Living in the City

 News Overshadowed by Luneta Grandstand Hostage Crisis The hostage crisis situation dominated the news headlines in the last 8 days. As a result, equally important issues took a back seat: Worsening dengue situation - said to have increased by 75% this year. Calling DOH. Ampatuan Massacre - postponements that seem to delay the early conviction of those who will be found guilty. Human rights violation again,  allegedly committed by Manila policemen Hide and Ply strategy of colorum buses with  EDSA routes   Continuous media campaign to support the government's plans to address possible flood crisis situation during the remaining typhoon season. Mismanagement of gov't funds by GOCC's.. after current Senate investigation,  what now?

Luneta Hostage Taking  Tragedy Damage Control Secretary Leila de Lima is now the top point person  to resolve  the  Luneta  hostage crisis problem. Perhaps, the government noticed that  investigators  were churning out oxymoronic statements regarding their respective investigative actions. As her initial action Sec De Lima ordered everyone to shut up.   The point is all this government needs to do is to provide the  facts. What happened? From whose guns  did the fatal bullets come from? Who ordered what? What procedures were not followed? Protocols violated? Rights violated? Does the PNP  have an existing plan to handle hostage or terrorist actions? Who failed to do his job? Or their jobs? What happens to these people?  No whitewash please.. no sweeping under the rug.. So when do we expect the results to be released? Timeline please.

Change is Inevitable In six months I will be entering a new phase in my adult life. I am so excited but at the same time anxious at the  prospect of change.. the happiness it would bring  affecting directly the parties concerned. I want to pleasantly imagine  how that difference would allow them to move a notch a higher or "step-up" in the ladders of their lives. All I can say for now is that with God's grace, " times are changed as we are changed by time." Good luck to all of us... Let's all drink to happiness :-) Cheers.

Notes from the Senate Hearings on the Luneta Grandstand Hostage Taking Snippets of information I gathered from the Senate hearings on the Luneta Hostage Crisis Fiasco: 1. Gen Magtibay as the ground commander had the power to use the more experienced RSAF which was at that time at his disposal, to address the crisis. He did not. Instead it was his judgment call to stick with his MPD SWAT team because of the team's assurance that they can do it. 2. The SWAT team were not properly equipped to execute the assault, despite the fact that they already practiced it's execution. 3. The assualt was launched because the ground commander believed the escaped driver's statement that the hostages were already killed by the hostage taker. 4. It was Mayor Lim who ordered the arrest of the hostage taker's brother. 5. The hostage taker's M16 is really a loose firearm because he had no authority to carry one. 6. Per the SWAT Team leader's statement, 8-12 rounds of ...

 Aftermath: The Luneta Hostage Crisis Because I am a religious radio listener, I was naturally tuned in that day. At 10:00  in the morning, the news said that there was a hostage taking incident involving foreign tourists riding a tourist bus. A certain dismissed police officer commandeered the bus from Fort Santiago, a famous tourist spot . At first they said the tourists were  Koreans, which I immediately  posted in my facebook account. But immediately corrected as well, when media said those involved  were Hongkong and Chinese nationals. It was clear from the video shots that the hostage taker was armed with high powered firearms. What went wrong during this crisis? My two cents worth and this I am not saying just now but as early as noon of that fateful day, I thought that the police were ill prepared  to handle hostage  crisis situations media was too eager to broadcast such a very sensitive situation.. hello..as always everyone wanted ...

Marikina, Provident and Ondoy Three words that will forever be etched in my heart. Typhoon Ondoy devastated Provident, the village where we used to live. And Provident is in Marikina. I live. It  A destruction never before seen by anyone. Perhaps, God alone saw this coming.

 Holes in the Screening Process? Like it or not,  PNoy and his men will be in the news for 6 years.  Perhaps on a minute by minute basis. Because everyone is keeping an eye. Friends and family want PNoy  to succeed. Along with the people who voted for him, they want President Noy to perpetuate his parent's legacy -  Service to the People. The new converts, sincerely moved  by his initial actions are also keeping tab. Many want him to do well. By the same token, his enemies too are following the President's every move. Critics observe.  His cabinet men's every word  scrutinized. Actions constantly checked out.   Majority of the Filipinos are full of expectations  for change. Under his command, people look forward to good governance. A corrupt free administration will  be a way of life, hopefully. The underprivileged are counting on PNoy. Gone will be the  grinding days of  daily  survival.  Asia's basket...