A day in the life…

DISCLAIMER: This is a blog, a repository of thoughts of the author. Whatever is written below is her opinion, and hers alone. No arguments, please.

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Just this noon, while my officemates and I were having lunch, one of our messengers turned on the TV, tuning in to the news.

Three men had taken hostage a bus filled with more than 30 children and some teachers.

According to the Inquirer website, the kids and their teachers were supposed to go to Tagaytay for a field trip. Suddenly, three men armed with a grenade, an Uzi and a .45 went in and took control of the situation.

As of this writing, the website reported that the hostage-takers will surrender just about now, 7PM.

Checking for updates, I learned a couple of things:

1. A hostage situation, such as this, taking place at this time is a time of opportunity for politicians-to-be. Bong Revilla, claiming to know the leader of the hostage-takers, negotiated for the release of some passengers… with a bit of success, as a student and two teachers were able to step out of the bus safely. Then what do you know, Manong Chabet, errr, Chavit Singson rushes to the scene and tries to negotiate, too. As quoted in the Inquirer, "It was not clear however what Singson’s connection was with Armando Ducat, Jr., the alleged leader of the three hostage-takers and why he had been allowed by the police to enter the vehicle."

Ah, sige, magpakitang-gilas kayo. Tapos mamaya puro photo-op at interview kayo. Talaga nga naman, kung may pagkakataong magpasikat, kukunin basta-basta. Kahit walang kinalaman whatsoever.

2. The leader of the hostage-takers give preposterous demands that is very unlikely in a hostage situation. Whereas the usual hostage-takers ask for ransom or something in exchange for the release of the hostages, Ducat asks for "support of the education of at least 145 school children of the Musmos Daycare and improved housing for them and their families." Moreover, he asks for the Filipino people to work with PGMA as she is fighting corruption so as to realize "our dream of progress for the country".

Which leads me and my officemates to think that this must be a staged hostage situation. Come on, if it were in a string similar to the Air Force One plot, like probably demanding the release of, uh, Satur Ocampo perhaps, then maybe it could be a bit believable. But demands of unity for progress achuchuchu? You’re casting huge clouds of doubt on my mind.

And yeah, this Ducat guy, who had once took hostage two priests for the reason he wasn’t paid his dues for doing church repairs, is running for councilor in Tondo this coming elections. And then all this…

One thing’s for sure, I pity the kids who had to go through this kind of trauma early in life.

Such a telenovela moment, this is. A casting coup of senatoriables and politicos, thousands of extras, and an engaging plot that leaves everyone at the edge of their seats.

Such is Philippine drama. Tulad nga ng sabi ng isang TV station, "Ito ang drama ng buhay mo."

Kasalanan ito ni Marimar.