His Bike Is His Passion

When my son first asked my permission to join the Bike for Peace, I said NO. He did mention that it was going to cover the distance of 30 kilometers and that immediately sent my heart racing. My only question was, "are you going to use the highway?" He answered "yes" so I said "no!"

When I asked that question, his initial reaction was something like "duh!" Lol! It was a stupid question after all and he knew where it was leading to. He eventually shrugged his shoulder and retreated to his room.

Feeling guilty about it, I summoned him back and asked realistic (albeit more appropriate) questions like who he was biking with, what time would he leave and what time would I expect him back. His answers didn't make sense to me but at that point, I only needed a basis to reconsider my first decision. I knew how important his biking is to him and this was his first time to join a group of serious bikers.

So on November 30 (Monday, a holiday here), he left our house at 6:00 a.m. which is his usual time to go biking on weekends and holidays. As the hours passed, I had to fight the urge to send him sms asking where he was. Do you have any idea how hard it was to stop myself from worrying that morning?

I was so relieved to see him home before noon.

Before I could speak though, he proudly showed me his certificate. As I read it, I couldn't help but beam with pride.

"The bearer has proven endurance for the cause of harmony, peace and progress in our country."

It finally made sense to me. He did mention "Bike for Peace" when he asked permission but I guess I wasn't really listening. Neither did I equate or associate it with the cause that everyone here is clamoring and fighting for now. After all, he is just a 15-year-old kid.

But even 15 year olds have their own opinion. The children have seen on the news how almost 60 people have been brutally killed. My own son believes that justice has been denied to us when his father met his untimely end almost 5 years ago. This has got to stop, he said. What better way to express it than joining an activity closest to his heart! I guess this is his own little way of helping, not us, but those whose lives (and families) stand to be spared if the injustice around us finally stops.

Top Droppers for November

Thank you to my top ten Entrecard droppers for the month of November!

Who Created The Monsters?

"Thank you Lord for not allowing Mommy to go out with Daddy that evening... Thank you for letting her stay with us..." This was my youngest daughter's prayer over supper one evening. If I went out with James on the night of January 24, 2005 (like the way I used to), these 3 kids would have awakened the next day as orphans. My heart breaks every time I think of it. I guess it was not my time yet. Or maybe I just got lucky.

But not everyone is as lucky...

The children of Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito were suddenly orphaned when their parents met their untimely death on November 23, 2009. While on their way to Cotabato City for a medical check up and ct scan (Eduardo suffered a mild stroke that day), their car was waylaid and led to the killing fields by the private militia (over 100 gunmen) of a Maguindanao Mayor.

They are not the only ones who perished in what is now tagged as Maguindanao Massacre.

A prominent political family in the South easily lost over a dozen of their members, all women, who were tasked to file the certificate of candidacy (for a gubernatorial position) of Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu. Together with Mangudadatu's wife, sisters (the youngest sister was 4 months pregnant!) and other relatives, 34 media practitioners likewise perished in "the single deadliest event for journalists in history."

Sadly, two lady lawyers, acting as legal counsel for the Mangudadatus , were also among those slain in the infamous massacre.

Ironically, Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito were not even part of the Mangudadatu's convoy. These ordinary government employees were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.

To date, 57 bodies (22 were women) have been recovered from the shallow graves that were dug by a backhoe which belonged to the Maguindanao provincial government. In an attempt to hide the gruesome murders, the victims' cars were also buried with them.

The manner by which the women victims were tortured, mutilated and killed (possibly raped too!) was truly unspeakable. The devil himself would have cringed at the thought.

The suspect? Scion of a political warlord in Maguindanao. The motive? Political rivalry and vendetta.

Thus ends the saga of the most feared and most powerful political clan in the southern part of the country. The entire nation watched (with great relief!!! ) as their downfall slowly unfolded.

This may be the worst election-related violence in the country but this is not the first time that the people here have heard of such atrocities. Goons, guns and gold seem to get so fast into the head of every aspiring political warlord. No matter how clean and sincere a man's intentions were at the start of his political career, the "power" eventually transforms him into a monster one way or the other. There are some exceptions, of course, and kudos to them who sincerely, incessantly and tirelessly work to make this country (and world) a better place to live in.

In most cases though, power is taken to mean as a carte blanche to take the law into one's hands. The Maguindanao massacre was carried out in broad daylight. It is quite scary to think that these people were so confident in committing mass murder with impunity thinking that they could get away with it. [Actually, they almost did if not for the timely (and unwelcome) appearance of the search team on board a chopper.]

As I said, this is not the only crime of this kind. A few months ago, a mass grave was also discovered in this city. After a controversy-ridden investigation and "technical-legal difficulties," everyone seemed to have forgotten about it already. Everyone moved on since then. The perpetrators conveniently hid under the cloak of the law which they themselves trampled on. But what about those people whose bones remained buried there?

And so it remained that way... unsolved! Sadly charged to experience.

For all of the Maguindanao massacre's victims' families, take comfort that the sacrifice of lives has finally unraveled and unmasked the monsters that lurked in the province of Maguindanao. They did not die in vain.

For those whose atrocities and complicities have not yet been disclosed, divine justice will eventually catch up with you. The truth will emerge and justice will take its full course... Somehow... Someday...

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." -Martin Luther King, Jr.-

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." -Albert Einstein-

Facebook Mania and High School Buddies

I never thought I'd get hooked. I was content with Twitter posting my updates (including shoutouts) in my Facebook profile wall. I would check out and try new crazy quizzes and applications from time to time, say hi to some friends and... that's it...

Until my high school buddies started posting our "vintage" photos... That did the trick!

Now there is no day when I wouldn't check the long thread of comments below each of these photos. Even at work, I would sneak into FB for a few minutes and see what my former classmates and batchmates are discussing (and who's being "roasted").

I can't count the times when I silently laughed behind my work desk after reading and joining in those silly banters. From skinny jeans (80's version), shower scenes to hair lice... everyone has something to say. "Skeletons" were unraveled to the delight of the group.

I must thank Facebook for getting us to interact and reconnect with each other after many years. I have not seen most of these friends since high school graduation and that was- OMG!!!- 26 years ago!

HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 80'S... SWEET MEMORIES

Photo credits: Thanks to HS buddies Tina and Dulce for taking us to a trip down memory lane through these "vintage" photos. As I said, they are timeless and priceless now.

It's Not Your Fault...

Her letter read: "I'm sorry... I just can't take it anymore..."

And just like that, she took her life. Her pain may have ended. Her sleepless nights may have also ended. But then, her bereaved children's nightmare has just begun.

"Why?" Her children asked. For them, this was their mother-- a strong-willed woman who showed no trace of weakness at all in her entire life. A survivor. A real fighter. A winner. She was always in control... even of their lives. She had everything that money could buy. They all thought that she could handle everything. Now they are haunted by "why's" and have no way of knowing what went on in her mind.

Coping with death in the family is one of life's most challenging trials. But when a loved one commits suicide, the family does not only experience profound grief because of the sudden loss but the overwhelming feelings of incomprehension, blame and anger are added to their suffering.

It does not end there though. They then start to feel isolated and judged by their friends and colleagues. The stigma, whether imagined or not, may cause them to withdraw in order to protect themselves from intrusive and difficult questions as well as disparaging remarks.

Right now, I wish I have the right words to comfort my friend who lost her mother. I know that she has not told her son the truth about his grandmother's death. She wanted him to remember his grandmother as the exuberant, positive person that she was.

My friend, at this point in time, there is no right or wrong and there are no rules in dealing and coping with your grief. Let me assure you though that IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Whatever drove your mother to commit suicide, you had nothing to do with it. I can feel your pain and confusion. I can feel your anger. You are entitled to feel that way. After all, this tragedy has thrown all your emotions into turmoil.

No, you couldn't have prevented it. A person who is determined to commit suicide is likely to accomplish it. Perhaps what is best now is to learn how to accept this. She is gone so she can't be helped anymore. But you... you have to get on with your life. For your family's sake. For your own sake.

When you are ready to talk about it, you know that I am here for you.