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For those who have not heard or read of the incident yet, an explosion occurred at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City at about 1:40 pm yesterday, October 19, 2007. Eight people were confirmed dead while more than a hundred were injured. A list of dead and injured in this Glorietta blast was published by the inquirer website at about 10:13 pm the same day. One of the first pictures published in the web was taken by a certain Disney who published it in his Disney Cute Land multiply account.

Different reactions were generated by the event. Politicians were keen on airing their opinions and sentiments. The current Malacañang Bribery issue was easily associated to the blast by many. Some had thoughts of the government being behind the fateful event with the theory to divert the attention of the nation from the hot Malacañang issue. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as reported in a national news theorized the association of the blast to “Oplan Greenbase” which allegedly included the Davao International Airport and the Sasa wharf bombing in 2003.

With it all, this still is a sad story, thinking of the families who have lost a loved one in this tragedy. Taking out politics that never seem to choose who or what to use in order to pursue its ambition, the victims are not just those who were injured and killed in the blast but also the Filipino community as a whole.

Davao has fallen victim to this before and now, the whole country is - again. Just as when a promise of an economy getting better, here arises an incident threatening to pull it all down in a rubble. Tourism is affected again.

Just remembered Josh Groban’s Awake Concert in Manila this coming October 17 and 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center as well as a recent Babyface Concert which should be a boost for the Filipino music artist community. What now? The promise of more tourists coming to the Philippines for world-class events like these will just become bunch of hopes for us now. As Manila is a much bigger gateway to other Philippine regions like the Davao City, we in Davao City are undeniably affected in one way or another.

Who’s to blame? The government? The Terrorists? Or the mob? (kidding). I know not yet the answer. But one thing leaves each of us Dabawenyos and us Filipinos as a whole. Each fall can be translated to equate an opportunity - an opportunity to learn, to think, to be critical at judgments and to rise again and prove how resilient Filipinos can be at handling difficulties.

Give it enough time and let us see how we can still stand up on our two feet. Hope is never hope without difficulties. A diamond never shines without cutting and polishing. A pleasant day everyone!