yearend blahness

Here I am... I still exist. I still do…

The news of Saddam’s execution had taken me aback. Sure, I do believe that justice has been served at last. For the inhumanities he’d done, he definitely deserved some punishment. But when I saw the photos and the videos that day, watching him on the gallows made me cringe. Somewhere in my heart, I could trace a fragment of pity for him not to mention the horror I felt witnessing a real human being being hanged to death. After all, I never was an advocate of death penalty and perhaps never will be.
Two days ago, the 30th of December was a national holiday in the Philippines. We were commemorating the martyrdom of our greatest national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal on the year 1896- that’s a hundred and ten years up to now. I’m talking of a different kind of execution here- literally and figuratively. This was death through a firing squad and the Spanish conquerors were behind it. We Filipinos know the details so I’m sparing much of it. The writings he’d done especially his two novels written in the Spanish language, “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not) and “El Filibusterismo.”(The Subversion) revealed the cruelties of the Spanish conquerors to the native Filipinos. Figure out what happens next... I'd read the two novels myself during highschool. I was awfully moved and wanted to crush Father Damaso (the main antagonist) in my hands. If that was what I felt, how much more the native Filipinos suffering injustice during those times.It didn't end just there with the Spaniards. There came the ruthless Japanese invaders during WW2. It's all over the history books. I've even heard stories of it from my grandma who survived the said war. But something's missing, when asked which among the 3 countries were the most cruel, the elders who joined the guerilla forces would said that it was the Japs. The academic historians' most probable answer are the Spaniards. Sure because it's what they had read in the books. But did you know that during the war between the Americans and the Filipinos here in the Philippines(late 1800's most probably), more than 200,00 Filipinos (or 1 in every 6 Filipinos in Luzon) had been killed by these Americans. Oh, this wasn't taught at school because the ones who made the curriculum of the Filipinos and the whole educational system starting that time were the Thomasites (Americans). Thus, concealing the inhumanities they did in our history........ (lifted from some webpage I can't remember)

Oh, so much for that. I don't wanna begin the year with so much aversion for these people. That was the past... and somehow they had useful contributions to our country, too. Call that trade-off.
Off to a tangent, it didn't stop raining for like 3 consecutive days already, until yesterday. We hadn't had electricity for about 12 hours. There had been rumors that a lanslide had taken place again in Southern Leyte. Again? I had to close my eyes and hoped it was not true. When the electricity went back again, I hurriedly nosed for the news. Thankfully, there was none.
Our country had already had its share of these tragic disasters- stampede, oil spills, landslides, supertyphoons, etc. The people had suffered enough, I could only utter a prayer. These together with the politicians who are acting like wild beasts freed from their cages- putting their personal interests first before the betterment of the whole nation. Oh, what's the future of this place?
Behind all these, we still have a lot of things worth celebrating for. There's the world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, billiards champion Ronnie Alcano, and the Philippine team who embarked on a trek to Mt. Everest's summit. These were the people who waved the Philippine flag proudly to the world and somehow brought us unity.. and inspiration.
There are lots of other things that we should be thankful for. The simple things in life. The air that we breathe, our family, our friends. The thought that inspite all these we still survive. The thought that there is God silently guiding us as we tread on the journey of life.
Hey, it's the 1st day of 2007. Happy New Year! I'm not making any new year's resolutions. I had stopped doing so eversince I forgot when. I just wish that the year ahead wil be filled with peacefullness. Peace on Earth goodwill to men! Happy New Year!