REQUIEM MASS HELD FOR SLAIN HONG KONG TOURISTS

[PHOTO AT top COURTESY OF ANTHONY'S BLOG- Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, center, Hong Kong officials and citizens attend the solemn assembly as they are praying for the Hong Kong tourists who were killed in the Manila bus hostage standoff in Hong Kong, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.]

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan – A heavy downpour added to the somber mood of Philippine and Chinese government officials and religious leaders who held a requiem Mass yesterday for the eight Hong Kong residents killed by a policeman-turned-hostage taker nine days ago at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Among the officials who braved the rains were Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Tourism Secretary Albert Lim, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Viel Aquino-Dee, sister of President Aquino.

The organizers decided to delay the Mass for about 20 minutes to give students time to get to the grandstand. The city-run schools Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the Universidad de Manila were among those who participated.

The Manila Police District (MPD) estimated the crowd at 5,000 aside from the 250 Manila policemen who lighted candles.



[PHOTO AT top - Mass for peace and unity. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa (left), Chinese ambassador Liu Jianchao and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (partly hidden) offer flowers for the victims of the hostage tragedy.]

The priests who joined the concelebrated Mass and city hall officials also offered flowers and candles.

Liu expressed his gratitude to the city government of Manila, Department of Tourism (DOT), Radyo Veritas and other groups and individuals who helped organize the Mass for the victims of the hostage taking.

“I know that Filipino and Chinese share their common sentiments and sadness and prayers over the loss of lives in that incident. I am happy that the Chinese side and also Philippine side are having very good cooperation in the settlement of the ultimate, I hope... life will go on,” Liu said, admitting that the incident has strained the relationship between China and the Philippines.

“This is a very bad tragedy, but the two governments are working on it. The Chinese people and the Filipino people have one heart. They share the pain and sorrow,” said the Chinese ambassador.

He added that so far, the two countries have displayed good cooperation on the investigation.

As to the fate of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Liu believed that they would continue to lead good lives in Hong Kong and that the incident would only create minimal changes.




When asked if Hong Kong would lift the travel advisory against the Philippines, he said “everything would be in place after the investigation is conducted and the conclusion is strong. We are seeking a thorough and credible investigation. We hope that the result of the investigation will square with the facts.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Romulo, on the other hand, expressed his “deepest sorrow to the people of Hong Kong, to the Chinese people and in particular to the victims, their families and friends.”

“As reported by Secretary De Lima, the investigation is going on and we are looking forward to completion of that investigation,” Romulo said.

He added that they are talking with the Chinese ambassador on the possible lifting of the travel ban.

Teresita Ang See, a Tsinoy community leader, said the Buddhist monks who prayed before the requiem Mass sought for rain to wash away grief and pain caused by the bloody hostage-taking incident.

Tourism industry leader Teresita Henderson said they organized the requiem Mass and offered flowers and candles to show the country’s heartfelt apology for the tragedy.

Henderson said a good number of tourists from Hong Kong have cancelled their scheduled visits to the country as a result of the Luneta carnage.

However, she expressed hope that the negative impact of the recent tragedy on local tourism would be temporary.

After authorities complete the investigation into the incident, Henderson said the tourism industry is planning to send a delegation to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai in an effort to mend fences.

CBCP: No whitewash

Meanwhile, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said authorities should give assurance that there would be no whitewash in the investigation in order to maintain its credibility.

“Not only the Chinese are calling for a just and swift investigation of this case. We Filipinos demand the same from our officials. Bring out the truth; let those responsible, whoever they may be, be held accountable. No whitewash! No scapegoats! Let there be new life now for our justice system,” CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (Nassa) chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

Pabillo, who delivered the homily in yesterday’s ecumenical Mass, reminded those in the judiciary that justice delayed is justice denied.

He said he believes that the hostage-taker was also a victim of slow justice in the country.

Mendoza’s actuations, he said, showed the need for a review on how policemen in the country are trained.

Aside from Bishop Pabillo, two other CBCP officials were present – treasurer Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Public Affairs Committee (PAC) chairman Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez. Several priests under the Archdiocese of Manila helped officiate the Mass. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Sandy Araneta

tnx for sharing bro!

Napanood q yn bro night khpon d2,ill did pray too.but sad to say tlg kslanan ng isa kslananan n ng buong sambayanang pilipino lalo na ang mga ofw d2 s hongkong.