Another Downfall for the Philippines

The Manila Bus Hostage drama has been one hot shot these days. It’s a talk around the corner. I hear people from the grocery store, friends who are taking their lunch, by-standers sitting on benches outside store and even children.  The hostage was another milestone in Philippines history as this has paved way for critics to see Philippines on a downfall time again.

I never saw the video or never witnessed the drama on TV coz I was way busy escaping from reality as my soul wanders on the world of dreams. The next day, there goes the big bang. I tend not to ask about it coz I cannot say something about that chaotic scenario on the 23 of August.

As I wander into the virtual world, post on hostage drama is still rampant, thus, curiosity killed me so I started asking questions. Not just watching some replayed footage on www.youtube.com, I browse the news network in the internet for me to be “in”. Few people blame the police, some people blame someone. Different interpretations, different ideas and ending up in one conclusion which all the Filipino, including those who were not on the scene, were ridiculed.

I could have had an idea about it if I watch it live but I was not able to. I could have said my part whenever my friends would talk about it but my mouth is always zipped. I was to blind about the commotion.

Then goes the news on TV still tackling about the hostage drama. I started digging some info for me to really see what was it about, who is to blame and I want to know if it was a failure of the man in uniforms, our police team.

Well, after a day I was able to conclude things and realize that because of this our country is again in the scrutiny of the whole world and not just Hongkong. I respect those every individual’s ideas. I respect how they react especially the Hongkong nationals. It was such a pain in their hearts coz their fellow nationals, innocent and just looking for time to relax in our beautiful country, were part of it and life ended unexpectedly. But, because of this many things was affected.

Firstly, I pity those Filipino domestic helpers who were kicked from their jobs due to this. As the news says, millions of our fellowmen working in Hongkong is in crisis for unemployment after this tragedy. I wanna cry upon seeing them in their situations. I want to hug and console them just to let them show that we Filipinos (especially the innocent Filipinos) are caring for them in this time of crisis. I want to protect them and gave them what they need, IF ONLY I CAN. It’s another milestone for Philippine unemployment rate.

Second, expect that tourism in the Philippines well surely hit a low spot for a period of time just because of this. Although there have been any other races trying to consoles us, majority sees us, our country, as an unsafe ground to set their foot to. We do have nice and beautiful places here, scenic views and warm beaches ready to hug all the visitors from all over the world. But, in the meantime expect that we will not gain that much visitors for at least a short period of time and this means another deflation with our economic status.

Third, what happens to other Filipinos who would by then is generally termed as hostage takers? Of course, we will again taste the bitter words from our neighboring islands. A day after the drama, technology has been the way of our discriminators to post what they wanted to dub us. Expect the fact that they will consider us killers and life stealers. A one man’s act, affecting the whole nation.

I salute the youngster who sent out the letter of apology to the world as he knows that as a young individual and a Filipino, he is part of those who will be discriminated and scrutinized. Yes, he is right on what he said. NOT ALL FILIPINOS are the same. One man may have made a mistake but it doesn’t mean it applies to everybody. This chaos has not happened only happened here in the Philippines. There are those other countries who has experienced more than this. In behalf of the Filipino nation, to the whole world, accept our apology. Our brother has committed a mistake. We witness how it happens but if only we could do something about it to save the lives of the Chinese people then we will do. It is our pride to stand up in behalf of the hostage taker to ask for forgiveness. One man’s fault will be equaled with a billion sorry just to prove to the world that we are not born to kill. We are not obliged to live such a low-life and hostage people. We are also victims. Our sympathy lies with all of you.

Lastly, I would not consider this as another turning point four our nation because this is not just the first time when the world has turned its eyes to all of us. A lot had happened before and more frenzied than. This is just a story of downfall of which every country will experience as well.