More than anything, news about war and deaths make me cry. If people die because of people killing them, I can't seem to accept it. It is beyond my understanding. 

Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit may mga taong kayang pumatay para sa masama--para pagtakpan ang mga nagkasala. I appreciate the peace talks. I actually thought it's a new start for the Philippines... But no. Because apparently, peace is far within our reach. 

I send my prayers and gratitude to the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were brutally killed in Mamasapano. You are indeed our heroes. I have a  brother in the Philippine National Police (PNP); I somehow know how hard your training is. Kaya sobra ang paghanga ko sa katapangan ninyo. Iniinda ang mahirap na training para sumabak sa mas mahirap na laban. Tapos ganito lang pala ang kahihinatnan. 

My condolences go your families. Hayaan niyo po akong damayan kayo ngayon dahil nararamdaman ko ang mga sakit na iniinda ninyo. Masakit mawalan ng asawa, anak, kapatid, o mahal sa buhay. Nakikiisa po ako sa paghingi ninyo ng hustisya.

But more than justice, I seek for change. Matagal na po tayong ganito, hindi pa po ba tayo nagsasawa? We live in one country. We breathe the same air. We carry the same name. We are all Filipinos. And we being brothers and sisters, is the reason why I can't accept what happened in the Mamasapano massacre. How can you kill your brother? 

I ask for change. For better reinforcements and rescues. Nakapanuod po ako ng video ng mga sundalong naghihintay ng rescue. Ang isa sa kanila namatay na lang dahil naubusan ng dugo; which can be prevented only if the people from above responded fast. Nakakalungkot lang po na makita ang ilan nating kababayan. They pledged to keep peace. To save the Filipino people. To save the country. But we can't even save them if they need us... Nakita ko ho sa video, walang mga bulletproof vests ang mga sundalo. Tanong ko lang ho, sukatan ba ng tapang ang pagsangga sa bala? 

I'm a nobody in other people's eyes, but I wrote this as a mourning Filipino; a sister to those troopers and their families; a daughter of this nation. I offer my prayers to everyone in Mindanao, to everyone in the government that they may see what this country desperately needs clearer, to everyone in MILF that they may offer their two hands for peace, and to every mourning Filipino. This country needs change. We must be the change. 

I don't want to believe that peace is unattainable for his country... We are more than wars and deaths and bloods. Let's unite for peace. Let's unite for our fallen heroes, for our brothers and sisters, and for this country, the Philippines. Our troopers did not give up until their last breath--we must at least keep holding on and on fighting to get the justice they deserve.