Maguindanao Massacre: Of Laurels and Men

24 Nov. 2009: Maguindanao, Philippines.

November 14 …. November 22 …. the laurels just nested on the Philippine soil through Manny Pacquiao (Boxing history) and Efren Penaflorinda (2009 CNN’s Hero of the Year) … but the laurels are now simply overshadowed by banana leaves and worn-out newspaper pages, all stained by blood, tears, anger and pain ….

Often heard whenever a heinous, a gruesome, a seemingly impossible and inhuman crime is committed, is that the perpetrator is at that time (when the act was committed), the “actual” person … BUT … not in his human self … not in his lucid self … not a human being as we know it … that he was unknowing and not in-control of all the actions committed … that he was overpowered by overt circumstances as not to distinguish what is right from the wrong … what is moral from the immoral … what is legal from the illegal … what is humanly from the inhuman.  He is just not who and what he is … either he is crazy or a man in devil’s spell.

We hear and see the kamangly unfolding of the “Maguindanao Massacre” from the tube and the web. It is undeniably brutal and inhuman.  We wonder how can a man possibly commit such actions …. kidnapping … abduction… these are possible; mutilation happens (by culture, “per accidens” or crime), so is rape … so is killing … but ALL in crime … ALL to most victims …. ALL to number of victim WOMEN (mutilated limbs and genitals … as news detailed) …. ALL to so many …  at this time (election … quarter year-end … holidays) … in this country (of multi faith … mostly Christians) …. to civilians and journalists (and collateral victims) …  worst, an attempt to cover-up by burying, in the midst of nowhere, all the dead (54?), things (…including camera tripods..) and vehicles with a back hoe ….. The  ”Maguindanao Massacre” is simply an action by MEN, a human being, who opted to commit an inhuman action.

I saw the movie “Hotel Rwanda”. One depicting how a hotel manager helped both locals and hotel guests in the midst of conflict … genocide attempt to a tribe.  Machetes, clubs and guns were used.  Kidnapping, abduction, rape, murder … It was a massacre … It was a genocide … It was Rwanda …. and Rwanda is not like Maguindanao, not like the Philippines, and never should be.

…. to the victims … a prayer and a writ ….

http://zahlreich.wordpress.com

Trapped in a Coffin

Today I read the article “Car crash victim trapped in ‘coma’ for 23 years was conscious …
Paralysed patient could not move or communicate with doctors until Belgian neurologist tested new brain scanner” Kate Connolly in Berlin guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 November 2009 13.13GMT

It must really be terrible and devastating to be trapped in a motor-handicapped body not being able to communicate (in the natural way) yet conscious about everything.  I saw a movie (forgot the title) just like that, except that the monster-doctors intended the rich patient to be in a coma state. Never did they know that the man remained conscious and aware, hearing and seeing everything they did … even when they did an open heart surgery transplant. 

I was once got stuck in a delivery elevator in the middle of a basement parking lot of a prime mall in Cebu.

It was late afternoon. I got boxes with me. With two delivery boys and a company, we walked fast the cold metal box with dangling cables. I was all relaxed hopping in. Then, the elevator suddenly halted. The lights flickered. On and Off. We were midway down the basement 2. Not this time … not with me … i thought. Instantly, I knew the elevator is stuck.

Instantly, all weird things and assumptions hurriedly crawled beneath the soles of my feet to my brain … muscles and nerves in my calves rushed to stiffen … my arms froze … my shoulders paused … my eyes wandered from ceiling to the walls and floor … the insides of my belly floated … I was about to drown in a panic attack.

This is not the regular elevator for mall-goers. This is a parking lot. Passersby are just a chance. What if we are really stuck for the rest of the night … what if the cables break …. what if the light go out … what if nobody hears …. what if …. damn all the movies and stories … the fallen and the rescued …

I was angry and halfway panicky … damn the Jurassic -elevator. I could have used the stairs and meet the guys down the basement 2, but backed off the idea out of consideration to the guys.  Now what!

Instinctively, I tried to peek through the door. It was dark … we were in the middle of the shaft…. my heart was pounding … heartbeat racing …. I was feeling nauseous and suffocating … I am a bit claustrophobic.

I search for the elevator bell or a CCTV camera (no visible CCTV .. either this is a jurassic-elevator … or perhaps, the CCTV is discreetly positioned). I creeped through the buttons and managed to get a feel of the “buzzer” …. my finger rattled …. pounced on the button in a seconds interval … no answer ….. what? …. impatiently, I almost pushed the button through the cold, deafening metal walls …. now in millisecond intervals …. paused ….. then, lo and behold …. an outsiders calm voice broke the panic and suffocating anxiety … “hello, what can I do sir?” …. a  litany of lashes came out and a godly request echoed to move and open the damn doors …. The Die Hard scene was already playing in my heads … but, i know, this is reality. Not a chance.

Finally, after some flickering lights and banging cable pulls and pushes, the elevator moved … down to the basement 2.  The doors opened and the rush of carbon monoxidic fume was a breeze to my lungs … I sucked a few and it felt like heaven … I didn’t care … I was alive and breathing no longer suffocating …. I walked past cursing the damn jurassic-cold-metal-box …. never again will i ride that coffin.

 

Pacman d’ Flashman

Pacquiao was just too fast for the hard-hitting Cotto who managed to land a few neck-wrecking jabs, hooks and straights to Pacman. But the sheer power is just not enough to stop the one called Pacman, now wearing  7 belts of different weight classes on his waist and arms. 

I was proud to my heels for the achievements of  Manny Pacquiao as a boxer.  He was outstanding! I watched his fights just when he was just a budding amateur boxer (through “Blow-by-Blow boxing TV show and the likes) … thinly but chiseled and wearing funny looking hairdo, yet, he always was a favorite.  Always standing out in the arena.  I would say, he was definitely in a class of his own flooring opponents with a rampage and barrage of solid hooks, straights, upper cuts … name it.  Only the referee and the bellman could stop this man.  He was always all over his foes. No fear, no let up.  He was exciting to watch.  He always fight with a heart of a boxer and a showman, not just to win but to give the audience a good show in the arena he truly loves – boxing.

The Pacquiao-Cotto fight earns Pacman not just the paycheck, not just history, but the eyes and ears not only of the aficionados, but the World.  He earned his right to the gloves of the records. True to the digital game, pacman, he devoured anyone in the path to glory.       

The boxer, the singer, the actor, the politician, the sportsman, the showman, the smiley face, the Pacman - that name is forever written in the rings and walls of the boxing world – MANNY PACQUIAO,  … he is PACMAN d’ Flashman! The greatest in his era!

Cotto vs. Margarito (Controversial Fight)

Cotto was down and battered in the 10th …. felled to his knees twice in the 11th. Margarito unleashing a barrage of power uppercuts, hooks and straights. The linen towel was finally thrown in the ring. Margarito wins. Cotto’s corner was shocked. Cotto’s face bloodied and bloated. They smelled something amiss. In six months, Cotto’s camp saw light. Margarito cheated with illegal plaster of paris inserted to his taped fists. A picture of the jubilant Margarito spilled the beans catching his fist allegedly laced and filled with plaster of paris. Margarito and his trainer were revoked their licenses.

Cotto vs. Margarito controversial fight (HBO)

 

Manny Pacquiao hits for 7th Belt

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto is a fight to be watched.  Not only they are two of the boxing world’s crowd stirring boxers not failing to put the butts on the heel; not only this fight would once again put to test if it is power punch or footwork and lightning strikes that kills the beast; more notably, apart from honor and the bejewelled Belt at stake, this fight will rewrite history …. should and when Pacquiao cut Cotto’s firepower, he’ll be the first  boxer with 7 championship belts wrapped around his waist … that is history to last.

Whereas for Cotto, this is a fight for honor and prove he still have that firepower and the stinging left hook to the body to down anyone who stands across his path.

Power and Lightning … boxers fighting for history and honor.  That’s a bout to watch!

With Pacquiao declaring this fight as ”the most important fight in my career”, that would scratch the butt above the seat and chill those beers and keep the peanuts at hand … and yes,  that remote to safety.