(Following is a reprint of article published on cbcpnews website @ http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=50285 . This writer envisions this to serve as another viewpoint among faithfuls in contemplating over the sad fate of the 44 members of PNP-SAF brutally killed in a heavy gunfight with MILF, BIFF and private armies in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, in the words of Archbishop Du).

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 3, 2015 -– If they should be remembered for one thing, the SAF44 should bring to mind the urgency of finding better ways to peace in Mindanao, said a prelate during a Mass celebrated in memory of the forty-four members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who were killed in a clash with rebel groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.
“The heroes of Mamasapano may be gone before the eyes of this world, but their legacy of courage remains in our hearts and minds in order to inspire us and make us build communities founded in love, in unity and in mutual respect,” said Palo Archbishop John Du during a requiem Mass for three of the 44 fallen police officers held recently at the Regional Office of the PNP in Camp Ruperto Kangleon.
“[Their death is a] signal for all of us to find more effective ways to peace, and to defend with more eagerness our right to live without fear,” he noted.Right to live without fear
According to the prelate, “the Heroes of Mamasapano have fallen like that precious ‘grain of wheat’ Jesus speaks of.”
He added: “The 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force are honored by the whole country because of their courage. And their courage has made them face even the fear of dying any moment during that night because they believed that courage was all they had in order to stand for the greater good they wanted to serve.”
Although all the fallen cops were hailed by the Filipinos as heroes, Du agreed with Col. Danilo Pamonag of the Philippine Army’s public address, that the men and women in uniform, the Filipino soldiers, the policemen and policewomen, “don’t claim to be fearless”, but that they “can only stand courageous.”
Commended to God
“We are mourning the death of modern-day ‘heroes’. And heroes are not fearless people. Although courageous, heroes are men or women who also have a fear of one thing. Heroes fear they might not be giving enough even if it is already their best,” the prelate explained.
Du also called on the faithful to commend to God the souls of the policemen who died in said tragic incident in Mamasapano.
Finally, the prelate in consoling the bereaved loved ones of the dead SAF members uttered these Biblical words: “The hour has come for our brothers to leave this life. They have done their best in the race, they have run the full distance, and they have kept the faith.” (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/CBCPNews)

People are boggled with so many questions that could hardly find apt answers. The various incidents that hit our lives, our communities and our nation had brought more questions than answers that we had long been in search for. We find varied meanings in everything that happened as we reflect and ponder for the message that come to us. The different meanings could be due to our individual differences, the varied backgrounds that we have and the experiences that we have gone through that affect our views and perceptions of things.
We hear various tales and experiences in our encounter with Pope Francis who courageously fulfilled his mission to visit our region and dwell, albeit fleetingly, with us, the victims who survived super typhoon Yolanda. The tropical storm had been forecasted as coming to the region in time with the Papal visit. All preparations had factored in the occurrence of a heavy downpour, strong stormy winds and a cold breeze that could put pilgrims and all those who would go out to meet and witness Pope Francis in person, sick.
It was the weather forecast that alerted organizers and pilgrims to be prepared with raincoats as umbrellas are banned to rid obstructions that would cover the view of Pope Francis. There were hospitals and clinics at the Tacloban Airport where the Papal Mass was set to be held. The makeshift altar, choir riser and media bleacher were erected to serve the purposes for which such structures were built.
There too were steel structures to elevate huge speakers of the sound system that served entire activities in the area that culminated in the celebration of the Papal Mass. But more than the functionality, structural soundness and safety may have been overlooked in the preparations. For over a year since super typhoon Yolanda struck us to ground zero, it came into every survivor’s consciousness that structures must be built structurally strong to withstand typhoons. It is unfortunate that people may have not given ample consideration as to strength and safety in the structures at the Papal Mass area.
The lapses in the preparation caused problems that pilgrims patiently endured as part of the ordeal and sacrifice. Some areas outside of the concrete pavement on the airport apron, portions that were muddy and could not allow pilgrims to stand on, much more sit, squat or lie on, were unmindfully included as part of the quadrants, by whoever were tasked for that physical planning and preparation.
There too were people who suffered illnesses due to the cold downpour that soaked their bodies for hours, but could not be conducted out of the area due to strict policies that do not even allow ambulances from leaving the area even with enough time until the arrival of the aircraft where Pope Francis was.
And all ended in that tragic accident that crushed to death a young volunteer for the Papal Visit, a worker of the Catholic Relief Service, due to the collapse of a steel scaffolding that could not withstand the onslaught of strong winds as typhoon Amang hit the area. The bereaved father displayed his faith when he told Pope Francis that his only child Kristel died a meaningful death. True enough, the meaning of that death is in people as the dictionary would only give us its definition.
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