Zamboanga Crisis: Day 21
It has definitely been a number of days since I last watched the news. I just find the news to be engrossing that I haven't been as productive as I wanted to be. Actually, if I had a TV in my room I've probably still be watching the news while working.
Mar Roxas, well-known as Mr. Palengke back when he was still running for office in the Senate, supposedly declared that the war is over, based on the barrage of status messages on my Facebook News Feed. A lot of people are not convinced. Some commented that they heard gunfire and explosions still, while others who probably are far away from the the affected areas are rejoicing because of the good news.
While I am among those who are in the unaffected areas, the gunfire and explosions that have been waking me the past few days seem to be absent today. I'm not going to say that it's now safe to go out and be merry, but rather I would advise those who would need to be outside for work and provisions to be as vigilant as always.
We are no Singapore, where people walk around with their smartphones out in the open and watching videos while on the train, where you can still find a job even when you lose yours today, or where taxi drivers tell you to strap your seat belt on and even have a time tracker and GPS the moment you board.
We are Zamboanga City, where some of those who are victims of poverty think that it's okay to take a life for a measly PhP800, where more than 100,000 individuals have lost their homes, their livelihood, and some of their loved ones due to the war.
If you are well-versed in the history of the Philippines, you would know that we have been through this over and over again. I'm not an expert in Philippine history, but so far the longest armed conflict that I've read about lasted for 14 years between Moro revolutionary groups and the United States military, which claimed anywhere from between 10,000 to 20,000 lives. This was the Moro Rebellion.
In 1898, the First Philippine Republic, or the Malolos Republic was first established. Emilio Aguinaldo stood as the First Philippine President. However, this victory was short-lived. Spain turned us over to the Americans after the Spanish-American War and between 1899-1902, the Filipino Rebellion war happened until Aguinaldo was captured and surrendered to the American forces.
Anyway, I won't go into the Philippine history today. But what I can say right now is, this is the most quiet evening I've had since war broke out three weeks ago.
Today is still Day 20, but until authorities declare that we can finally go back to work at the City Hall, whether there is armed conflict or not, Zamboanga Crisis is still ongoing.
Mar Roxas, well-known as Mr. Palengke back when he was still running for office in the Senate, supposedly declared that the war is over, based on the barrage of status messages on my Facebook News Feed. A lot of people are not convinced. Some commented that they heard gunfire and explosions still, while others who probably are far away from the the affected areas are rejoicing because of the good news.
While I am among those who are in the unaffected areas, the gunfire and explosions that have been waking me the past few days seem to be absent today. I'm not going to say that it's now safe to go out and be merry, but rather I would advise those who would need to be outside for work and provisions to be as vigilant as always.
We are no Singapore, where people walk around with their smartphones out in the open and watching videos while on the train, where you can still find a job even when you lose yours today, or where taxi drivers tell you to strap your seat belt on and even have a time tracker and GPS the moment you board.
We are Zamboanga City, where some of those who are victims of poverty think that it's okay to take a life for a measly PhP800, where more than 100,000 individuals have lost their homes, their livelihood, and some of their loved ones due to the war.
If you are well-versed in the history of the Philippines, you would know that we have been through this over and over again. I'm not an expert in Philippine history, but so far the longest armed conflict that I've read about lasted for 14 years between Moro revolutionary groups and the United States military, which claimed anywhere from between 10,000 to 20,000 lives. This was the Moro Rebellion.
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| Cornelius C. Smith (far right), a recipient of the Medal of Honor, as commander of the Philippine Constabulary with Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing and Moro chieftains in 1910. Smith participated in expeditions against the Moro rebels for much of his time in the Philippines. Image credit: Wikipedia |
Anyway, I won't go into the Philippine history today. But what I can say right now is, this is the most quiet evening I've had since war broke out three weeks ago.
Today is still Day 20, but until authorities declare that we can finally go back to work at the City Hall, whether there is armed conflict or not, Zamboanga Crisis is still ongoing.
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