• Who’s To Blame?

    August 26, 2010
    Travel

    My officemates who planned their Hong Kong trip on February decided to cancel their trip after the bloody Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking event shocked the world. A week ago, I was planning to bring my family to Hong Kong Disneyland next year. And two weeks from now, my brother will arrive from the Middle East; he will have his stop-over in where else but Hong Kong!

    It was a rainy Monday night when I learned about the hostage-taking event through my neighbor. I was clueless and uninterested; not because I didn’t care about what was happening but because in my mind, I was confident that it would end very peacefully. Remember the 2007 hostage-taking incident wherein Bong Revilla and Chavit acted as negotiator?

    The next day, I was shocked to know that eight people were killed during the hostage-taking. They were innocent people; foreigners who went here just to take a break and enjoy. My heart was mourning with the victims’ family. I wanted to know who is to blame.

    According to reports, Senior Inspector Mendoza felt that the Ombudsman’s decision to sack him of a crime (extortion) that he did not commit was very unfair. His track record prior to that incident was impressive. Now, people were angry at him for what he did on that fateful Monday. Did he die for the cause that he was fighting for? Why did he have to kill innocent people and what triggered him? Who’s to blame for what he did?

    The media covered the event LIVE. Thus, Mendoza was able to know what was happening outside the bus through TV. Who’s to blame for that coverage? The networks’ executives? Are they really after the ratings?

    The SWAT team appeared unprepared and shaken. Who’s to blame for their performance? Do they really lack training?

    Would it make a difference if P-Noy talked with the hostage-taker? He was reportedly on track with the situation but it seemed that Donald Tsang would disagree. If Manila Mayor Aflredo Lim talked with Mendoza, would there be a chance that he could pacify him? He, being a former military man?

    I am particulary sympathetic to Jason Wong. He lost his parents; he’s just a child. He survived because a kind and tactful mother (a fellow tourist) asked Mendoza if she could bring with her the boy. (They were released together with her kids and an elderly woman who was said to be suffering from diarrhea.)

    Yes, Monday’s incident was an isolated case but can we blame Hong Kong if they turn their anger to our OFW’s there? Unfair as it is and it only proves that whatever we do as individuals, good or bad, it equates to how foreigners view us as a nation and vice versa.

  • Quirino Grandstand Hostage-Taking

    August 25, 2010
    Life & Love

    Still unverified if there is a survivor by the name of BANG LU MIN.

    Postcripts Of A BloodBath

    by Bang Lu Min
    (One of the Hostages)

    Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza’s hands.

    The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn’t listen so he used us to get everyone’s attention.

    Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn’t see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn’t understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head.

    Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate.

    I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don’t matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth.

    Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It’s like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally realizes his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive – for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive,

    I will come home.

    Bang Lu Min
    Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

  • From Germany To Kosovo

    August 20, 2010
    Life & Love

    Sharing with you what I got from MSN:

    For two teenage Roma sisters life has turned into a nightmare since they were forced to leave Germany, the only home they had ever known, and expelled to Kosovo, a country they had never seen.

    Kosovo hurdles for Roma kids expelled from Germany
    “I feel like I am in prison. I do not go out of the yard,” said 13-year-old Bukurije Berisha in fluent German as she pointed to the high walls surrounding her dilapidated house.

    “I still hope I will wake up and see it was a bad dream.”

    The girls were born after their parents sought asylum in Germany in 1993, fleeing a brutal crackdown on Kosovo by the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

    They speak no Albanian, the dominant language in Kosovo, and only a bit of their parents’ native Roma tongue.

    But last December, they landed with their parents and five brothers and sisters in a poor Roma settlement with filthy, narrow streets on the edge of the western Kosovo town of Pec.

    The Berishas are among some 14,000 Kosovars — 10,000 of them Roma — to be returned from Germany under a bilateral deal in April, nearly 11 years after the end of the Kosovo war.

    And those who will suffer most are children like Bukurije and her sister Lumturije, warn experts including Thomas Hammarberg, the human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, the pan-European rights body.

    On Tuesday, he singled out Kosovo as he urged member states to refrain from action that only worsens the exclusion of Roma, many of whom already live on the fringe as stateless people without documents and thus denied basic human rights.

    “For instance, western European states should stop forcibly returning Roma to Kosovo,” Hammarberg said in a statement.

    Rights groups have sounded the alarm about a new round of discrimination against what some call Europe’s most hated minority.

    In France, controversy has dogged a government crackdown on illegal gypsy camps and moves to expel foreign gypsies breaking the law, after President Nicolas Sarkozy said some in the community posed security problems. Most Roma — an ethnic group widespread in eastern Europe — in France are thought to come from Romania and Bulgaria, both of which joined the European Union in 2007.

    European Justice and Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding already warned in April that “the situation of many Roma seems to have deteriorated over the years,” adding “that is simply not acceptable.”

    Last month, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, noted that about half of the Roma to be deported from Germany to Kosovo are children, the majority of them born and raised in Germany.

    “Children are the ones most affected by these forced returns,” Hammarberg warned in a foreword to the UNICEF report. “In Kosovo they are confronted with an entirely new reality. They feel lost and alienated.”

    The home the Berishas left was burned down in the bloody 1999 war that ended the conflict in the former Serbian province, which declared independence in 2008 despite fierce Serbian opposition. Now the family lives in a cousin’s house with no indoor plumbing or running water.

    The two sisters no longer go to school. They blame language trouble but also say they feel like outcasts with their urban European manners and fashionable clothes.

    “Children tease and call us names in school,” Lumturije said.

    They long to return “home” and vow to do so when older.

    “I was born there and I feel German,” a tearful 14-year-old Lumturije Berisha said, remembering her home in Arnsberg, western Germany.

    “I miss my school. I miss going to walk with friends in my city.”

    Analyst and prominent Roma journalist Kujtim Pacaku said it was an “illusion” to expect Roma children to integrate “after such a cultural shock”.

    “To do so, they have to forget all their previous experience and knowledge and begin from zero,” he told AFP.

    Germany has pressed for the refugees’ return for years and despite the April deal, even Kosovo’s Minister for Welfare Nenad Rasic conceded that his country simply does not have the resources to receive and integrate all returnees.

    Kosovo is considered one of Europe’s poorest countries where official figures show nearly half the two million population is unemployed and living under the poverty line. Critics in both countries have charged that Kosovo is unable to guarantee basic human rights like access to adequate housing, health care or education to its own inhabitants, no less returning Roma.

    Kosovo “first must create conditions for their integration,” said Roma member of parliament Danish Ademi, who opposes the return of gypsies.

    “Otherwise, people will have to beg or steal at once they are dropped at the airport in order to feed their families,” he said.

    Families with special needs children have not been excluded from the expulsions from Germany, though the German embassy in the Kosovo capital Pristina was not available for comment.

    The nine-member Miftari family were returned after a 16-year stay in Germany where two of their sons, now seven and 11 and both profoundly deaf, were born.

    “In Germany the conditions were ideal. They went to a specialized school which picked them up from home each day and returned them,” their father Shemsi Miftari said sadly.

    “Here they are forced to collect scrap metals and tin cans.”

    The Mulolli family has a similar tale. Their two-year-old daughter suffers from what they said is a congenital disorder that makes her “forget” to breathe in her sleep, though they could produce no verifiable medical documents, saying they were given only a short time to pack one bag per family member when they were expelled and had no time to gather medical documents.

    Selina’s condition is controlled by special, expensive portable equipment attached to her chest at night to alert her parents if she stops breathing, they said.

    “The equipment uses replaceable and expensive diodes we cannot afford and which even do not exist here,” her father Florim said.

    “Germany condemned Selina to death, but we will not let her die,” he said bitterly, hugging the lively blonde girl on his lap.

    Florim’s son Rrahman, 14, like the Berisha girls, said he felt like a refugee in Kosovo and was in constant touch with his German friends via Facebook.

    “When German police came to our flat to take us to the airport they said we’re taking you home,” he said.

    “I told them my home is here.”

    *****************************************************

    I feel bad for these kids. I feel their pain. In their heart, they are Germans and Germany is their home. Moving back to Kosovo is like starting a new and different life financially and culturally.

    Germany is like a rich relative who welcomed a poor relative to stay with him until the latter is able to re-arrange his life. For many years, Germany provided for his poor relative. Kosovo, the poor relative, learned to live his life the German way and forgot about his original home. Years later, the poor relative was informed that life in their homeland is peaceful again; they can return home. But the poor relative has established himself in the rich relative’s homeland. Despite his apprehensions, he found himself being escorted to the airport. He returned “home” but found himself lost again. He’s used to the rich relative’s homeland. But the rich relative must face his own life, too. He has given enough…maybe more than enough.

  • Aishwarya and Sushmita

    August 19, 2010
    That’s Entertainment

    Indian women are definitely one of the prettiest people on Earth. When it comes to Indian beauty, it will always be Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen for me.

    Aishwarya’s beauty is seductive, one who can make any person stop, stand still and look at her. Her every move seems calculated. She’s every inch the queen, a beauty queen. She knows how beautiful she is and is careful of her every moves. And why not? With a beauty like her, paparazzis would surely wait for her any move that would make her less beautiful. A yawning moment perhaps?

    On the other hand, Sushmita’s beauty is one that you can easily relate with. Aish’s beauty is aristocratic while Sush’s is classic. Sushmita possesses that aura of tranquility and humbleness. She knows that she’s beautiful but she’s not overwhelmed by it. She acts very natural and warm.

    Others are arguing who’s prettier between the two. It depends upon the eye of the beholder. In my opinion, both ladies are very beautiful. 😉

  • 1994 Ms. Universe in Manila

    August 19, 2010
    That’s Entertainment

    Random thoughts:

    – Charlene Gonzales was Philippine’s candidate in the 1994 Ms. Universe pageant held in Manila. I didn’t find her beauty competitive enough at that time with her big hair and a little baby fat. But the girl was charming; she wowed the judges with her “high tide or low tide? While others find her “high tide or low tide?” lacking in substance, Charlene, a young woman at that time, was just being herself: a bubbly, funny and smart teenager. Her timing in joining the contest was way ahead of her supposed time. Five years after the contest, a better Charlene emerged both physically and intellectually. Had she waited a little late in fulfilling her dream, I think she can make it on the top five.

    – Christelle Roelandts (?)- the Belgian beauty was a hit to the local crowd. Her warm smile added to her natural charm. She was young, probably the youngest and her local fan base were mostly male teeners. Did Niño Muhlach tried his luck on her?

    – Lu Parker- Ms. USA Lu Parker may not be the prettiest contestant but she was the coolest.

    – Faviola Perez Rovirosa (?), Brenda Robles and Minorka Mercado- Latinas are undoubdtedly the hottest contestant in any beauty pageant. Their looks, height, poise, charm and intelligence are something to watch for.

    -Michelle Van Eimeren- this Australian beauty captured the heart of no other than Ogie Alcacid. Michelle settled in the Philippines for a short time after she and Ogie tied the knots. She learned Tagalog in this period and spoke the language almost flawlessly. She hosted a mid-morning show with Bing Loyzaga.It was a nice sight to see two beautiful and intelligent women hosting a mid-morning show.

    -Dayanara Torres- 1993 Ms. Universe who passed the crown to Sushmita Sen of India. Yari, as she was fondly called, became an actress and TV host during her post-Ms. Universe days. She dated Aga Muhlach before she met March Anthony.

    – Sushmita Sen- okay, Indian women are one of the most beautiful people on this planet. In Sush’s case, she was the underdog in the 1994 Ms. Universe. The locals favoured Christelle, Areeya of Thailand, Minorka of Venezuela and yes, Charlene of the Philippines. Until now, Filipinos don’t forget how she answered to “What is the essence of a woman?”

  • Three Times A Lady Lyrics

    August 17, 2010
    That’s Entertainment

    Thanks for the times
    That you`ve given me
    The memories are all in my mind
    And now that we`ve come
    To the end of our rainbow
    There`s something
    I must say out loud
    You`re once, twice
    Three times a lady
    Yes you`re once twice
    Three times a lady

    And I love you
    When we are together
    The moments I cherish
    With every beat of my heart
    To touch you to hold you
    To feel you to need you
    There`s nothing to keep us apart
    You`re once twice
    Three times a lady
    And I love you
    I love you

  • Tug of War or Tug of Love?

    August 17, 2010
    That’s Entertainment

    Alas! James Yap spoke on TV to let his soon-to-be ex-wife know that he is not happy on how he is being forbidden to see Baby James, the uncouple’s only son. His last bonding with the toddler was two weeks ago when Kris, Josh and Baby James arrived from their overseas trip. But due to jet lag, Baby James opted to rest and sleep instead of maximizing bonding time with his equally famous dad.

    The two-time MVP revealed that Kris still has a space in his heart. “Hindi naman agad nawawala yun,” he said.

    James decided to hire top calibre lawyers to fight for visitation rights and probably, a joint child custody. In his petition, he wants Baby James to stay with him twice a week (with one overnight), travel with him in Escalante so Baby James can bond with the Yaps there and retain the Yap in Baby James’ surname. Kris must really hate James so much as she’s bent on changing her baby’s surname from Yap to Aquino.

    This new twist in Kris and James’ love/hate story started when Kris decided to ban James from seeing Baby James until the annulment case is over. Would James allow that? The answer is clear—NO!

    James is fighting for his paternal rights and some people cannot help but comment, “Did he do the same to his elder child?”
    I don’t know and we don’t know what kind of relationship James have with his ex-gf. The ex-gf must be very diplomatic; there’s no need for a courtroom drama.

    Baby James is in a middle of a tug of war between his two famous parents. Maybe it’s a tug of love. I feel sorry for the kid. He could have enjoyed the company of both his parents had this problem not happened. He could have enjoyed a countryside life in Escalante with the Yaps, get to know his father’s humble beginnings and get a taste of how to live his life away from the spotlight.

Previous Page
1 … 87 88 89 90 91 … 118
Next Page

Blog at WordPress.com.

The World of Second Chances

We need to let go of the past to have a future.

  • In Case You Care To Know Who I Is
  • Career, Finance & Product
  • Filipino Culture
  • Health & Beauty
  • Life & Love
  • Poems & Stories
  • That's Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Wedding & Family Life
  • Getting to Know Me: The Woman Behind the Words
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • The World of Second Chances
    • Join 41 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The World of Second Chances
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar