nmah389.xml

nmah389.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-22

I live in Manila, Philippines. It was past 12 midnight when i took a cab home. On the AM radio, it was the Phillipine Ambassador for the US who spoke and said that they are still to find out if there were Filipinos in the WTC. Then the radio jock said a few words about what was happening before his program gave way to a commercial. Then it hit me...there were plane attacks in New York were a few of my good friends work. My heart was like hearing drum rolls that it was beating like i was running in a marathon... when i got home, i thanked the driver and told him that we should pray that people are safe and ok, then i went straight to my room and tried calling my friend from my mobile phone, but my call was always dropped...i was praying, actually not praying but talking to Jesus as if he were by my side actually having a conversation with me...an hour or two passed already and i couldn't get through... somehow Jesus made me feel ok when i fell asleep that early wednesday morning in Manila. When i got to the McCann office i work before, everybody was in the conference room watching the news and video on CNN. That whole day, no one talked of anything else but the WTC bombings...and it was only then that i trembled because of the sight i am seeing...it gave me a nervous feeling that i have to watch out for almost anything, anywhere and anytime...i was bothered. However, everytime, restlessness would engulf me, i would pray to Jesus to make me feel calm because the tension is actually killing me. The TV in McCann Philippines, at least in our department was kept on the whole day and the couple of days that followed, even during lunch time where everyone would usually want to view the local noontime variety program where we would laugh at the entertainers. We were like kids that stares at the TV attentively, like when you are watching cartoons or a great scene from an adventure movie, only now, what we are seeing are real acts of terrorism that is making everyone shake with fear and anxiety. The day after the incident, on our yahoo egroup, a friend emailed us that our friend in New York is actually doing fine. That night, i was able to talk to her, and we talked for over an hour. She narrated her experience and how terrifying it was. Along our conversation, tears were unconsciously flowing from my eyes as i can visualize the faces and reactions of the people she was narrating about. It will be a year a few weeks from now, but the images are still fresh and the event still terrifies me. I just hope, wish, and pray that it doesn't happen again, ever.
Thanks for the chance to share this with you.

Sincerely,

Alvin Bagasan
Manila, Philippines

Personally, i learned how to appreciate the people i am with everyday...because we will never know when things will happen. But i pray that my friends and relatives be safe always.

I believe that it should be a lesson for everyone that even if you're the greatest in the world, there is still a weakness that should be improved, in such, we should'nt be lax in doing things just because we were recognized as the best..we should continue observing our standards of security and discipline. If it were observed properly that fateful day, it could have been prevented, and the lives of those who lost their loved ones could have been more complete and happier today.

No i did'nt, but i prayed for those whose lives i know were affected.