Ruthilicious

A LETTER OF A TEENAGE FILIPINO TO THE WHOLE WORLD

As you are reading this letter, I bet that you have seen/heard about what happened earlier in our country.

Tourists were hostages of a policeman here, Rolando Mendoza. After a few hours of the horrible crime, some of the victims were dead including the hostage-taker.

I wrote this letter not just to apologize but also to let everyone know that we Filipinos are not all like Mendoza. We are loving and good-hearted people.

For so many years, our country has been standing tall and surpassing every dilemma; be it small or big. Years ago (back when I wasn’t born yet), you have watched us fight for what we think is right. We fought for the democracy of our nation.. The EDSA revolution. But that’s just one out of many.

Second. We Filipinos have been serving other countries for our families and we treat you as our own as well. With all due respect, I thank you all for giving us the trust through the years. For helping us to become what we are now.

The Philippines is more than just a group of islands. We are a nation of strong and remarkable people. A country of beauty and love known to be hospitable and well-valued. I humbly apologize for what happened tonight. No one in this world would want something like that to happen for life should be valued.

I politely ask the attention of the world. Please do not judge and mistreat us just because of what happened tonight. I have been searching the net and found terrible things. Hong Kong advices to avoid travels here, China and HK bans Filipinos and that Philippines is the worst place to go.

I can’t blame you for what you have decided but I hope that you could understand. Our country is now in a sea of problems. And I know for sure that we helped you in a way or another. Let peace and understanding reign this time.

I know that this letter will just be trash but I wish that you would understand. On behalf of the Philippine population.. WE ARE SORRY.

As a song puts it…
And I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness, giving-up and suffering. And we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind. Stand up for life. STAND UP FOR LOVE

Sincerely yours,

Reigno Jose Dilao

Author’s Note: Reigno is a 15 year old Student from Catbalogan City, Samar Philippines. The letter is about the recent unfortunate Hostage Tragedy in Manila. The letter was taken from HERE

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As a teacher, our job is not done when the students left the classroom. Our job is not done until we know that our lessons are absorbed by the young minds under our care. Teaching is not called a noble job for nothing if we only look at it as a “job”.

As a teacher, it is a joy to know that our lessons are not just learned but lived by our students. When our students show their interest in the lessons we teach we feel proud. Their success is our success too.

As a teacher, we also feel sad when our students become the opposite of what we expect of them to be. It is sad that we cannot make good choices and decisions for them. We can only teach and help them make one. And we can only hope that they do make the right choices.

The story of the Hostage Taker in Manila and the Teenager who wrote the letter is just an ordinary story of students who made choices.  Choices that have permanent impact on their lives. And whoever their teachers were… I can only feel for them.