How are you observing today's National Day of Mourning?

Too LATE for HEROES!

Mourning won’t do any good...

This should have been controlled if Government Officials of DILG, DND, DSDWD, etc. and the President himself attended.

It is an INTERNATIONAL CRISIS and the NATION is at stake.....and this is the PRICE of WHAT NOYNOY can DO.

Busy with:

1. Truth Commission - alleged Arroyo crimes

2. Tax collection at TOLL - tax from tax

3. Increase transpo FEE - MRT, LRT, etc.

4. Put Tax to vendor - but the law exempted the minimum wagers (where is the brain?)

5. Increase of commodity prices - sugar for sure

(Lugi da Hacienda)

6. Cartel of Oil - planning to increase again

7. Pursuing to change Arroyo appointees with 'BATA BATA SYSTEM"

SHAME ON YOU! you put the nation into LIMBO of UNTRUSTED COUNTRY.

TAINT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

His sentiments and feelings are mine as well. I believe that almost all Filipinos in the whole wide world feel the same way. It could have been a peaceful negotiation if only the Philippine National Police took every measure into consideration. They did a terrible act of mistreating the hostage taker's brother who just went there with the sole and honest intention of pacifying the former. How many hostage takings had happened which all resulted to bloody and questionable results except the 2007 hostage taking that Senator Bong Revilla handled. Every good and wise judge and lawmaker gives the same reaction: "THey made a terrible decision that resulted to an OPEN SHAME for the whole Philipppine nation. We have received mistreatment and accusations from all over the world including a ban from Hong Kong. One OFW was even given a month to prepare to leave his job. So what kind of mourning can we express and show? The PNP officialwho gave that foolish orders should be relieved at once. God Bless the Phillipines.

Actually Pres. Noynoy made the right decision not to meddle with the hostage drama. If he did, every time there is a hostage drama he will have to be fair and show up. This case was a local incident and it should be handled by the Mayor of Manila and the PNP only. Our President will die of fatigue if he has to deal with every crazy person who takes some people hostage. Another thing is that this is an isolated case and if our president declared a national day of mourning its giving the people who died a great honor already. By the way hostage taking is very common in other countries as well as in the US and HK, in some cases people die so the HK government is just making a big deal out of this.

I will mourn not only the death of the innocent tourists, but also mourn for the country. Another example of short-sightedness on the part of the government. What they don't seem to realize is that an initial expense for better equipment, better training and better pay for the SWAT team will reap many times it's cost by way of higher tourism money?

Don't crucify the SWAT team - they did the best they can with what little they have.

Just like what Jackie Chan said earlier - if you negotiate first, the critics will say "Why didn't you shoot right away?" And if you shoot first, the critics will say "Why didn't you negotiate first?"

Damn if you do, and damn if you don't...

And for the life of me, why were there so many bystanders around the bus when they were carrying out the bodies? I must've counted at least 40-50 milling around the bus - some are the press, some police, some civilian bystanders, but very few medical personnel. This was a crime scene- should've been cordoned off by the police and only authorized personnel be allowed near the bus. What a clusterf**k!!!

Consuelo de bobo nalang yan. Top leaders of the country from the executive and the police should have been there, especially the president. The governor of Hongkong called on PNoy but he is nowhere to be found. First it is the irresponsible media's usesero role that triggered the blood shed when it aired live the arrest of Capt Mendoza's brother. Which the police should not in the first place arrest. A relative of a criminal committing a crime cannot be accused of being an accomplice. The police should have asked help from the Brother to convince or calm down the captain upon receiving the ombodsman's letter. Media is claiming that they had helped, IN WHAT WAY? USESERO lang sila, yon ang role nila sa tragedy. The world could still survive without news reporting on the incident. They could have tricked Mendoza by telling, maybe from Versoza that he will be reinstated but his hijacking the tourist bus would make it more difficult. Blood thirsty lang ang mga police natin. But, what really turn the event is the agitation of the hostage taker when it saw how his brother and his family were arrested by the police. The first five gunshots was already aimed at the hostages after the arrest of his brother. PNoy, e solved mo yan, wag kang daldal nang daldal. Tapos e blame mo pa si Gloria. Ang layo pa nagn sagot mo sa evening presscon, you cannot go into the details of the situation. Saan ka kaya nong araw na yon??????

National Day Of Mourning? What will that do as some of people say here? I know it would not do any good cuz it is already been done, but this will b a remembrance day 4ever and we just pray that this or any other kind of incident will never happen 2 anyone in d world. As I watched the news on TV while this incident happened, the Philippines Police Force was not prepared 4 this kind. They should b well trained 2 b ready 4 d next one if ever happen again, instead of being lack of trained swat. They were sleeping about preparing 2 b heros of d Police Force, I sure hope that they get really trained 2 b d right swat ready 4 d next incident. Maybe now they r on d wake up call, since there r news everywhere in d world trying 2 get d chief of police 2 resigned which I hope the Philippines govt can force him 2 do so due 2 many mistakes being made at this incident which I saw at my own eyes. 4 one thing never fire shots while innocent people on d bus or damage d bus in this situation. As I know in other countries fire department or police department r always ready & trained 4 d next incident as they r well trained 4 any kind of crimes or d next fire. All I can say, is just b prepared, protected & watch whereever u go.

Top leaders of the country from the executive and the police should have been there, especially the president. The governor of Hongkong called on PNoy but he is nowhere to be found. First it is the irresponsible media's usesero role that triggered the blood shed when it aired live the arrest of Capt Mendoza's brother. Which the police should not in the first place arrest. A relative of a criminal committing a crime cannot be accused of being an accomplice. The police should have asked help from the Brother to convince or calm down the captain upon receiving the ombodsman's letter. Media is claiming that they had helped, IN WHAT WAY? USESERO lang sila, yon ang role nila sa tragedy. The world could still survive without news reporting on the incident. They could have tricked Mendoza by telling, maybe from Versoza that he will be reinstated but his hijacking the tourist bus would make it more difficult. Blood thirsty lang ang mga police natin. But, what really turn the event is the agitation of the hostage taker when it saw how his brother and his family were arrested by the police. The first five gunshots was already aimed at the hostages after the arrest of his brother. PNoy, e solved mo yan, wag kang daldal nang daldal. Tapos e blame mo pa si Gloria. Ang layo pa nagn sagot mo sa evening presscon, you cannot go into the details of the situation. Saan ka kaya nong araw na yon??????

I believe that almost all Filipinos in the whole wide world feel the same way. It could have been a peaceful negotiation if only the Philippine National Police took every measure into consideration. They did a terrible act of mistreating the hostage taker's brother who just went there with the sole and honest intention of pacifying the former. How many hostage takings had happened which all resulted to bloody and questionable results except the 2007 hostage taking that Senator Bong Revilla handled. Every good and wise judge and lawmaker gives the same reaction: "THey made a terrible decision that resulted to an OPEN SHAME for the whole Philipppine nation. We have received mistreatment and accusations from all over the world including a ban from Hong Kong. One OFW was even given a month to prepare to leave his job. So what kind of mourning can we express and show? The PNP officialwho gave that foolish orders should be relieved at once. God Bless the Phillipines.

I observe today's National Day of Mourning with regrets and disappointments. I just hoped that there would be no retaliation to our brothers and sisters who are working abroad especially in Hongkong. I'm not blaming but base on my point of view, some has contributed the major failure well. I'm not a genius to assess that hostage crisis but it was not difficult since there was a lot of time given to think of the plan. The plan would be simple: Option 1 - Preserve the life of the hostages and Option 2 - Get the hostage-taker dead or alive. Under the option 1, you must listen to what the hostage-taker wants, send a negotiator, and make sure to handle the negotiation with confidentiality to avoid preempt plan. Under the option 2: the first thing to do is to have an idea of the technical specifications and features of the bus. As much as possible get the exact data from the technical or mechanical personnel of that bus company so that it would be easy to plan the penetration of the SWAT Team. The lack of skills of the SWAT team and equipment used on penetrating the bus was not really a big issue here but the ability to plan the attack that includes what on the bus to make the penetration so easy was a huge issue.. It's funny to think that the SWAT/Snipers were doing a hard time damaging the entry point while the suspect was watching their moves on the live monitor screen inside the bus.The suspect might laugh at them upon seeing the dullness of their actions. Poor decision making will never end up good results. The moved to invade the family of the hostage-taker was one big m istake, the media coverage of ABS-CBN also has a big contribution to the failure, and inexperience moved in the military, secretaries, and the Commander In-Chief were really contributed the major, major mistake. Life would never be same to all of us!

Spend a minute of silence and share an email i received earlier.

August 23, 2010

"A letter from a teenage Filipino to the WHOLE WORLD”

As you are reading this letter, I bet that you have seen/heard about what happened earlier in our country.

Tourists were hostages of a policeman here, Rolando Mendoza. After a few hours of the horrible crime, some of the victims were dead including the hostage-taker.

I wrote this letter not just to apologize but also to let everyone know that we Filipinos are not all like Mendoza. We are loving and good-hearted people.

For so many years, our country has been standing tall and surpassing every dilemma; be it small or big. Years ago (back when I wasn’t born yet), you have watched us fight for what we think is right. We fought for the democracy of our nation.. The EDSA revolution. But that’s just one out of many.

Second. We Filipinos have been serving other countries for our families and we treat you as our own as well. With all due respect, I thank you all for giving us the trust through the years. For helping us to become what we are now.

The Philippines is more than just a group of islands. We are a nation of strong and remarkable people. A country of beauty and love known to be hospitable and well-valued. I humbly apologize for what happened tonight. No one in this world would want something like that to happen for life should be valued.

I politely ask the attention of the world. Please do not judge and mistreat us just because of what happened tonight. I have been searching the net and found terrible things. Hong Kong advices to avoid travels here, China and HK bans Filipinos and that Philippines is the worst place to go.

I can’t blame you for what you have decided but I hope that you could understand. Our country is now in a sea of problems. And I know for sure that we helped you in a way or another. Let peace and understanding reign this time.

I know that this letter will just be trash but I wish that you would understand. On behalf of the Philippine population.. WE ARE SORRY.

As a song puts it…

And I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness, giving-up and suffering. And we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind. Stand up for life. STAND UP FOR LOVE

Sincerely yours,

Reigno Jose Dilao

Catbalogan City, Samar

(End of Letter)

Continue to work hard. And pray for the victims. Also, hope our law enforcers & media do a better & more judicious job in handling similar situations.

Regarding the National Day of Mourning... I'm not sure about it. The Quirino Grandstand tragedy surely deserves our sympathy & prayers... But why are the 9 or 10 Hongkong nationals who died being given such a distinct honor? Are we afraid that our overseas workers will be maltreated? Our domestic helpers in Hongkong & in other countries have also been victims of continuing abuse.

Recently, many more Filipinos died in the Benguet bus tragedy. No flags were lowered nationwide at half-mast .Nor was even one National Day of Mourning observed. Are Filipino lives of less value?? Weeks ago, more Iranian citizens perished in Cebu, no such day of National Mourning! Are we afraid to lose Hongkong tourists? Filipinos go to Hongkong & Macau regularly more than we get from Hongkong tourists!