After the tiring and depressing coverage of the Glorietta 2 explosion, it finally dawned on me: I could have been there, I could have been killed. Worse, my loved ones and friends could have been there and would probably be gone by now. Fortunately, I know none of the fatalities and injured persons I wrote about.
Post-blast investigation results show that the explosion was an "industrial accident." The diesel tank located at the basement, which was the seat of explosion, also "did not follow the standard cylindrical structure of a gas container." And yes, funny as it may seem, methane gas from the septic tank made the explosion bigger. My editors would jokingly call it an explosion caused by one big fart. (See related story here: PNP: Accident in Glorietta becoming more and more likely)
How many more diesel tanks are there in Glorietta? Or in any other mall? I think I would have to stay home more nowadays. I intend to keep safe, although my job provides the contrary. hehe.
I got hold of post-blast pictures only today and they really scared me. I know I've been to Glorietta 2 before because I usually take the walkway from our office (Rufino Plaza) to Glorietta. But I never thought I've been to Glorietta 2 many times.
See that 'Must Have' sign? That's where I used to shop in Glorietta 2! Near that shop were boutiques where I usually shop too. Had I been there that fatal day, I could have fallen all the way down, or I could have been thrown somewhere else, and I would end up either bloody, in a daze, or lifeless. And I would not be here blogging.
Of course, a lot of people I know have also been in Glorietta. And don't should we feel lucky? I am just so thankful that I was given the chance to live and I hopefully would have a thousand or million days more.
Oh well.
I think I will be posting more pictures (courtesy of the PNP and Bureau of Fire Protection) soon. I want my much needed rest now. :)
More links: Metro Manila cop chief: ‘Bomb theory hard to sustain’
Trillanes won’t cooperate with PNP over blast claims--Razon
Solon throws in another 1M for arrest of mall bombers
Hi Thea. A bunch of friends of mine were supposed to have a convention at the activity center next week (although my specific group has pulled out of it) so I feel intimately linked to this explosion myself, watching every detail unfold.
ReplyDeleteAnd since my entire resignation gig after UPLB is supposed to be one big debriefing, I was wondering if I could share my thoughts.
I think being so close to an event like this, both random and tragic, forces us to address to big questions:
1. What do you believe in? and
2. How will you choose to live,
having decided what to believe in?
Questions I wonder if we avoid too often, and which in modern society we've designed more and more ingenious ways to avoid.
One thing i am sure of though, is, you're right. Love is an important key.
A wise man once said:
For now we see through a
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known.
I guess hope is part of the equation too.
Yun po, just venting din.
God bless.
thea, kelangan nyo talaga ng debriefing.;-)
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to vent out my musings on this. My team and I are very thankful we didn't decide to it there that fatal Friday. Had it been there that we took our lunch, well, who knows what could've happened. And though grateful we are that we didn't belong to the fatalities, it was still saddening and indeed a very shocking tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't entered Glorietta since last week and I have no plans of going to the malls yet (till my paranoia meter levels down). Makes me think that there isn't almost any safe place, even at high noon. And still grateful to the Higher Up for giving us more days to live and enjoy :)
thanks a lot sir. :) im ok now. :) buti na lang we're all safe and sound. :) and yes, i believe in one thing: love. :) hahahaha :) but thats true. :)
ReplyDeletedia mga bureau meron> pwede kaya makijoin? hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteyeah, no place is entirely safe nowadays. :) lets just pray for a longer life. hay. :) ingat! :)
ReplyDeletekami yung unang batch. pero ang alam ko, susunod na mga pdi reporters. mas kelangan nyo yun!
ReplyDelete