Hostages in Manila

As I am sure you have all heard and read about, this was a tragic week in the Philippines.  Monday a bus of tourists from Hong Kong (including a family who live and study in Canada) was taken hostage, and it ended very very badly.  Linda turned on the television around 3 pm and a local station was already broadcasting live from the scene.  The bus was parked in front of the grandstand where, just a few weeks ago, the new president was sworn in.  The place of joy and great hope had been replaced by immense tension and little hope.  For the next many hours all of Manila was gripped by the scene of what was happening.  How?  Why?  For what purpose?  Nothing seemed to make any sense at all. 

After many hours, things very quickly went from tense to horrible as gunshots were heard coming from the bus.  Then CNN and BBC started to show it all.  The bus driver escaped and that is when the tears started.  Thank God he was safe...and yet, there were still 15 people on the bus.  As reported by the bus driver, people had been shot.

Like most of Manila, and many parts of Asia, we could not move....it was like watching a movie and yet, it was happening a 30 minute taxi ride away.  The police moved in.  Although incredibly brave, with little protection, inadequate equipment and apparently no definitive training or plan, the police attempted to end the hostage situation.  It was painful to watch as they passed one sledge hammer from policeman to policeman moving from window to door, while a hail of gun fire came from the madman on board. 

At last it was over.  They killed the madman, and boarded the bus.  The first few hostages off the bus cried in shock and relief.  Next came a few people who were injured, carried out by medical personnel.  But wait, that was not enough people...that was not 15.  Then the news came that eight people had been killed by the madman.  How did the last day of a trip to Manila end like this? 

Since then, it has been shock, horror, confusion, rage, blame and deep deep sadness.  We struggle with how to share it all with you.  Summing it all up, Hong Kong is furious (and the rest of China with them) and has black listed travel to the Philippines.  There have been hundreds of cancellations already. The 150,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong fear for their jobs or worse. 

As for the Philippines, it almost feels like this entire nation has been set back yet again.  The world has watched their incompetence live and is horrified.  In true Filipino cultural manner, the president, P-Noy, smiled through his press conference.  The world has interpreted this as uncaring and even dismissive of the whole event.  What we have learned living here is that Filipinos always smile, even in very tense situations.  It is just their way and it is unfortunate in this situation as it has sparked further outrage in Hong Kong. The people here are as horrified and embarrassed as the rest of the world - never forget that.  It is the only topic of conversation. 

As we reflect on all of this....what does this tell us about the Philippines, their current state and their future?  That the individuals that we know and love are hurting deeply and try so hard.  How could this happen in their country, their city?  Why did it end this way?  There must have more that could have been done?  As for the country - we found a commentary that says much that Jeff and I have been mulling over since Monday.  Click here to read his comments.  

And so, as you rest in safe, quiet, boring Canada, say a prayer for the friends and families of those who died, of those who were in the bus, of those who escaped, and of those of the hostage taker.  And please keep this adopted country of ours in your prayers - that they may handle the investigation into this with integrity, honesty and transparency, and may come out the other end heading in the right direction.

And to our Mothers, we were VERY FAR AWAY from this!

We love you all,
Linda and Jeff