful persons, in loyal, hardworking, and dedicated servants that the world loves and whose services are unpayable, in languages that the world need for better globalization and again, in FAITH and God’s anointment.
We are the FILIPINOS OF HUMILITY and GREATNESS LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. Do not belittle the STOOPING GIANT.
I am not saying these to change the situation, to revenge, or to lift ourselves . I’m saying these to remind everyone of the value of forgiveness for we are all not perfect. I plead you not to destroy the relationship we have or curse our whole country for we are working hard to maintain our nation. Mistakes are inevitable though we really APOLOGIZE. Whether we were there or not, we APOLOGIZE. Let us preserve our friendship that stems centuries ago and do not pass the punishment to our innocent countrymen. Some maybe bad but the majority are friendly and good, I ASSURE YOU.
No nation with all people as evil remains standing. But we do remain because we are not evil as what you are thinking.
Again, WE APOLOGIZE, PLEASE DO NOT OOZE OUT ALL YOUR GRIEVES TO EVERYONE IN OUR COUNTRY. DO NOT BE IMMORAL.
And, for some Filipino who TURN AGAINST THEIR OWN COUNTRY, I PITY YOU!
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE WHOLE WORLD!
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