(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.
Comments to alellema@yahoo.com

Flashback: If memory serves right for this senior citizen columnist, the Muslim issue or at times called the Moro problem has been an un-extracted thorn in our national life. When the GRP-Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to a ceasefire- but unconvinced of the process some MNLF members broke away and organized the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and when later the MILF has also agreed to a ceasefire, Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BILP) was born. So, should it be an “all out war” the strategy that President Erap did? I say not yet: We knew what happens in an all-out war strategy. President Erap did it and peace continues to elude us.
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In spite of the brutal loss of 44 PNP Special Action Force I still salute the commander Police Director Getulio Napenas for one thing- instead of passing the buck he bravely assumed responsibility for such ill-fated outcome in their mission to arrest international terrorists – Zulkifli bin, Hir, alias Marwan, a member of the al-Qaida which is linked to Jemmah Islamia believed to be an international terrorist group and a Filipino Basit Usman. More on this in my next column.
Well let us pause from here. As I was writing this, over a week ago today, so many things could have already been done for the bereaved families of these 44 Special Action force, our new heroes.
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Commendable: This is something that not every Leyteño knows. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members who represent their respective districts in our provincial government are provided Socio-cultural fund allocations from the office of the Governor that is equally distributed to all SP members. It’s P50,000 annually. And they can still ask for more depending upon the urgency of such needs in the districts.
Board member Mimmiette Bagulaya aside from assistance for sports and fiesta celebrations in her area of representation, she has lately purchased floaters from the funds. She has at the moment 50 of these floaters for distribution. These floaters will be used during floods for endangered victims during natural calamities especially floods. Very Practical and timely as we a re always visited by typhoons and floods join the destructive fray.
In the case of SP member Atty Nico Villasin, he has used these funds, again aside from this assistance for sports and fiesta celebrations he bought worth P250,000 of medicines placed in utility boxes that were distributed in schools and barangays. He distributed these medicines via a raffle draw among the Association of Barangay Chairmen members because it would not be enough for all the 501 barangays in the district.
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SP Member Bagulaya further shared info that all her fellow SP members also spent their allocations to benefit residents of their districts. I had no chance to see them.
We commend Governor Mic Petilla for this. It is a sign and indication that he is aware that he would not personally know all what the districts need so he allowed Sangguniang Panlalawigan to assume this role. It is humility at a high plane and a show of trust the governor has for the SP members.