Absentee

It was raining hard. And I was lost.

I couldn't find the way to McDonald's Recto because it was too dark, and the streets were filled with people, merchandise and filth. It was getting too frustrating that I started to cry.

Gratitude

To live in peace
And not worry about trusting
The people I love.

To bask in the light
That freedom from pain
And suffering brings.

To know my worth
And that I am receiving
All the love and care that I deserve.

To be assured that
Today, as with all days,
I will be blessed.

And to be spared
From the selfishness that
The weak are repeatedly capable of.

I am forever grateful.

What The Binays Should Have Said

The Dasma fiasco has confirmed, yet again, what many perceive to be the prevailing attitude of this family towards authority and rules. Having said that, the situation was not entirely irreversible. It is safe to say that the aftermath could have been handled better.

Here is a statement which the family could have issued after the incident hit the news --

The report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer was in some portions inaccurate, and utterly false in the rest. Mayor Junjun Binay and Senator Nancy Binay attended a gathering in Dasmariñas Village. It was already late in the evening, and all they wanted was to get home soonest. The Binays take their roles as public servants very seriously such that they wanted to get enough rest and sleep in preparation for the following workday.

Believing that there were no peculiar restrictions in the egress and ingress of visitors, the Binays proceeded to the Banyan gate to exit onto McKinley Road. They were surprised when the guards refused to let them pass, despite several pleas from Mayor Binay himself.

The matter would have been resolved sooner and the convoy would have turned back to pass through the Palm Avenue gate had it not been for the arrival of more armed guards. At that point, the Binays felt threatened, prompting the Mayor to call the police for assistance.

Contrary to reports, the guards were not arrested. They went to the police station voluntarily to explain their seemingly threatening behavior towards the Binays, which was completely unprovoked. In the end, the matter was settled as a complete misunderstanding, after they explained the arrival of more guards and apologized.

All parties consider the matter resolved in everyone's favor. It is rather curious why this has surfaced only now and in such bad light, when what clearly transpired was a terrible misunderstanding and not a malevolent altercation initiated by the Binays, as what the Inquirer would like to portray.