Hard times

Indeed these are hard times. I could not help shedding tears when I watched on television Sen. Dick Gordon barely controlling his emotion as he talked about the nearing deadline for the beheading of three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held hostage by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf organization in Sulu. Dick, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, is in the unenviable position of hewing to the Red Cross policy of not paying ransom for any of its kidnapped workers on one hand, and negotiating with the terrorists to release Andreas Notter of Switzerland, Eugenio Vagni of Italy, and Mary Jean of the Philippines, and in the process, crossing verbal swords with a military man, on the other.

“The whole family of the Red Cross prays for you and I’m proud of the way you’ve comported yourself,” Gordon said. “I’m sorry I should be stronger than you because I’m not in the midst of the ordeal you’re in now.”

 He said there was no glory in what the captors are doing. Addressing the Abu Sayyaf, he said, “You are just pinning yourself down. These people are not your enemies. They were here to help the prisoners (in the city jail) by providing them with water and other needs.”

Gordon said no Red Cross worker has ever been harmed in the group’s 150-year history.

 In the meanwhile, Red Cross staff members were busy texting to thousands of cell phones the senator’s enjoining everyone — Muslims and Christians, religious groups, civil society and schools — to continue praying for the safe, immediate, and unconditional release of the captives. The three, said the message, “unselfishly dedicated their lives in giving help and alleviating suffering, regardless of color, creed or affiliation.”

 The Arroyo administration, for sure, is bearing the burden of getting the hostages freed, but without paying any money, nor giving in to the demand of the kidnappers headed by Albader Parad to have the government military forces pulled out from Jolo. Presidential Management Staff Secretary and former Peace Secretary Hermogenes Esperon said that Mrs. Arroyo does not favor the withdrawal of troops surrounding the kidnappers. “What I know is that she will never be for the pullout of troops, and whoever would push for that or recommend that would compromise his position, whether he is a governor or a high government official,” Esperon said. Give them no quarters, is Esperon’s position. Local government secretary Ronaldo Puno is of the same mindset.

Saying that the situation in Sulu is tense is an understatement. It is understandable that Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan would declare a state of emergency in the area, giving him authority to order an attack on the bandits. One can imagine the effects of attacks and counter-attacks that will ensue in the coming days. The scenario is hard to bear: thousands of civilians and soldiers killed in the clashes, disruption of classes, the emotional trauma experienced by families and children, destruction of properties.

As of this writing, the fate of the hostages is still uncertain, and the fear of bloodshed and destruction is enveloping the residents of Jolo.

And all these are caused by a terrorist group founded in the 1990s by Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani fighting for an Islamic state, but which has deteriorated into a terrorist organization specializing in bombings, extortion and kidnappings.

 That the Abu Sayyaf is capable of blowing up human lives and villages are confirmed by Vice-Governor Anne Sahidula, who said, “From what I have seen, they are used to doing this. It is like human life means nothing to them.”

From a distance, we can only pray for a lasting solution to this fearsome situation in Sulu.

As Press Secretary Cerge Remonde says, “We enjoin all to pray that there will be a peaceful resolution to the crisis.”

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 Fourteen “ordinary” women will be recognized and given awards by Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region on April 16 at the Abelardo Hall, University of the Philippines. 

 As of this writing, the names of the chosen 14 have not been released.

They have been chosen and informed about their award which is unique from the Soroptimists’ standpoint. As Bulacan Rep. Lorna C. Silverio, chair of the awards committee said, the award is “unlike its international counterpart which targets the already empowered women. This local counterpart will focus on women from the barangay level who are less privileged but struggled anyway to help her community.”

The Unsung Women Heroes Awards is the local counterpart of making a Difference for Women Awards sponsored by Soroptimist International of Americas and which is open to international nominations by Soroptimist clubs all over the world.

The 14 make up the first batch of the “Unsung Women Heroes Awards” which I believe will be a regular search. I don’t know why the awardees are called “ordinary” women. For sure they are more than ordinary, as the Soroptimist categorizes them as having “wholeheartedly (given) their services to uplift the lives and well being of other women and girls in their communities.”

 Representative Silverio says, “We hope to inspire ordinary women who still have doubts that they can make a difference in this world despite scarce resources.”

 The honorees on April 16 have worked on the improvement of the living condition of indigenous groups, poverty alleviation, protection and education of children and women, and in advancing women’s political participation in their communities.” They are not affiliated with formal funding organizations or foundations.

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