Kahayupan

The recent events in Maguindanao clearly shows how backward people still are in an area where government and international agencies have poured so much resources to encourage economic activity and improve quality of life. Progress? I look at the videos of Maguindanao shown on TV and can't help but notice that the only modern infra they have are roads. And we know that building those roads probably amounted to a lot more than what it actually should cost.

In this day and age where information spreads fast and news about such crimes as the massacre could be broadcast to the entire world, one would think that being escorted by a journalists would at least be a deterrent to the grim ending experienced by the victims. Indeed, a lot has been written and said about the circumstances. Comments here and analysis there are a dime a dozen, and from where a lot of us stand they seem to be falling on deaf ears. Frankly, to me its similar to that saying about how hard it is to wake up someone who's pretending to sleep. In this case, the moves by the ones in power are token and just for show. Heads should roll (pun intended) in such situations where the gains of having a 7-time world boxing champion and a world recognized hero for the common man was all but snuffed out by the heinous act of a clan.

Perhaps, as pundits say, "nakulangan pa tayo sa world class." We also wanted to establish ourselves as tops in terms of being the most dangerous place for journalists. The news say that...we leapfrogged over the cream of the crop that is Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia...the list goes on. It's a veritable who's who in a chaotic world and it reflects sadly not on Maguindanao alone but the entire country. I see the defiant faces of those who are obviously guilty and I squirm in my seat knowing they will eventually get only a slap on the wrist (or maybe less!).

I was reminded that the term "kahayupan" probably does not apply here. Being a pet owner, my Lab is too kind and "malambing." It is an unfair term because what was accomplished (yes, I think the perpetrators would use this term and even take pride in it) was more than "kahayupan." So at the very least, many say perhaps they deserve a similar fate. Perhaps, for all to see, they should be made to suffer in a manner brought about by animals like spike their drink with rabies or rat piss...then we'll see what "kahayupan" is all about. That way, they can be made examples for those planning on similar acts.

In this day and age, there is no place for people who think they can do whatever they want. Man-made laws and those from the Divine are not deterrents for those who are already ruling hell on earth. Maybe Satan should be worried when they cross over to the other side.