There is only one head of the state. Only one commander in chief!

You CANNOT compare the value of

his presence to the presence of any ordinary citizen then use it against them when they voice out
their frustration and anger!! Grace Lee

http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/kris-aquino-on-an-unfollow-rampage-versus-pnoy-critics/

Hanggang nitong madaling araw ng Biyernes, nangunang sa trending topic sa Twitter ang
#NasaanAngPangulo.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/421022/showbiz/chikaminute/pnoy-ex-girlfriend-grace-lee-
reacts-to-leah-navarro-s-twitter-post

MANILA - Filipinos observed on Friday a National Day of Mourning for the "Fallen 44" police
commandos who died in an anti-terrorist mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

But a single day is not enough to honor them - as the flood of eulogies, messages of gratitude and
love, flowers outside police camps, and Twitterverse exploding with grief and anger, would show.

And this weekend, expect islands from the country's farthest north to its deepest south to be
observing days of mourning as well, as these gallant members of the PNP Special Action Force are
brought home to their final resting places.

To Cagayan and Benguet and Kalinga and Baguio City; to Bulacan and Pangasinan and Metro
Manila; to Cebu and Leyte and Northern Samar; and to Zamboanga City and the Zamboanga
provinces and Sultan Kudarat and Lanao, the Fallen 44 are coming home.

Truly, as the map below shows, it is a nation in mourning. And though they will be buried in places
strewn across the archipelago, the Fallen 44 will also rest in one home: the Filipino heart.

#Fallen44 made the worldwide trends on Twitter Friday as Filipinos joined the National Day of
Mourning for the 44 policemen who were killed in clashes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Flags were flown at half-mast in schools and other institutions all over the country, as well.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/104094/map-of-mourning--fallen-44-represent-philippine-
archipelagos-best

Reread this

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/30/world/philippines-day-mourning-milf/
 Eulogy
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
At the necrological service for the fallen PNO-SAF troopers

[This is the English translation of the speech delivered at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig
City, on January 30, 2015]

One of my most difficult tasks as President is condoling with the bereaved. As I stand
before you today, I cannot help but ask myself: What could I possibly say that would
console you?

Every life contains great value. We know that, one day, we will all depart this world, but
the question always looms: Was it really necessary for someone to die in this manner?
This, we ask even as we work constantly to avoid as many unnecessary losses or
deaths as possible.

I wish to tell you, the families of our policemen who fell during Sundays encounter, that
I genuinely understand how you feel. I, too, lost a loved one in a sudden manner. I
remember a conversation I had with my father; it was when he had decided it was time
to return to our Motherland from the United States.

He said: We are nearing a bloody war. He ended up going home by himself. His only
companions were the media, and he was clearly defenseless. He said: Perhaps
somehow, Mr. Marcoss curiosity would be piqued, and he would give me a chance to
dialogue with him and convey to him the countrys true situation. In that manner, we
could finally begin our countrys peaceful return to democracy.

I remember watching alone the television in our residence in Boston, waiting for news
about what had happened to my father. I heard the announcer on the television say:
Opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, was seen lying in a pool of blood; shots were
fired. Then, it was as if time had come to a halt; my surroundings froze and I lost my
awareness of things, and my world was turned upside down. I could not explain the
shock I felt. Never did we consider the possibility that he would be killed. The worst-
case scenario would have been if he had been sent back to prison. What transpired
came as a real shock to us. During his return, my father was unable to even set foot in
the land in which he was born. He was mercilessly killed as he descended the airplane.

When we confirmed what had happened, I did not allow myself to weep. I stopped my
tears and channeled all my energy to anger.

Our father was the head of our family. He was our protector, our guide, our inspiration,
and the wellspring of strength supporting our family during Martial Law.
I felt there was no space left for discourse; the person my father wished to dialogue
with, along with that persons companions, were like rabid dogs who had become
impossible to engage in a decent conversation. I resolved to pay my respects to my
father, and after that, to do to them what they did to my family.

In that moment of absolute misery and pain, several questions occupied my mind: Now
that our father is no longer with us, how can we achieve that which we desire for our
country? Does this mean we have reached the end of our fight? If transformation could
not be achieved even after my father died, had my fathers sacrifice, and that of
thousands of Filipinos, gone to waste?

During those days, I could not help but think that the final chapter would end with a
bloody revolution. But my perception started to change after I saw the multitudes that
flocked to our home at Times, in Quezon City, to stand in solidarity with us. It was as if
they were unafraid of Martial Law. It was then that I saw it was possible to carry on the
fight after the death of our leader.

To the families of our fallen troopers, I know full well that your lives have been turned
upside down with the sudden death of your loved ones. You had plans laid out for your
future; you had set your sight towards achieving certain dreams. Now, with this
unexpected outcome, the future for you and your families seems to be clouded with
uncertainty. So many questions asked today begin with Why: Why did this happen?
Why did they have to die? Why do families have to suffer?

I must be honest; I do not have the answers to all these questions. But it is during this
moment that I remember what was told to me upon the death of my father. As I
confessed, the priest said: As Christians, our faith tells us this simple truth: There is a
God who created us in His likeness, as a sign of His love for us. And because He loves
us, He has a good plan for all of us. When we go through periods in which we could not
see this plan, perhaps, we have difficulty because we are only looking at one detail of
His grand plan for us. But if we were to see His whole plan, then we would see in full
light the beauty of it.

Thus I remember a passage from the Gospel of John; it is chapter 15, verse 13. It says:
There is no greater love than that of giving ones life for his fellowman.

To the loved ones of our departed policemen, I know you are aware why they joined our
police force. Our 44 fallen heroes from our police force, the youngest at 26 and the most
senior at 39 years old, pushed themselves and exerted all their effort to do what they
could, not only for themselves and their families, but for our beloved country. They gave
up their lives for the kind of peace and order that endures.

As you know, they were in pursuit of two targets during that operation: Abdul Basit
Usman and Zulkipli Bin Hir, who is known as Abu Marwan. I have already mentioned
how they are notorious terrorists. They murder without remorse, and work to perfect
how to inflict the greatest harm through their terrorism. Marwan, in fact, was a suspect
in the bombing in Bali, Indonesia. There, two explosions occurred. After the first bomb
went off, they waited for the responders to arrive at the blast site, before detonating a
second device. This resulted in the death of 202 people. With the operation that SAF
undertook, it is reported that the primary target, Marwan, was killed.

Now, be assured that the second target that eluded us will be captured. You know this: I
am a man of my word. Capturing Basit Usman is number one on our list of priorities. I
have ordered the authorities to formulate a more effective plan to hunt down and
apprehend this criminal. Your government is already working towards this end; in fact,
even before speaking to you, we were already taking steps to meet this objective. We
will prove that the law truly prevails in the Philippines. I assure you, we will get Usman.

Let us also remember that a board of inquiry has been formed, with the responsibility of
uncovering the truth behind what happened and of determining those responsible. We
do not want a repeat of incidents like this. As President, even if I want to be angry, I
cannot allow myself to be carried away by my emotions. Rash decision-making has no
place in these situations. If I were to let my anger dictate my actions, then perhaps
instead of resolving the problem, I would only exacerbate it. We will do our utmost to
gain justice for all those who perished and for the loved ones they left behind.

Let me also assure you: We will exert every effort to lessen your worries and doubts
about the future. We will provide for your needs, in accordance with all laws and
regulations. We will do everything in our power to help each family of our fallen heroes
in the police. My colleagues in government have already reached out to you, and I have
spoken to some of you about this, and I will talk to everyone else.

Your government has already allocated financial assistance for the beneficiaries of each
policeman who died, or has been wounded. Every form of assistance that government
can render, we will maximize. From providing support for the education of beneficiaries,
to assisting families in seeking out jobs and livelihoodthese are only a few examples
of the aid that government will give.

To reiterate what I said last Wednesday evening, I make a direct appeal to the private
sector and to our countrymen: Join the government in recognizing the heroism
displayed by the fallen members of the PNP-Special Action Force.

It is clear: Your husbands, brothers, and sons, whom we honor today, are heroes. Our
nation owes them a great debt of gratitude. They sacrificed their lives, to bring peace
and order to the lives of the vast majority.

This is why our flag flies at half-mast in all police and military camps, and in all
government offices. Now that we have brought home their bodies, our flag embraces
each and every one of them. This is a sign of the states recognition of the courage,
dedication, and heroism that they displayed. This is a sign of our grief, a grief not only
from their families and friends, but the grief of an entire nation. This is a sign that they
live and they died, not for themselves, but for their country.
In the name of the Filipino people, we recognize the valor of our fallen policemen. We
thank them for the courage of their sacrifice. We condole and grieve with each family
who has lost a loved one.

Earlier, I said: If the death of my father had failed to bring about change, then is it not
true that all his sacrifices would have been for nothing? This is why we will not allow the
ultimate sacrifice paid by our heroes in the police to go to waste. Should their deaths
lead to realizing the peace we all desire, then we would be able to say that their
sacrifice was not left in vain. This true, lasting change would become their legacy for the
entire Filipino nation.

Thank you.

http://www.gov.ph/2015/01/30/english-eulogy-of-president-aquino-at-the-necrological-service-for-the-
fallen-saf-troopers/

Isa po sa pinakamahirap kong tungkulin bilang pangulo ay ang pakikiramay sa mga nawalan ng
mahal sa buhay. Sa pagharap ko po sa inyo ngayon, aaminin ko po, hindi ko mapigil tanungin ang
aking sarili: Ano nga ba ang masasabi ko, para kahit papaano, ay mapagaan ang kalooban nyo?

Napakahalaga po ng buhay ninuman. Bagamat alam nating lahat tayo ay mawawala sa mundo,
laging nariyan ang tanong na Kailangan bang may namatay sa pagkakataong ito? Ito po ay sa
kabila ng lagi nating paghahanap ng mga paraan, sa abot ng ating makakaya, para maiwasan ang
anumang hindi kinakailangang kawalan o pagkasawi.

Gusto ko pong sabihin sa inyo na damang-dama ko ang pakiramdam ninyo. Nauunawaan ko ang
bawat pamilya ng ating kapulisang nasawi sa engkuwentro nitong nakaraang Linggo. Ako man ay
nawalan ng mahal sa buhay nang biglaan. Naaalala ko nga po ang sandaling nag-uusap kami ng
aking yumaong ama. Nagdesisyon siya noon na dumating na ang panahon para bumalik siya sa
ating Inang Bayan mula sa Amerika.

Siya na rin mismo ang nagsabi: palapit na tayo nang palapit sa isang madugong himagsikan. Umuwi
nga po siya nang mag-isa. Ang kasama lang, mga taga-media, at klarong-klarong defenseless po
siya. Ang sabi niya: baka naman miski papaano, ma-curious si Ginoong Marcos at mabigyan ako ng
pagkakataong makadiyalogo siya, at maabot sa kanya ang tunay na sitwasyon ng bansa. Sa
ganoong paraan, ay mauumpisahan na ang payapang panunumbalik ng ating demokrasya.

Mag-isa po akong nanonood ng telebisyon sa bahay namin noon sa Boston, naghihintay ng balita
tungkol sa nangyari sa aking ama. Narinig ko pong sinabi ng announcer sa telebisyon: Opposition
leader Benigno Aquino was seen lying in a pool of blood; shots were fired. Sa oras ping iyon, para
pong tumigil ang oras sa akin, huminto at halos walang akong napansin sa buong kapaligiran;
bumaliktad ang aking mundo. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang pagkabigla na naramdaman ko. Ni
minsan, di namin naisip na may posibilidad man lang na papatayin siya. Pinakamabigat na siguro ay
ang ibalik siya sa kulungan. Kayat talagang nagulat kami sa nangyari. Sa kanyang pagbalik, hindi
na po nagawang makatuntong pa ng aking ama sa lupang sinilangan. Pababa pa lang ng eroplano,
walang habas na siyang pinaslang.

Nang makumpirma ang nangyari, hindi ko pinahintulutan ang sarili kong maiyak. Pinigil ko ang luha
ko, at inilipat lahat sa galit.

Ang ama po namin ang pinuno ng pamilya; siya ang aming tagapagtanggol, ang gabay at
inspirasyon, at ang bukal ng lakas na nagpapatatag sa aming mag-anak noong mga panahon ng
Martial Law.

Pakiramdam ko, nawalan na ng puwang sa maayos na pag-uusap; itong hinahanap na kadiyalogo

ng tatay ko, at ang kanyang mga kasamahan; sila ay nagmistulan nang mga asong ulul na hindi na
kayang makausap nang matino. Ang sabi ko, ibibigay ko sa aking ama ang tamang paggalang; at
pagkatapos, gagawin ko sa kanila ang ginawa nila sa aming pamilya.

Sa pinakamalungkot at pinakamasakit na sandaling ito, ilang tanong ang bumabalot sa isip ko:
Ngayong wala na ang aming ama, paano natin maaabot ang kanyang inaasam para sa bansa? Ibig
sabihin ba non, tapos na ang laban? Kung namatay na para sa bayan ang aking ama, at wala man
lang tayong nakamit na pagbabago, di bat sayang naman ang kanyang sakripisyo, at ng libo-libong
Pilipino?

Sa mga panahong iyon, di ko maiwasang isipin na ang huling yugto noon ay hahantong sa
madugong himagsikan. Ngunit nagsimulang magbago ang pananaw ko nang makita ko ang dami ng
taong nanindigan at nakiramay sa labas ng aming bahay sa Times sa Quezon City. Tila ba hindi na
sila natatakot sa Batas Militar. Dito ko po nakita ang posibilidad na maitutuloy ang laban kahit wala
na ang aming pinuno.

Sa inyo pong mga kaanak ng nasawi nating kapulisan, batid kong nagbago rin ang inyong mundo sa
pagpanaw ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay. May nailatag na kayong mga plano; at mga pangarap na
nais marating. At sa di-inaasahang pangyayari, ay biglang lumabo at dumilim ang inyong
kinabukasan. Napakaraming mga tanong na nag-uumpisa sa katagang Bakit: Bakit ito nangyari?
Bakit kailangang may masawi? Bakit kailangang magdusa ang pamilya?

Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko masasagot ang lahat ng mga ito. Dito ko naman po naalala ang ipinayo sa
akin noong panahong namatay ang tatay ko. Sabi po ng paring aking kinukumpisalan: Bilang
Kristiyano, simple lang ang sinasabi ng pananampalataya natin: May Diyos na nilikha tayo sa
Kanyang anyo, tanda ng Kanyang pagmamahal. Dahil mahal Niya tayo, mayroon siyang
magandang plano sa bawat isa sa atin. Kapag dumadaan tayo sa mga panahong hindi natin makita
ang planong ito, marahil, nahihirapan tayo sapagkat ang tinitingnan lang natin ay kapiraso lamang
ng Kanyang buong plano. Ngunit kung makikita lang raw natin ang kabuuan ng planong ito, ay
liliwanag sa atin ang tunay na kagandahan nito.

Nais ko rin pong balikan ang isang sipi mula sa aklat ni Juan, Kapitulo 15, Bersikulo 13. Ang sabi po:
Walang pag-ibig na hihigit pa kaysa pag-ibig ng isang taong nag-alay ng kanyang buhay para sa
kanyang kapwa.

Sa inyo pong mga mahal sa buhay ng mga namayapa nating kapulisan, alam kong batid din ninyo
ang punot dulo ng kanilang pagsali sa hukbo. Silang 44 na pulis, sa murang edad na 26 hanggang
39 na taong gulang, ay itinulak ang kanilang mga sarili at sinagad ang kanilang kakayahan, para
maiambag ang kanilang pinakamalaking maiaambag, hindi lang para sa sarili o sa pamilya, kundi
para sa ating Inang bayan. Inialay nila ang kanilang buhay para sa malawakang kapayapaan at
kaayusan.

Alam naman po ninyo, dalawa ang target nila sa nangyaring operasyon: sina Abdul Basit Usman, at
Zulkipli Bin Hir o Abu Marwan. Nabanggit na rin po natin kung gaano sila kalaking mga terorista.
Pumapatay sila nang walang pakundangan at nagpapakadalubhasa kung paano higit na
makakapaghasik ng terorismo. Suspek nga po si Marwan sa pambobomba sa Bali, Indonesia. Doon,
dalawang magkasunod na pagsabog ang nangyari. Matapos ang unang pagsabog, hinintay nilang
dumating ang mga sumaklolo, at saka pinasabog ang pangalawang bomba. 202 katao ang nasawi
dito. Sa nangyaring operasyon dito ng SAF, diumanoy napatay ang pangunahing target na si
Marwan.

Umasa naman po kayo na ang pangalawang target na hindi natin nahuli noon, ay makukuha din
natin. At kilala nyo naman po ako, kapag nagbitiw ako ng salita, tinutupad natin. Number 1 po sa
listahan ng dapat nating gawin ay ang pagdakip kay Basit Usman. Inutos na natin sa kinauukulan
ang pagpaplano ng mas mahusay na operasyong hulihin ang taong ito. Kumikilos na po ang inyong
gobyerno, hindi lamang sa mga oras na ito, kundi bago pa man ako humarap sa inyo, upang
isakatuparan ito. Patutunayan po natin ang pag-iral ng batas sa buong Pilipinas. Tinitiyak ko po sa
inyo, mahuhuli natin si Usman.

Alalahanin po natin na may binuo po tayong board of inquiry na ang trabaho ay alamin ang totoong
nangyari at kung sino ang gumawa nito. Ang gusto natin: Hindi na maulit ang pangyayaring tulad
nito. Bilang Pangulo, gustuhin ko man pong magalit, ay hindi ako puwedeng magpadala sa
emosyon. Hindi ko puwedeng idaan ito sa bara-barang pagdedesisyon. Dahil kapag pinairal ko ang
galit, baka imbes na maresolba ay lalo ko pang palalain ang problema. Sisikapin po nating makamit
ang katarungan para sa lahat ng pinaslang at kanilang mga naiwang mahal sa buhay.

Makakaasa rin po kayo: Pipilitin nating bawasan ang agam-agam sa inyong kinabukasan.
Tutugunan po natin ang inyong mga pangangailangan nang sumusunod sa lahat ng batas at
patakaran. Gagawin po natin ang lahat, sa abot ng ating makakaya, upang tulungan ang bawat
pamilya ng ating mga bayaning kapulisan. Kinapanayam na po kayo ng ating mga kasamahan sa
gobyerno, at nakausap ko na po ang ilan sa inyo at kakausapin ko po kayong lahat.

Naglaan na po ang inyong gobyerno ng karampatang tulong-pinansiyal sa benepisyaryo ng bawat

kapulisang nasawi o nasugatan. Lahat ng ayudang maaaring manggaling sa pamahalaan ay
isasagad natin. Mula sa pagbibigay-suporta sa pag-aaral ng mga benepisyaryo, hanggang sa
pagtulong sa paghahanap ng trabahot mapagkakakitaanilan lamang po ito sa mga halimbawa ng
ayudang ipinagkakaloob ng inyong gobyerno.

Gaya nga po ng nabanggit ko noong Miyerkules ng gabi, diretso na rin akong nakikiusap sa
pribadong sektor at sa ating mamamayan: Sabayan po ninyo ang gobyerno upang masigurong
maipapakita natin ang pagkilala sa kabayanihang ipinamalas ng mga nasawing kasapi ng PNP-
Special Action Force.

Malinaw po: Bayani ang asawa, kapatid, o anak ninyong dinadakila natin sa araw na ito. Malaki po
ang utang-ng-loob ng sambayanan sa kanila. Binuwis nila ang kanilang buhay para mabigyan ng
kaayusan at katahimikan ang buhay ng mas nakakarami.

Iyan po ang dahilan kung bakit naka-half mast ang ating watawat sa lahat ng kampo ng ating mga
pulis at militar, at sa lahat ng tanggapan ng ating gobyerno. Ngayong iniuwi na natin ang kanilang
mga labi, ay dinadantayan din ng bandila ang bawat isa sa kanila. Sagisag ito ng pagtanaw ng
estado sa kanilang ipinamalas na tapang, dedikasyon, at kabayanihan. Sagisag ito ng pagluluksa,
hindi lang ng kanilang mga pamilyat kaibigan, kundi ng buong bansa. Sagisag ito na nabuhay at
namatay sila, hindi para sa sarili, kung hindi para sa bayan.

Sa ngalan ng sambayanang Pilipino, kinikilala po natin ang kabayanihan ng ating mga nasawing
kapulisan. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kadakilaan ng kanilang sakripisyo. Nakikiramay po tayo sa
bawat pamilya ng mga kapulisan nating nawalan ng mahal sa buhay.

Sa simula nga po, nabanggit ko: Kung walang nangyaring pagbabago sa pagkamatay ng aking ama,
di po bat nasayang lang ang kanyang naging sakripisyo? Kaya naman, hindi natin pababayaan na
mauwi sa wala ang pag-aalay ng buhay ng ating mga bayaning pulis. Kung ang kanilang pagkasawi
ay maging sanhi ng pagkakamit natin ng kapayapaang ating inaasam, dito po, masasabi nating hindi
nabalewala ang kanilang naging sakripisyo. Ang tunay at pangmatagalang pagbabagong ito ang
magiging pamana nila sa sambayanang Pilipino.

Magandang tanghali po. Maraming salamat sa inyo sa inyo.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/420700/news/nation/full-text-president-aquino-s-eulogy-at-
the-necrological-service-for-fallen-saf-men
THE FALLEN 44

It was unexpected.