Sana Hindi na Maulit Pa (I Wish This will never happen again)

We left Zamboanga City on the evening of September 5 for Davao City where we will be competing for the 28^th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship. Little did we know that we will go back to a Zamboanga with a shockingly dangerous situation.

September 10, 2013, 5:30 AM.

 “Jenny! C’mon, wake up, girl!” I was rolling wonderfully in my sleep when I was shaken hard by two hands. I unwillingly and forcefully opened my still sleep-worn eyes. “Hoy, ba’t naman ––” Before I was able to finish a cutting retort fitting to my mood, I looked up and saw Ate Sheena turn her back to me and frantically shaking the others off their sleep.

 "It’s only 5 o’clock, too early, Sheena. What’s the matter?" Kuya Fitz groggily sat up on his bed and blinked repeatedly to fight off unconsciousness.

"May masamang nangyari sa Zamboanga! Open the TV, quick!" ordered Ate Judean who sat beside him.

"Impossible!" Andre cried.

"Get your cell phones, look at the messages there right now!" The five of us quickly did and were stunned to read every one of the texts telling us about the unexpected attack of the MNLF rebels in our city. Burning houses, hostages, dead people... It was all too much for us to take in. As we saw the horrifying truth on the television, we were overwhelmed by fear and foreboding that the day that we were meant to go back to  Zamboanga is the worst one there.

Just one thought flashed through that moment – the most bloody day I witnessed in my life: April 13, 2010. Abu Sayyaf broke into Isabela City, Basilan where I lived with my family. I desperately hid in my room, while I was hearing gunshots and the boom! of the bombs. My best friend Karen’s apartment trembled like a high-magnitude earthquake because of their short distance from our bombed Cathedral. The next day, all Basileños cried for the twenty people who died by the rebels’ hands. My sister sobbed for her dear favorite Professor who was among those who were killed.

The TV flashed open to reveal families scampering away from their houses, mga soldiers shooting everywhere as they counter bullets from different corners (i.e. rebel snipers). Darren cried upon learning that his house in Sta. Barbara was directly in the ravaging of the enemy. We anxiously called our families, asking about their situation, if they were safe and all.

We (the Ateneo Debate Union (AdZU)) were stranded in Davao City for almost three weeks due to the Zamboanga Crisis and by each day that passed there, we grew afraid for the conflict in Zambonga and prayed unceasingly that it will be over soon so we could be able to go home already. While we were there, we are very thankful that there are some people who graciously helped with our daily food and other needs - the Tower Inn, Ateneo de Davao University, and University of Mindanao. They allowed us to stay in the hotel we had during the 28th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship, shouldering all the expenses themselves. They even joking dubbed us “First-class refugees”.

But we know how much worse the people in Zamboanga were faring. Over 100,000 families cramped themselves in the evacuation centers, on very dire conditions. It broke our young hearts to see that a very beautiful place that is meant to be shared by all people is being ravaged by a group who claims it for themselves only. In this crisis, I can't help but think about my beloved hometown, Basilan where everyday is on Red Alert status. And now this in Zamboanga? Why can't be peace in the places I call my home? Why must they go and destroy everything that I have cherished and loved again and again? I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE! Oh God, please help us. Eternal Father, please protect all your children... Change the hearts of our enemies so that they will stop inflicting harm upon us and cease the unnecessary bloodshed in our own land.

We know to ourselves that our experience in the 28th MPDC was a very memorable one, so worth doing it again as I learned so much from it. But violent events such as wars are heavy and difficult tragedies that should never had happened. Bringing an everlasting hatred accompanied by a pain that can never be healed – THAT IS WAR. Many suffered much during this ordeal so I pray earnestly to God for peace in the whole world, especially my beloved homeland.

***Sana hindi na maulit pa ang gulong ito.