One Minute, One Day

By Rolo B. Cena

Random

Dumaguete Star Informer

18 September 2016

The metropolis was bombed.  In less than one minute one Friday, they wrecked the town.  They attacked the metro when the ruler was out to take care of a more pressing and bigger task for the entire country and populace.  The devastation was broadcasted in the country’s terrestrial giants.  It also became the staple in various social networking sites and national dailies for more than a week now. 

In less than one minute the metro was torn; it was shattered.  Unfortunately, it claimed lives and injured a number. Those fourteen lives claimed by this planned activity affected more than the number; it multiplied as these beings do have families of their own:  spouse, kids, siblings, extended families, and others.  This is something you and I must make a stand.

Davao is such a nice place.  In one of my trips, I could not help but praise the City for what it tries to deliver to the humankind; I easily fall in love with the place:  Subtle, clean and peaceful.  Its subtlety was superb, something that commands propriety.  The cleanliness was astounding, it implies sobriety.  The peace situation was overwhelming and reveals one thing:  the leader knows and uses his craftsmanship in influencing his constituents.  After all, leadership is influence according to John Maxwell.

I seldom appreciate a metro that exhibits modern structures, divergent billboards or skyscrapers, heterogeneous people or modernized shows and flicks.  I appreciate a place whose cultural heritage is preserved.  But when I was there and saw the opposing behaviors exhibited along Roxas Avenue where suspected terrorists blew a cadre of explosives, I changed my perspective.  We actually enjoyed the gaily atmosphere of the night market where visitors and locals converge to chat over local street foods sold by homegrown stores in simple preparations across some commercial stalls selling foreign stuffs, along side shanties that commercialized “ukay-ukay” of branded articles. 

Davao is still fresh in my travel memoir.  The bombing is as fresh as those memories I have had in Roxas Avenue.

After the explosion, in less than one minute, President Duterte declared state of lawlessness.  He qualified though that it was not a declaration of military rule, which most of the political rivals and opponents was trying to suspect.  Undoubtedly, in less than one minute, several critical things could possibly happen.  Interpretations could even send instantly a critically difficult thing to happen.  Interpretations matter precisely the reason why the President immediately clarified the pronouncement.  The President can still be misunderstood along this line even in the presence of the articulated clarifications.

We cannot blame people for thinking that way.  We cannot even blame them for insinuating that Martial Law is coming with the media has gone overboard in raising issues.  We cannot blame them for believing that way when there is a historical basis for that.  Back in August 21, 1971, when the Liberal Party held their “grand miting de avance” at the Plaza Miranda in the district of Quiapo, Manila, four grenades were hurled at the stage killing nine injuring ninety-five others.  Many of the party leaders and senatorial candidates were seriously injured. The Filipinos believed that it was the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos who orchestrated the bombing.   Months later in his declaration, Marcos place the entire archipelago under Martial law.

Later in his book, Sen. Jovita Salonga confirmed that communist party leader Jose Maria Season orchestrated it.  It is the same guy President Rodrigo Duterte is negotiating in the spirit of reconciliation and peace. 

Days of public exposures:  One minute, one Friday they bombed Davao.  One day, the country and the Filipino people earned the ire of the world for extrajudicial killings.  One day, our president discriminately tagged a US diplomat.  One day, our president mistakenly quoted as saying a distinctly nasty comment about the US President.  One day, a newly elected lady senator hit social networking sites, tabloids and national dailies for an illicit affair with her driver, and a lot more.  One day, the President was criticized for vulgar, harsh or rude comments unbecoming of the head of state.  One day, the Filipinos felt that they are so dumb.

But one day, President Duterte was elected Chairman of the ASEAN Summit 2017; he was praised; he was admired.

One minute one day, the Filipinos realized that they have to choose between what is more shameful, serving as government official in charge of criminalities but failed to compel drug lords and traffickers or serving as a chief executive for about fifty days but cowed in thousands of suspected drug lords and traffickers to surrender.

One minute one day, Filipino voting populace must make a stand between ending the “tuwid na daan” for accomplishments all lavished with embellishments or trudging that twisted streets with the end in mind of cleaning its pavements, halls and galleys

One minute one day you will realize that not all intelligent persons are educated.  Indeed, character speaks!