I was about to eat my lunch when the day desk editor called and was panicking when he told me that an explosion happened at Glorietta. And much as I wanted to panic too, I merely stayed calm. I immediately got out of the Crame press office, left my just-to-be-eaten yummy lunch and took the MRT.
Fifteen minutes later I was at Glorietta 2, and as usual engaged myself in a brief word war with security guards. Hohohoho hahaha while I tried to get to the other side of Glorietta, with all luck..my heels broke. So I went to SM and bought a pair of cheap flipflops to get me through.
Finally arriving at the area moments later, I saw how the Glorietta 2 entrance was reduced in rubble, and all those shattered glasses, and the cadavers yet to be brought to the morgue. Sure, this one was a very memorable coverage for me. It was I witnessing yet another part of history unfold.
But it was really devastating. I held back tears. I knew I had to work. I knew I had to do away with emotions. I knew I had to accept that this world is cruel.
Although I had the by-line for the top story, the most-read and most-emailed story of the day, I was not happy. I was not happy to witness what I would like to call an act of evil. Whoever did this, either enemies of the state or those from the state themselves, only one name suits them: evil. Very very evil.
I've covered all sorts of news stories--from shabu raids, rallies and fire incidents to Congress sessions and Arroyo speeches. And today, obviously, was the most devastating of all. (Imagine seeing cruelty for 8 long hours. I wish I could get a good sleep tonight.)
But the dust have yet to settle. Tomorrow is yet another day, and for the first time, I am not complaining that I have to cancel my day off. :)
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Click the titles to view stories as posted in INQUIRER.net.
(UPDATE 19) Mall bomb blast kills 8, hurts more than 100
PNP, AFP on red alert in Metro after Makati blast
List of dead and injured in Glorietta blast
Search and rescue operations at mall end
which SM?
ReplyDeleteI was amazed to see your name on inquirer.net's most read story. But then it is never an easy job to cover such story. I hope you'll get your well-deserved rest, if not day-off (because you'll never know when news happens).
Great job, Thea! Mentos moment with the heels! And oh yeah, good work on the coverage too. Heh. I keed. You're doing an awesome job.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this. the first thing that came to my mind when I heard about the news is that, I could've been one of the victims because I used to work near that area and normally goes to glorietta during break. No one really knows what will happen the very next second of your life so... this only means that we have to treasure every second of it. Live as if there's no tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI hope these things will not happen again, more than scaring the foreign investors to help our economy, it's just very inhuman.
We (me and my officemates) were having lunch at Max's Greenbelt 1 when the explosion occurred. Wala naman kaming narinig because there was construction work going on and Glorietta is separated from Greenbelt by Makati Avenue. Nagkakagulo na paglabas namin when all the police cars and ambulances started rushing on Ayala Avenue. Then we heard the news from other bystanders. I am so thankful because we actually considered going there. Buti na lang naalala ng boss ko na may masamang karanasan siya sa isa sa mga restaurant dun. By the way, when the INQ7.net article on the blast started to circulate in our office intranet, i was also amazed to see you as the author.
ReplyDeleteThis tragedy gave me goosebumps kasi my sister and a lot of friends (and you know some of them) are in the Makati area. Buti na lang they were all safe. I still feel sorry for the people who perished in there...
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
Hi Thei! I was glued to ANC again when it happened and well I hope you're feeling better now. I saw you (again, hehe) when everyone was interviewing yung head ng PNP NCR (oh no, I forgot his name), ikaw ay nasa likod niya. I saw that you were taking down notes while he was talking. And well, you probably asked questions but I couldn't see your face na. Great job Thei! Always, always, an inspiration. Mwah!
ReplyDeleteate thea, astig ka talaga!scary ngang makakita ng trahedya. nyway, kaya yan! :) madalas pa naman akong dumaan sa G2. lets just pray for the safety of everyone. :)
ReplyDeleteSM ayala. :) hehe thanks *blush* i'm finally getting my rest day sunday :)
ReplyDeletebwahahahaha :) mentos moment nga :) *blush* thanks kuya gino! :)
ReplyDeleteyeah. a lot of people i know work in Makati so I feel lucky rin kasi all my friends were safe. :) totoo, life is really uncertain. :(
ReplyDeleteButi na lang nga, Chico. :) Buti na lang hindi ka layas. hehehe :) thanks! :)
ReplyDeletetalaga? sino? Mga FC? shucks. yun din fear ko, e maglagay ng name na kilala ko sa list of fatalities. hay. :(
ReplyDeletefluflow!! :) yeah, live pala yun sa ANC hahahaha :) nakakatawa nga kasi lahat kami mukhang nasabugan na, super tiring nung coverage. :) thanks flow! mishu! mwah :)
ReplyDeleteo huwag ka muna maglalayas masyado ah hehe :) scary talaga. kailangan ko ata ng debriefing. hehe :) mwaah :)
ReplyDeleteOo, FC, [P], Sibol, DevCom, hehe, common friends...
ReplyDeleteSana wala nang sumunod na ganito, mahirap mag Christmas shopping 'kung takot tayo, ehehe!
hi thea! :) we we're exchanging story links via email at the office last friday about the tragedy and i chanced upon the inquirer coverage story and saw your byline :) well, twas really a tragedy but someone had to report it. kudos! :)
ReplyDeletehehe, thanks yannie! :)
ReplyDelete