Even The Grass Bleeds

by Norbert Mercado

It was July 18, 1990, Wednesday. Brother Ben Cervantes anxiously tuned to the 7:00 a.m. news of DZAS.

  He heard the other day that Baguio City was heavily damaged by the earthquake, and that twenty-one1 buildings, including hotels like the Baguio Park Hotel, Nevada Hotel and Hyatt Terraces Hotel, collapsed.

  What happened to his wife Arlene and to their two-year old daughter Ruth? Were they safe?

  Communication lines to Baguio were completely cut off. He had no way of getting in contact with them.

  “President Aquino, yesterday, declared a state of emergency for all areas devastated by Monday’s killer quake. Placed under the state of calamity were the provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet, and Nueva Ecija, as well as the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos, Baguio, Cabanatuan, San Jose, and Palayan,” the lady newscaster said. “The President also thanked the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland and Israel for their assistance in rescue and relief operations. Fifty U.S. civilian engineers, 50 physicians, and 100 hundred U.S. Air Force personnel were flown from Clark Air Base to the affected areas in Central and Northern Luzon yesterday morning.”

  Brother Cervantes stirred the cup of coffee as he listened to the newscaster.

  “Public Works Secretary Fiorello Estuar formed a team headed by Undersecretary Teodoro Encarnacion and Bureau of Design Director Francisco Pascual to find out if anyone can be held liable for the collapse of the Christian College of the Philippines building in Cabanatuan City, where more than one hundred students and teachers are believed trapped in the ruins.”

  The newscaster continued broadcasting news about the havoc wrought by the killer quake.

  “In Dagupan City, City Vice Mayor Al Fernandez said potable water, food and medicine supply are running low. Portions of the city, heavily damaged, had sunk by an average of two feet. Hospitals are at peak capacity with the continuous arrival of the injured and the dead. Some hospitals were also damaged by the earthquake. Some portions of Dagupan had fissures from which mud sprang, flooding the streets. Vice Mayor Fernandez had placed the damage on public infrastructure at 600 million pesos and 1 billion pesos on private establishments.”

  Brother Cervantes increased the volume of the radio when the lady newscaster broadcast the news about Baguio.

  “Reports from Baguio City said many people have slept outdoors beginning Monday night due to continuous aftershocks.2 Burnham Park has virtually become a tent city. The earthquake cut off telecommunication lines, isolating Baguio City. It also affected the Binga Hydroelectric Plant, disrupting power. Supply is scarce. Food may be enough for now, but residents have been hoarding food and other necessities. As of today, Baguio has 80 dead, the highest in the casualty list. Dagupan City has 34, Cabanatuan City has 33, and Manila has 2 dead. The casualty lists may increase due to the numerous people still trapped in fallen buildings.”

  Brother Cervantes whispered a prayer upon hearing the news.

  “Meanwhile, U.S. President George Bush has offered whatever help is needed by the Philippines. The United States has donated an initial amount of 500,000 pesos for the earthquake victims, and fielded at least 9 helicopters and 200 civilian and military personnel for relief and rescue operations. U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Platt said a C-141 cargo plane will soon arrive in Baguio City to bring relief goods to the earthquake victims.”

  “In another development, 30 gold miners were reported killed in a mine which collapsed in Benguet, roughly 30 kilometers northeast of Baguio. It is believed that the miners did not survive because no rescue team has reached the area until now.”

  . . .

  Mario Vicente could only feel pity and sorrow as he watched the girl being taken out from the collapsed Christian College of the Philippines building by a combined team of Filipino and American soldiers, and a few civilian volunteers.

  The girl, one of the students trapped in the collapsed college, was crying due to the pain in her right leg crushed by a portion of a collapsed wall.

  “Ang paa ko! Masakit!” she cried.

  (“My leg! It hurts!”)

  Two American volunteers, one a medic, immediately applied first aid on her bleeding leg before they put her on a stretcher.

  Her father, who had been anxiously waiting for her rescue, ran to her crying.

  “Anak ko! Anak ko! Salamat at nakaligtas ka,” the anxious father told her while holding her hand.

  (“My child! My child! Thank goodness you’re safe,”)

  “Itay… ang singsing ko, nawawala,” she said.

  (“Father… my ring, it’s missing.”)

  “Hindi bale, anak! Papalitan ko ‘yun. Ang mahalaga’y ligtas ka.”

  (“Don’t worry my child! I’ll replace it. What’s important is that you’re safe.”)

  The girl’s gold ring, given as a gift by her father, was stolen by a civilian volunteer.

  After giving her first aid, the Americans brought her to a waiting ambulance.

  Right after the ambulance had left, Mario saw a local radio reporter approach a member of the American rescue team, a marine who was in the group of Olongapo City mayor Richard “Dick” Gordon.

  The reporter, without batting an eyelash, asked the marine if the rescue effort being undertaken by Americans was related to the U.S. bases issue.

  The marine was stunned at the question. He looked the radio announcer straight in the eyes. The announcer repeated his question.

  “I want to know whether your rescue effort here is related to the issue of the American bases in the Philippines,” he asked rudely.

  “Aw, c’mon, cut the bull----. Why’d you always have to tell us this crap?” the marine quipped, his uniform wet with sweat, as his herculean arm held an electronic drill he was using to break up the rubble of the Christian College of the Philippines.

  His ego bruised, the radio reported left the scene embarrassed.3

  “Patuloy ang rescue operation dito sa Baguio kahit gumagabi na. Medyo umuulan ngayon at basang-basa ang mga rescue teams namin dito,” Marco de Dios, a field reporter of DZRH, stated. He was a few meters away from the collapsed wing of the Baguio Hyatt Terraces Hotel.

  (“The rescue operations here in Baguio have continued despite nightfall. The rescue teams are drenched because it’s even raining at this hour,”)

  “Sinu-sino ang mga nariyan?” Rey Langit, who was manning the DZRH announcer’s booth in Makati, asked.

  (“Who are there?”)

  “Na mga rescue team members?” Marco asked, clarifying the question.

  (“You mean, who are part of the rescue team?”)

  “Roger, Marco! Roger!”

  “Ang mga Igorot miners ang nangunguna. Sila talaga ang mga pumapasok sa mga guho. Parang wala silang takot. Nandito rin ang mga British, Japanese, Americans at Singaporeans.”

  (“Igorot miners are leading the rescue effort. They are the ones entering the collapsed building. It seems they have no fear. The British, Japanese, Americans and Singaporeans are also here.”)

  “Yung mga PMA cadets, nand’yan pa ba?” Rey Langit asked.

  (“Are the PMA cadets there?” PMA stands for Philippine Military Academy)

  “Roger, Rey! Roger!”

  “Pwede bang mag-interview ka ng isang member ng rescue team d’yan?”

  (“Can you interview one of the members of the rescue team?”)

  “Roger, Rey! Sandali lang at lalapitan ko ang isa,” Marco said.

  (“Let me approach one.”)

  He approached a member of the British team.

  “Sir, is it possible to ask a few questions?” Marco asked the British.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Do you think there are still people alive in the rubble?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “How long will it take ‘til the rescue teams finish this work in Hyatt?”

  “I don’t know. A few days perhaps.”

  “When did you arrive here, Sir?”

  “Just this morning. We could have arrived yesterday from Lon
don, but we were waiting for your government’s confirmation that it needed assistance. We were also delayed for eight hours in Manila.”

  “How come?” asked Marco.

  “I don’t know…”

  “Marco! Marco! Tanungin mo ang pangalan niya,” Rey Langit said.

  (“Ask for his name,”)

  “Sir, may I know your name please?”

  “Hugh MacMillan.”

  “Thank you very much, Sir!” Marco said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Rey…”

  He would not finish his statement. Another aftershock occurred.

  “Rey, may aftershock na naman dito!”

  (“Rey, there’s another aftershock!”)

  “Malakas ba?! Malakas ba?!”

  (“Is it strong?! Is it strong?!”)

  “Roger, Rey! Medyo malakas!”

  (“Quite strong!”)

  “Palagi ba ang aftershock d’yan?”

  (“Are you frequently experiencing aftershocks in that area?”)

  “Roger, Rey! Roger! Ayan… tumigil na.”

  (“Finally… it stopped.”)

  “Marco, kumain ka na ba?”

  (“Marco, have you eaten?”)

  “Hindi pa.”

  (“Not yet.”)

  “Mabuti pa, kumain ka muna at pagod ka na rin. I’ll contact you later.”

  (“Why don’t you eat and take a break since you’re fatigued.”)

  “Roger, Rey! Roger!”

  . . .

  Darkness.

  Complete darkness.

  Only the noise created by the electronic drills disturbed the silence and the horror of the rubble.

  Daniel and Tony were both wounded when the table they hid under collapsed. The wall nearby crumbled on it. Then, the ceiling fell on them likewise, like the weight of a meteor falling from the sky.

  “Tony, kumusta ang sugat mo?” Daniel asked with difficulty. He had a hard time breathing. His abdomen was hit by the table, which in turn was cut into half by fallen rubble.

  (“How’s you’re wound, Tony?”)

  “Patuloy pa ang dugo…” he answered. His face and neck wet with blood oozing from his wounded head.

  (“Blood continues to flow out...”)

  “Kaya mo pa?” Daniel asked.

  (“Can you still make it?”)

  Tony was skeptical.

  “Nanghihina ako.”

  (“I feel weak.”)

  There was silence. A terrifying one.

  The possibility of impending death was certainly on their minds.

  Tony’s tears began to fall.

  “Daniel, ayaw ko pang mamatay.”

  (“Daniel, I don’t want to die yet.”)

  There was silence again.

  Then Daniel spoke. “Palakasin mo ang loob mo. May awa ang Panginoon.”

  (“Be strong. The Lord is merciful.”)

  “Daniel, ayaw ko pang mamatay…” Tony said again. He continued to cry.

  (“Daniel, I don’t want to die yet...”)

  “Tony, ang buhay natin ay nasa Panginoon. Siya ang may hawak nito. Kung gugustuhin niya tayong makaligtas, makaliligtas tayo. Ngunit ang mas mahalaga ay kung handa tayong humarap sa Kanya,” Daniel said. “Ano ba ang pumipigil sa iyo upang tanggapin mo ang Panginoon?”

  (“Tony, our life is in God’s hands. If it is His will that we survive, we will survive. But what is more important is that we are ready to face Him. What is preventing you from receiving the Lord into your life?”)

  Tony poured out his feelings.

  “Daniel, may poot pa sa puso ko hanggang ngayon… Hinalay ng aming mayor ang nakababata kong kapatid na babae. Pagkatapos siyang halayin ay pinatay pa siya upang hindi makapagsumbong. Naipangako ko sa kanyang puntod na ipaghihiganti ko ang kanyang kaapihan.”

  (“Daniel, there is hate and bitterness in my heart until now… Our mayor raped my youngest sister. After she was raped, she was killed so that she could not talk. I made a promise over her grave to avenge her injustice.”)

  Daniel was silent for a while. Then he spoke.

  “Hindi mo ba maipagpaparaya sa Panginoon ang paghihiganti?”

  (“Can’t you wait for God’s retribution?”)

  Tony would not reply

  “Nakikita ng Panginoon ang mga paghihirap ng mga inaapi… Nadidinig Niya ang kanilang mga iyak… At sa takdang panahon, ipapataw Niya ang nararapat na parusa sa mga nang-api.” Daniel stated.

  (“The Lord sees the plight of the oppressed… He hears their cries… and at His appointed time, He exacts just punishment on the oppressors.”)

  Tony continued to cry.

  “Hindi mo nga maaaring tanggapin ang Panginoon kung may poot sa puso mo… Kung tatanggapin mo ang Panginoon, dapat malinis ang iyong puso… Malungkot ang nangyari sa buhay ng kapatid mo… sa buhay mo… Ngunit mas malungkot pa kung mamamatay ka ng wala si Kristo sa iyong buhay,” Daniel said.

  (“Truly, you cannot receive the Lord if there is hatred in your heart… If you ever receive the Lord, you should be willing to let go of the hatred in your heart… What happened to your sister… and to your life… it’ sad… But it will be even sadder if you die without the Lord in your life,”)

  The last sentence brought fear in Tony’s heart. He had a feeling that death was not far behind. Anxiously, he asked Daniel if the Lord would forgive him for all his sins.

  “Oo, kahit ano pang pagkakasala mo ay papatawarin ng Panginoon kapag magsisisi ka at bubuksan mo ang iyong puso sa Kanya. Ang Panginoon ay maawain at mapagpatawad. Lahat tayo ay nangaligaw, kaya nga’t bumaba siya at namatay sa krus para sa ating mga kasalanan.”

  (“Yes, no matter what your sins are, the Lord will forgive them all if you will repent and open your heart to Him. The Lord is gracious and forgiving. All of us have gone astray, that is why He came to earth and died on the cross for our redemption.”)

  “Gusto kong magsisi at humingi ng tawad sa Kanya... Paano ko bubuksan ang puso ko sa Panginoon?”

  (“I want to repent and ask Him for forgiveness... How will I open my heart to Him?”)

  “Sa pamamagitan ng panalangin. Panalangin ng pagtanggap sa Kanya.”

  (“Thru prayer. A prayer of acceptance.”)

  “Daniel, gusto ko Siyang tanggapin sa puso ko ngayon.”

  (“Daniel, I want to receive Him into my heart right now.”)

  He taught Tony how to receive Christ into his heart, explaining to him Revelations chapter 3 verse 20.

  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

  “Ang pinto ay ang pinto ng iyong puso, ng iyong kaluluwa. Kapag bubuksan mo ang iyong puso sa Kanya, Siya ay papasok sa iyo gaya ng pangako Niya. Lilinisin Niya ang iyong buhay at bibigyan ka Niya ng buhay na walang hanggan.”

  (“The door is the door of your heart. If you open your heart to Him, He will enter your heart as He promised. He will clean your life, and give you eternal life.”)

  At that very moment, when life was fleeting fast and death was sure, Tony wholeheartedly opened his heart to the Savior. After Tony prayed, repeating the prayer of Daniel, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

  Daniel prayed the Lord’s prayer.

  “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name… Thy kingdom come… Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…”

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