Even The Grass Bleeds

by Norbert Mercado

July 28, 1990.

  From their house in Sampaloc, Aunt Mely and her eldest daughter Thea took a jeepney to Quiapo after dinner.

  They took a bus in front of Quiapo Church to Ayala Avenue.

  They got down near Makati Medical Center, and asked a pedestrian where DZRH is.1

  Fortunately, the pedestrian knew where the radio station is, and showed them how to go there.

  They were at the radio station by 8:45 in the evening.

  Radio station DZRH started a 24-hour daily broadcast immediately after the natural disaster to offer assistance to earthquake victims and to governmental and private organizations helping in the rescue and relief work.

  “Magandang gabi po. Magpapatulong sana kami kay Mr. Rey Langit,” Aunt Mely told the receptionist.

  (“Good evening. Would it be possible to ask for the assistance of Mr. Rey Langit?”)

  “Tungkol po saan?” asked the lady staff.

  (“Regarding?”)

  “Mananawagan sana kami sa Baguio. Alalang-alala na kami dahil may mga relatives kami doon. Hanggang ngayon, hindi namin alam ang kalagayan nila. Hindi naman kami makatawag, o matawagan, dahil cut-off ang telephone lines. Kaya dito kami pumunta dahil may contact ang DZRH sa mga field reporters n’yo sa Baguio.”2

  (“We would like to get in contact with the people in Baguio. We are worried because we have relatives there. Until now, we do not know their status. We could not call them, or wait for their call, since the telephone lines are cut-off. So we went here because DZRH can contact the reporters on the field in Baguio.”)

  “Doon na lang po kayo sa announcer’s booth. Sasamahan ko po kayo,” the receptionist said. Immediately, she accompanied them to the booth.

  (“Please wait in the announcer’s booth. Let me take you there,”)

  Four women were seated in the booth, while two men, one in his late sixties, were standing, waiting for their turn to make announcements.

  Rey Langit was then commenting on people who were taking advantage of relief donations.

  “Pambihira talaga ang ibang mga kababayan natin. Kahit sa panahon ng kalamidad, hindi pa rin natatakot sa Diyos. Patuloy pa rin ang pagsasamantala sa kapwa Pilipino. Pati ba naman mga blankets at damit na donations sa mga earthquake victims, ipinagbibili sa Fairview, at ang mga donations na itlog galing sa ibang bansa, ipinagbibili d’yan sa Pampanga! Ano ba naman iyan? Hindi na ba natin ititigil ang pandurugas? Sa panahong ito ng krisis, sana naman ay pagtulong sa ating mga nakakaawang mga kababayan ang ating isipin, hindi ang pagsasamantala!!!” Rey Langit exclaimed.

  (“Some of our countrymen are really devious. Even in times of disasters, they still fail to fear God. They continue to take advantage of their fellow Filipinos. Imagine, even blankets and clothes that have been donated for the earthquake victims are ending up for sale in Fairview, and eggs that have been donated by other countries, are being sold in Pampanga! What kind of behavior is that? Can’t we stop being deceitful? In times of crisis, helping our poor countrymen should be on our minds, not exploitation!!!”)

  Mr. Langit turned to the women and men in the booth.

  “May mga panawagan tayo ngayon. Tawagan natin ang isang babae. Ano pong pangalan n’yo at tagasaan po kayo?”

  (“We have several people who would like to make an announcement. Let’s call on one of the women. What’s your name and where are you from?”)

  “Miss Flordeliza Gabriel po. Taga-Baguio City po kami. Galing po kami sa Baguio ng kapatid ko.”

  (“I’m Miss Flordeliza Gabriel. My brother and I are from Baguio. We just came from there.”)

  “Paano po kayo nakababa? Closed pa po ang Naguilian Road hanggang ngayon.”

  (“How were you able to get down from Baguio? Naguilian Road is still closed until now.”)

  “Naglakad po kami pababa. Naglalakad po ang mga taga-Baguio ngayon pababa. Mananawagan sana kami sa tatay at nanay ko, si Mr. & Mrs. Juan Gabriel, na umakyat sa Baguio. Itay, Inay, nandito na po kami sa Manila. Naglakad po kami sa Naguilian. Wag na po kayong mag-alala sa amin.”

  (“We had to walk all the way down. People from Baguio are leaving on foot. I’d like to call out to my mother and father, Mr. & Mrs. Juan Gabriel who went up to Baguio. Dad, Mom, we’re already here in Manila. We walked via Naguilian. Don’t worry about us.”)

  “Ang ibig mong sabihin Flordeliza, umakyat ang parents mo papuntang Baguio upang makita kayo?”

  (“You mean to say, Flordeliza, that your parents went up to Baguio to search for you?”)

  “Opo. Nagkasalisihan po kami.”3

  (“Yes. And unfortunately, they have already left Manila when we were leaving Baguio, so we missed each other.”)

  “Tsk! Tsk! Tingnan mo nga naman ano. Marami bang naglalakad pababa?”

  (“Tsk! Tsk! That’s regrettable. Were there a lot of people walking on the road down?”)

  “Opo! Crisis po kasi sa pagkain sa Baguio, at palagi po ang aftershocks. Nakakatakot!”

  (“Yes! There’s a food crisis in Baguio. And there were frequent aftershocks. It was scary!”)

  “O, sige. Mayroon pa ba?”

  (“Okay. Is there anything else?”)

  “Wala na po. ‘Yun lang po. Salamat po.”

  (“No. That’s it. Thank you.”)

  “O sige, Hija.”

  (“Okay, Miss”)

  Rey Langit called another woman.

  “Kayo po, misis, anong panawagan n’yo?” asked Rey Langit.

  (“And you, Ma’am, what would you like say?”)

  “Mananawagan po sana ako sa mister ko at mga anak ko sa Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya.”

  (“I’d like to call on my husband and my kids in Bagabag, Nueva Visacaya.”)

  “Anong po’ng pangalan ng mister n’yo?”

  (“What’s your husband’s name?”)

  “Juanito Afan po?”

  (“Juanito Afan.”)

  “Ang pangalan po ninyo, misis?”

  (“And your name, Ma’am?”)

  “Arsenia Afan po.”

  (“Arsenia Afan.”)

  “O, sige po, Manawagan na po kayo.”

  (“Okay, go ahead and make your announcement.”)

  Mrs. Afan was teary-eyed as she spoke.

  “Juanito, kumusta kayo r’yan? Mabuti naman ako rito sa Manila. Uuwi sana ako noong Martes, July 17, ngunit ganito naman ang nangyari – lumindol. Alalang-alala ako sa inyo. Adela, Ramon, Ato! Kumusta kayo r’yan mga anak? Gusto kong umuwi r’yan sa Bagabag, pero sarado ang Dalton Pass.4 Hindi makadaan ang mga sasakyan. Kaya’t matatagalan pa ako rito sa Manila. Mag-ingat kayo r’yan.”

  (“Juanito, how are you all there? I’m safe here in Manila. I was about to go home last Tuesday, July 17, but you know what happened – there was an earthquake. I’m worried about you all. Adela, Ramon, Ato! How are you my children? I want to go home to Bagabag, but Dalton Pass is closed. Vehicles cannot pass. I may have to stay here in Manila for some time. Please take care of yourselves.”)

  “Meron pa po, Aling Arsenia?” Rey Langit asked.

  (“Is there anything else, Ma’am Arsenia?”)

  “Wala na po, Mang Rey. Salamat po,” Mrs. Afan replied.

  (“That’s it, Sir Rey. Thank you.”)

  Rey Langit called for the third woman.

  “Misis, ano po ang pangalan n’yo?”

  (“And you’re Mrs.?”)

  “Miss pa po ako,” the woman, in her late fourties replied.

  (“Mind you, I’m still a Miss.”)

  Rey Langit burst in laughter.

  “Anong pangalan n’yo, Miss?”

  (“Sorry, my mistake. Miss?”)

  “Paquita Soriven, Mang Rey.”

  (“Paguita Soriven, Mr. Rey.”)

  “Taga-saan po kayo, Aling Paquita?”

  (“And where are you from, Miss Paquita?”)

  “Sa Agoo, La Union po.”

  (“Agoo, La Union.”)

  “Oh! Sa Agoo! Di ba bumagsak ang municipal hall n’yo roon?”

  (“Oh! Agoo! Didn’t your municipal
hall collapse?”)

  “Oo nga po.”

  (“Yes.”)

  “Anong panawagan n’yo?”

  (“What is your announcement?”)

  “Gusto ko lang pong iparating sa mga magulang ko, sina Mr. & Mrs. Rolando Soriven, na ligtas po kami rito sa Maynila. Tatang, Inang, madi kayo nga madanagan kadakami ditoy. Agawid ak inton Miyerkoles dita Agoo. Kung sino man po ang nakikinig na nakakakilala kina Mr. & Mrs. Rolando Soriven sa Agoo, pakisabi lang po sa kanila na ligtas kami rito sa Maynila kaya wag po silang mag-alala. Salamat po.”

  (“I want to reach out to my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Rolando Soriven, and tell them that we’re safe here in Manila. Papa, Mama, don’t worry about us. I’m going home to Agoo this coming Wednesday. If anyone listening in Agoo knows Mr. & Mrs. Rolando Soriven, please inform them that we are safe here in Manila and that they should not worry. Thank You”)

  “Okay. Next!” said Rey Langit.

  Another woman went forward to the microphone to make an announcement.

  “Ano pong pangalan n’yo, Miss o Misis?” asked Rey Langit.

  (“And you are, Miss or Mrs.?”)

  “Misis na po.”

  (“Mrs.”)

  “Misis…?”

  (“Mrs.?”)

  “Mrs. Adelina Jose po.”

  (“Mrs. Adelina Jose.”)

  “Taga saan?”

  (“From where?”)

  “Sa Villasis, Pangasinan po.”

  (“Villasis, Pangasinan.”)

  “Malapit po ba kayo sa bumagsak na Carmen Bridge?”5

  (“Do you live near the Carmen Bridge? The one that fell down?”)

  “May isang kilometro po ang layo ng bahay namin.”

  (“Our house is about a kilometer away from that bridge.”)

  “Ano po ang panawagan ninyo, Mrs. Jose?”

  (“What is your message for those listening, Mrs. Jose?”)

  “Gusto ko pong manawagan sa mga magulang ko, sina Mr. & Mrs. Bernardo Mariano, o sa sino mang nakakakilala sa kanila sa Villasis, Pangasinan. Tatang, Inang, safe kami ditoy Manila. Kami po ang nag-aalala sa inyo. Kung makakatawag po kayo sa amin, alam po naman n’yo ang telephone number namin. Tumawag po kayo para hindi naman kami nag-aalala.”

  (“I want to call on my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bernardo Mariano, or whoever knows them in Villasis, Pangasinan. Father, Mother, we’re safe here in Manila. We are the ones worried about you. Please call us if you can. You know our telephone number in Manila. Call us so that we can have peace of mind.”)

  “Okay na po, Mrs. Jose?”

  (“Is that it, Mrs. Jose?”)

  “Okay na po. Marami pong salamat, Mang Rey.”

  (“Yes, that’s all. Thank you very much, Mr. Rey.”)

  “Wala pong anuman!”

  (“You’re welcome!”)

  “Kayo naman po, Lolo. Ano pong pangalan ninyo at sino po ang tatawagan ninyo?”

  (“What about you, Grandpa? What’s your name and who would you like to reach out to?”)

  The old man sounded nervous as he spoke.

  “Ako po si Mr. Alejandro Briones.”

  (“I’m Mr. Alejandro Briones.”)

  “Taga-saan po kayo, Lolo?”

  (“Where are you from, Grandpa?”)

  “Taga-Cabanatuan City po.”

  (“I’m from Cabanatuan City.”)

  “Ano pong panawagan ninyo?”

  (“And your message?”)

  “Gusto ko pong manawagan sa anak kong si Amado Briones. Amado, nananalangin kami sa kaligtasan n’yo ng asawa at mga anak mo. Ipaalam mo sa amin ang inyong kalagayan d’yan sa Cabanatuan.”

  (“I want to reach out to my son, Amado Briones. Amado, we are praying for you, your wife, and your kids’ safety. Please give us an update of your status in Cabanatuan.”)

  “May mga apo po ba kayo na nag-aaral sa Christian College of the Philippines?”

  (“Do you have a grandchild studying in Christian College of the Philippines?”)

  “Isa po. Elementary pa lang s’ya?”

  (“I have one. He’s still in elementary.”)

  “Wala pa po ba kayong balita tungkol sa apo n’yo, kung kasali s’ya o hindi sa mga na-trap sa Christian College of the Philippines?”

  (“Don’t you have any information, whether or not your grandchild is one of those trapped under the Christian Coleege of the Philippines building?”)

  “Wala pa po…” he answered with sorrow.

  (“No, I don’t...”)

  “Mayroon pa po ba kayong panawagan?”

  (“Would you like to say anything else?”)

  “Kung sino man po ang nakakakilala kay Mr. & Mrs. Amado Briones d’yan sa Cabanatuan City, pakisabi lang po na nag-aalala kami rito sa Manila. Kung maaari ay pakitawagan lang po kami upang malaman namin ang nangyayari sa kanila.”

  (“If anyone knows Mr. & Mrs. Amado Briones who are in Cabanatuan City, please tell them that we are worried about them here in Manila. If possible, please give us a call so that we would know if they are okay.”)

  “Ano pong telephone number ang tatawagan nila, Lolo?”

  (“What telephone number could they call, Grandpa?”)

  “972-675 po. Telepono po ito ng kapitbahay namin, si Mr. Gil Estrella. Makisuyo na lang po sila sa kanya. Salamat po.”

  (“The can call 972-675. This number belongs to our neighbor, Mr. Gil Estrella. You can reach us through him. Thank you.”)

  “Okay! Kayo naman, Mister…”

  (“Okay! And the next one is Mr….”)

  “Ako po si Nardito Impe, taga-Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.”

  (“I’m Nardito Impe, from Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.”)

  “Ano pong panawagan n’yo, Mr. Impe?”

  (“What’s the message you would like to broadcast over the radio, Mr. Impe?”)

  “Mananawagan po sana ako…” he began to cry.

  (“I’m calling on....”)

  “Mananawagan po ako sa mga kamag-anak ko sa Kayapa na tulungan ang aking mag-ina.”

  (“I’m calling on my relatives at Kayapa to please help my wife and kid.”)

  Rey Langit surmised that the man’s family may have been among the victims of the landslide in Kayapa.6

  He tried to comfort the man.

  “Relax lang po kayo. May awa po ang Panginoon.”

  (“Please, just relax. The Lord is merciful.”)

  “Gusto ko po sanang umuwi sa Nueva Vizcaya ngunit sarado pa po ang Dalton Pass.”

  (“I want to go home to Nueva Vizcaya but Dalton Pass is still closed.”)

  “Nasubukan na po ba n’yong humingi ng tulong sa Philippine Air Force?”7

  (“Have you tried asking for help from the Philippine Air Force?”)

  “Hindi pa po, Mr. Langit. Hindi ko kasi alam kung paano pumunta roon.”

  (“No, Mr. Langit. I don’t know how to approach them.”)

  “D’yan lang po sa Villamor Air Base. Makiusap kayo kay General Tereso Isleta.”

  (“You can try going to Villamor Air Base. Ask for the help of General Tereso Isleta.”)

  Mr. Langit instructed his assistant to give the telephone number of the Villamor Air Base Relief Operations Center (VABROC).

  “Marami pong salamat,” Mr. Impe said.

  (“Thank you very much.”)

  “Wala pong anuman,” Rey Langit replied.

  (“You’re welcome.”)

  It was Aunt Mely’s turn.

  “May isa pa tayong panawagan. Misis hali na po kayo,” Rey Langit said, calling Aunt Mely forward.

  (“We still have another announcement. You can go ahead, Ma’am.”)

  “Ano pong pangalan n’yo, at taga-saan?”

  (“What is your name and where are you from?”)

  “Mrs. Mely Nicolas po. Taga-Baguio City po, pero dito na kami sa Sampaloc nakatira.”

  (“Mrs. Mely Nicolas. I’m from Baguio City, but I now reside in Sampaloc.”)

  “Ano pong panawagan n’yo?”

  (“And your message?”)

 
“Gusto ko pong manawagan kay Mrs. Alejandra Afable, at sa kanyang mga anak, si Boy at Tina. Aleja, Boy, Tina, kung nakikinig kayo kay Mr. Langit, pakitawagan n’yo ang DZRH sa umaga hanggang alas onse ng gabi. Palagi kaming nakikinig sa DZRH, kaya’t malalaman namin ang sitwasyon n’yo r’yan kung tatawag kayo. Kung sino man po ang nakakakilala kay Mrs. Alejandra Afable, pakisabi na lang po na tumawag dito sa DZRH. Salamat po.”

  (“I want to call on Mrs. Alejandra Afable, and her children, Boy and Tina. Aleja, Boy, Tina, if any of you are listening to Mr. Langit, please call DZRH at any time in the morning until 11 p.m. in the evening. We are always listening to DZRH, so we will be informed of your situation once you call. If anyone listening knows Mrs. Alejandra Afable, please tell her to call DZRH. Thank you.”)

  “Okay! Thank you very much din po sa pagtangkilik n’yo sa DZRH.”

  (“Okay! And thank you for continually listening to DZRH.”)

  Rey Langit shifted to news commentary this time.

  “Tungkol naman dito sa officer ni cashiered Colonel Gringo Honasan na ‘truce’8 with the government ngayong panahon ng emergency. Palagay ko, walang masama kung tatanggapin ito ng Pangulong Aquino during this period. After all, Pilipino tayong lahat, at dapat magtulungan sa panahon ng kagipitan.”

  (“In other news, cashiered officer Colonel Gringo Honasan offered the government a truce in this time of emergency. I don’t think there’s anything wrong if President Aquino will accept this ceasefire offer during this period. After all, we are all Filipinos, and we should help one another in time of need.”)

  Mr. Langit drank water from his glass to quench his thirst.

  Then, he resumed his commentary.

  “At ang CPP-NPA naman, sana maging sincere sa offer nilang unilateral ceasefire. Sa panahong ito na daan-daan o libo-libo ang na ang namamatay9, huwag na nating dagdagan pa ang paghihirap ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Tigilan natin ang away, at tumulong tayo sa mga kaawa-awa nating mga kababayan.”10

  (“And as for the CPP-NPAs, I hope they will be sincere in their offer of a unilateral ceasefire. In a time when hundreds or thousands are dying, let’s not add to the difficulty of our fellow countrymen. Let’s stop the fighting, and help those of our compatriots in need.”)

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  . . . CHAPTER . . .

  10