Glorietta o Gloria?

Grabe talaga, garapalan na 'to!!!

Why did the League of Governors wait for 2 weeks before they went out and explained that the money given to some governors came from them? They should have responded in an instant or within the day these very simple questions of who and why popped out. And now they are wondering what's all the fuzz? Worse, they sound like whiners, crying "unfair and baseless conjectures" of their "noble deeds." Pwe!

2 weeks, tsk tsk. Masyadong matagal para makagawa ng alibi, next time naman pakibilisan para hindi gaanong obvious!

But I digress.

Baka nagkamali ng pakinig yung teroristang (kung ito man ang dahilan) nagpapasabog sa Glorietta. Baka sabi ng boss niya, "Gloria" hindi "Glorietta."

Speaking of the unfortunate "accident" which happened in Makati a few days ago, naka-receive ako ng e-mail na ang content ay isang e-group message coming from the husband of one of the victims of the incident. Maybe this e-mail has been spreading out like California wildfires, but I'll post it here nonetheless. Sabi nga ng boss ko na nagforward sa akin, "I do hope this letter would give us realization to cherish more our relationship with our loved ones and value each moment we have with them."


-----Original Message-----

Good day everyone,

I wish I were writing under different circumstances.

I would like to inform you that my wife Leslie Cruz

was part of the casualties in the Glorietta 2 Mall

bombing in Makati City, Philippines. She was supposed

to have a minor out patient surgery at Makati Medical

Center at 230pm.

I had taken a leave from work to accompany her there.

We dropped off our daughter, Amber, at my parents

place in QC to babysit at around 10am. We then

proceeded to Makati and was there at 1230pm. Since she

had been fasting in preparation for her procedure, she

wanted to move ar ound and listen to some music while I

grabbed a bite to eat. We parked at the basement of

Park Square 2, and headed for the Glorietta 2

entrance. We parted at the top of the escalator, she

turned right towards Filbar's while I went left

towards the restaurants. That was the last time I

would see her.

Around 120pm, she had called me so that we can meet at

the Glorietta 2 exit just in time to make her

appointment. As I made my way there from Glorietta 1

through the connecting hallways, and was about to turn

the corner, I heard 2 deep thumps and the shock-wave

from the blast hit me. At that moment my heart dropped

as I knew that the origin of the blast came from the

same place where we were supposed to meet. I tried

getting to where my wife was, but the dust was too

much and it was as if I was staring at a white wall.

I still tried to convince myself that she was able to

make it out, and that after ringing her mobile without

a response only meant that she dropped it in the

confusion. After 6 hours of searching from Makati Med.

to Ospital ng Makati, the blast site, and back again

to MMC - with the help of all the people I could get

hold of, that I was able to get confirmation in what

the state of my wife was.

My Dad and Uncle signaled me in from the ER of MMC. My

Uncle (who's a doctor) asked me to describe Leslie's

appearance to another group of doctors. I saw in the

eyes of one that the description made sense. Instead

of confirming it to me, they huddled together, then

brought me to a small examination room. It was only

through a digital camera that I was able to confirm

(and deny) that she was indeed gone.

I have so many regrets. I should have met her sooner.

I should have ran instead of a brisk walk. I should

have not chose to park where I did. I should have

braved the dust and went in the blast site. I should

have ...

Today's the 4th day. It is still terribly difficult to

breathe, let alone wake up realizing that your source

of strength, your best friend doesn't lie beside you

on your bed. That my deepest worry is when Amber

starts asking for her Mama.

I am glad that Amber's too young to understand the

loss and pain. In time I would like to tell her the

details of how her mother died, but more importantly I

would like to raise her as how her mother lived - a

loving person, strong willed, decisive, caring, and

nurturing. She has always cared for her family and

friends, and sacrfied her career for being a full time

mom and home maker.

As with all couples we had our ups and downs - none of

which I regret not going through. The sweet is never

as sweet without the sour. For almost 4 years of

marriage, we've finally hit our balance in life only

to be taken away in an instant. I have no regrets

about our marriage. She has loved me and Amber beyond

her capacity. I will always love her.

It is my first time to write to egroup as I've lurked

and watched emails being sent to and fro. All I want

now is that for each of the couples here is to cherish

each moment that we spend with our loved ones. Pretty

simple to say, very easy to take for granted.

Thank you all for the prayers. I would still like to

ask you to please include Leslie in them until her

40th day so that the path to God's kingdom is well lit

and she is no longer in the dark.

Sincerely,

Carlo Cruz