Terror

I had been keenly watching CNN and BBC updates of the unfolding events in Mumbai,India. Yes, terrorism strikes when and where it is least expected.

The images on TV brought back the memories of the so-called Rizal Day Bombings in Metro Manila, Philippines. These happened during a national holiday in December 30,2000.

It was the start of our annual holiday in Manila. My family and I have just checked in at the Dusit Hotel in Makati when a bomb was found along the driveway of the hotel. The Makati Police Bomb Squad was called, and some EOD experts took the bomb away from the hotel premises. They were bringing the bomb to a vacant area across EDSA when it detonated. A senior Police Officer was killed.

My children were just 5 and 3 years old then. The pervading fear was clear and palpable and I could see that they somehow understood the gravity of the situation. The what-ifs that my wife and I were pondering just brought the pall of gloom to higher levels.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON A HOLIDAY AND YET THERE WE WERE, LOCKED UP IN A HOTEL ROOM WATCHING TERRORISM HISTORY UNFOLD BEFORE OUR EYES.

We became witnesses to the events that happened after the bomb blew up. We saw the stampede at SM Makati. We saw the mad-rush at Glorietta. We saw the grim faces of the hotel security officers and the PNP officials. We sat transfixed at the TV set when we learned that bombs exploded in four other places almost simultaneously. We did not know what to expect, much less what to do.

My wife wanted to go back right away to Batangas. I was able to convince her though that the safest place at that time would be right at Dusit Hotel since the bomb intended to be detonated there had already gone off.

The memories of nearly 8 years ago just came back, triggered by the tragedy at Mumbai.

Terrorism should be stopped. It would never be an answer to the problems of the world.