Asyouarereadingthisletter,Ibetthatyouhaveseen/heardaboutwhathappenedearlierinourcountry.
Touristswerehostagesofapolicemanhere,RolandoMendoza.Afterafewhoursofthehorriblecrime,someofthevictimsweredeadincludingthehostage-taker.
IwrotethisletternotjusttoapologizebutalsotoleteveryoneknowthatweFilipinosarenotalllikeMendoza.Wearelovingandgood-heartedpeople.
Forsomanyyears,ourcountryhasbeenstandingtallandsurpassingeverydilemma;beitsmallorbig.Yearsago(backwhenIwasn’tbornyet),youhavewatchedusfightforwhatwethinkisright.Wefoughtforthedemocracyofournation..TheEDSArevolution.Butthat’sjustoneoutofmany.
Second.WeFilipinoshavebeenservingothercountriesforourfamiliesandwetreatyouasourownaswell.Withallduerespect,Ithankyouallforgivingusthetrustthroughtheyears.Forhelpingustobecomewhatwearenow.
ThePhilippinesismorethanjustagroupofislands.Weareanationofstrongandremarkablepeople.Acountryofbeautyandloveknowntobehospitableandwell-valued.Ihumblyapologizeforwhathappenedtonight.Nooneinthisworldwouldwantsomethinglikethattohappenforlifeshouldbevalued.
Ipolitelyasktheattentionoftheworld.Pleasedonotjudgeandmistreatusjustbecauseofwhathappenedtonight.Ihavebeensearchingthenetandfoundterriblethings.HongKongadvicestoavoidtravelshere,ChinaandHKbansFilipinosandthatPhilippinesistheworstplacetogo.
Ican’tblameyouforwhatyouhavedecidedbutIhopethatyoucouldunderstand.Ourcountryisnowinaseaofproblems.AndIknowforsurethatwehelpedyouinawayoranother.Letpeaceandunderstandingreignthistime.
IknowthatthisletterwilljustbetrashbutIwishthatyouwouldunderstand.OnbehalfofthePhilippinepopulation..WEARESORRY.
Asasongputsit…
AndIbelievethatinmylifeIwillseeanendtohopelessness,giving-upandsuffering.Andweallstandtogetherthisonetimethennoonewillgetleftbehind.Standupforlife.STANDUPFORLOVE
Sincerelyyours,
ReignoJoseDilao