Life is so cheap in this country. Nakaka-aliw bang mamaril ng kapwa tao?
Killing spree? That was never heard before. That kind of thing only happens in America. Not here, not in this country where people are peace-loving, not thrill seekers. Kala ko ba we Filipinos are hospitable and kind?
How many foreigners were shot dead last month? Halos matunaw ako sa hiya when something like that is in the news. My God. Nahihiya talaga ako kasi di ba nga we want tourists to come to our country? Then we should treat them right and well. Do not victimize them.
Maybe one of the disadvantages of being one among hundreds of million is that we are disposable. If fifty persons get killed each day, our population will not decrease. Maybe a thousand babies are born each day.
When President Fidel Ramos visited Vancouver during his presidency, there were about twenty businessmen who accompanied him. We found a one hour free period in our schedule so we asked the host to give us a short city tour.
When we reached a particular street, the guide said that area was not safe because in the previous year, there were two people who died there.
One of us commented “In the Philippines that’s just for one hour”.
I do not know what has become of us. There are so many guns for hire in our midst. It has become an industry. They might as well register their group with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and get their own Tax Identification Numbers.
People kill with no remorse and hesitation. Basta ganun na lang.
The motorcycle makes it easier for criminals to move around and escape.
Yesterday, I found out that the one doing some repairs for my things is a young widow. Her husband was working as a messenger for a company in Quezon City. He withdrew one million two hundred thousand pesos (Php 1,200,000.00) from a nearby bank for their payroll. When he reached their office’s gate, he rang the doorbell. Before the security guard could open the gate, he heard gunshots. The guard went back to his post to get his gun. When he opened the steel gate, the messenger was already sprawled on the cement, bloodied and dead. He was shot by riding in tandem. The payroll money was taken. His wife just gave birth two months before he was killed. Meron yang nag tip, siguro office mate nya or someone from the bank.
Many companies now do not withdraw cash. Banks offer free service to corporate clients. Names of employees and corresponding salaries are submitted to the bank. Their salaries are then credited to their individual ATM accounts. Kaya madalas wala ring dalang sweldo ang mga tao. Mahirap ma-holdup kahit limang libo. Pagkain ng pamilya nila yun.
Nung araw nga I lost my wallet from a pick-pocket inside National Bookstore in Cubao, I had P150.00 na trauma ako. I would wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares. I also lost some money, around P150 din, inside Automatic Appliance Store in Cubao rin, when I was pregnant with Oyen. Aba one hundred fifty pesos was already substantial during those days.
When I am watching cable channel, I feel envious when I see young people walking, jogging, biking in parks, or sleeping under a big tree in a public park. I wish my kids and their would be families would be able to enjoy FREE and simple joys in the place they would reside. Where they can roam freely to enjoy their liberties without any fear of crime being committed in their midst.
As humans, we have the right to live peacefully and enjoy peaceful possession of our belongings and properties. Note the words PEACE, PEACEFUL, PEACEFULLY.
But what is happening? Doble-doble ang lock ng mga pinto, may rehas ang mga bintana. Pati nga bubong may rehas na rin dahil inaakyat at tinutuklap ang yero para makapasok sa loob ng bahay para gumawa ng krimen.
My friend always has her cell phone beside her, with pre-set police emergency number in case she wakes up with criminals inside her house. She told me, even in the dark, she could press the call button and would be able to call the police. Paranoid na nga siya.
We cannot enter buildings without being whisked by security guards. We are always being suspected and we have also become suspicious ourselves. Our behaviors are products of years of oppression, wrong education, inverted values, unworthy government leaders, mistrust due to cheating and swindling of each other, etc.
Ganito na tayo ngayon, paano na kaya bukas?
Pilipinas, quo vadis?
