Fallen Hero

White Clouds Pass like Heroes Do

Carigara, Leyte

February 7, 2015

The sky was perfectly blue, sporadic white clouds passed by, cold wind blew and the eight o’clock sun glared, and then the trumpet started to toot, echoed in reverence; it was a funeral. A hero will be brought to rest; wreaths and people paraded to church in heavy, tiny steps. We walked the walk not just for our brave brother who have fallen in the Mamasapano, Maguindanao Massacre of the 44 PNP SAF Officers last January 25, 2015, but for the awakening fate of those victims of selfish governance of this nation. This concerns all widows, widowers, children, public officials, and all Filipinos. We worry for our security, we worry for the justice system and most importantly, we worry for our lives.

The church was filled with friends and relatives and students and mere strangers who took time to send their condolences. As the wife of the hero stood behind the podium, we witnessed her strength in every word she uttered, clear and precise. In one of her lines she said, “Who will fix my laptop when it gets broken?” she sobbed hard. With her words implied the lives that have been broken and will never be fixed, maybe not in this lifetime. Their son, at three, was clueless but deep in his subconscious he knew something was missing and not right. We wept, prayed and prayed harder.

As the crowd marched to the cemetery, dark clouds started to blanket the sky, there will be rain soon. The ceremonial 21 gun salute that was carried out will have been the last shots for the hero; the Philippine flag was ceremoniously folded and handed to the widow, as she cradled it in her arms, I was in between weight of the flag and the life that was lost. We wept, prayed and prayed harder.

Then, the rain started to pour. Even the mighty sky could not bear the sorrow.