So much for sickening political issues and confusing investigation, let’s turn to next page where real people lived. The underlying moments, life’s realization and deeds of unsung heroes.

I have so many regrets. I should have met her sooner. I should have run instead of a brisk walk. I should have not chose to park where I did. I should have braved the dust and went in the blast site. I should have …

Today’s the 4th day. It is still terribly difficult to breathe, let alone wake up realizing that your source of strength, your best friend doesn’t lie beside you on your bed…

As with all couples we had our ups and downs – none of which I regret not going through. The sweet is never as sweet without the sour. For almost 4 years of marriage, we’ve finally hit our balance in life only to be taken away in an instant…

All I want now is that for each of the couples here is to cherish each moment that we spend with our loved ones. Pretty simple to say, very easy to take for granted.

[carlo cruz, forwarded email]

… the walk from the 3rd floor to the ground floor seemed to be the longest walk I took in my life. I was relieved when i reached the ground floor and my son was ok… i had to act cool in fornt of him, he is 7. I immediately brought my son outside, knowing it was traffic, i left my car in the parking and we took the jeep back home. I’m glad to be alive… thank God.

[posted in tipidpc forum]

The three of them were good friends. They never had any inkling they would die together…

[news]

Someone helped carry an elderly man who had apparently broken his leg. Another man was seen assisting a bloodied woman. Yet another was heard whispering words of comfort to an uninjured but shell-shocked little girl.

[nameless ones/news]

One minute they’re getting out of a cab, the next they’re flying, hurled backward against the cab. And when driver Mario Em leaped out of the front seat, the two women were dead.

[news]

…the uniform mix of fear and relief. There is no forgetting this one. It could have been my brother. It could have been my boyfriend. It could have been my mother. It could have been me.

[patricia evangelista/inquirer]

These heartbreaking realities makes me ask silly questions like: why can’t we forecast accidents, why can’t we have built-in instincts that this will be the last time you’ll see this person alive and laughing, that a mall / train / car will explode, or that certain ceiling will fall and you’re going to die?

Oh and why is it so hard to think about dying anyway? Everybody knows they’re going to die eventually, right? Nobody believes it though. No one is really prepared to face it.

Let’s pray for the souls of Glorietta’s Blast Fatality.

Friends @work knew me as someone who would whine phrases like - sana sweldo na, sana friday na. And I’m so happy when it happens at the same time. Imagine, payday on a friday? What a joy :)

But last friday was different.

1:45 PM While I was rushing to finish my workload and planning my friday night, Enah, a friend of mine pm’ed me in YM “Galing si Richie (her bf) sa Glorietta, nagtakbuhan daw sila palabas ng mall. May sumabog daw.”

There were several speculations like it’s not yet confirmed, some said it’s just an LPG, etc. So okay – no worries.

After several hours, the fear and paranoia is beginning to rise when I saw online news updates and pictures of Glorietta explosion. 10 people died and almost a hundred were hurt. They said it’s a C4. A terrorist attack.

Phone calls, text messages came.
Yeah, I’m okay. Nasa office po ako, wala ako sa glorietta.

They knew that Glorietta is like a fourth home for me. Top 4 list of frequented places: our own house, office, boyfriend’s house and Glorietta.

Whenever I’m inside the latter, I feel the sense of comfort and belongingness :d It serves as a meeting place where I wait / meet friends, family and the boyfriend. Most of my clothes were even bought from Glorietta. Our favorite Chef de Angelo. G4 or G1 movie marathons. Starbucks. Midnight sale. As a matter of fact, I am qualified to be their customer service already coz I can easily provide directions which way to this and that.

Last friday, I had a stupid plan – I really wanna go there just to watch and see, maybe take pictures. Makiki-usyuso ahaha. Discard the idea anyway, I know it’s not safe.

I am terribly saddened of this incident. I can’t imagine the trauma if I was there when it happened. God knows I really don’t want to die in the stage of fright.

Okay, this is not a sort of goodbye-glorietta-tribute. I’ll still go there, I guess. Maybe, the next few weeks/months. Maybe.  Coz my family is still freaking out and instructing me not to go to ANY mall at all.

Ohwell. Life without malls is sad.