By Jocelyn P.
Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY - Fourteen
days into the crisis, the city, like a victim of a ship wreck, continues to
swim into the shore for her life. Zamboanga continues to rise from the wrath
and devastation wrought by the breakaway MNLF group of Nur Misuari.
“Gusto ko nang
mag-school,” (I want to go back to school), came from the little angel Tania, a
4-year old day care kid who was displaced together with five other members of
her family when the MNLF siege happened in barangay Talon Talon dawn of Sept.
9.
“Miss ko na ang teacher ko at classmates . Gusto ko na
mag drawing,” ( I miss my teacher and my classmates. I want to draw again) she
lovingly whispered as she took out her paper and pencil with few pieces of
crayon.
Tania’s mom, Jenny have been patiently tutoring her
daughter everyday for two weeks now since the Zamboanga crisis erupted, a
crisis that has paralyzed not only the economic activity of the city, suspended
classes in all levels, but also practically placed the lives of the majority of
the Zamboangueños to a temporary “stop.”
Papa Tan as his daughter Tania would call him, a
casual employee, smiled a little and sighed when he checked his ATM card and
found that his employer had already deposited his salary amounting to 4,000, an
amount he considers a blessing specially at this trying time.
“Hindi tayo pababayaan ng Diyos,” (God will not
forsake us) he said. “Minsan, pinapabayaan ng Diyos na mangyari ang mga bagay
bagay dahil may dahilan Siya,” (Sometimes, God allows things to happen for a
reason), words spoken by a pious man. Despite atrocities, he and his family
maintain a positive outlook of how things are going and turning.
“Nandito pa kami ng pamilya ko, buhay, malaking
blessing na po yan. Wala man kami sa tahanan namin ngayon, pero darating din
ang time na makakabalik kami,” (My family and I are still alive, that alone is
a blessing. We may not be in our home right now, but someday we will be able to
go back home) with dignity and hope, Papa Tan reflected.
Papa Tan’s family is being sheltered by his sister in
nearby barangay Tetuan. (PIA9)