STRANDED IN ZAMBOANGA CITY

It’s a short 45 minutes airplane trip from Davao City to Zamboanga City. It was raining when the airplane landed on Zamboanga City airport. It was the evening of the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I was bound for Jolo the following morning upon the invitation of the sisters from the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena. I was supposed to facilitate a recollection for the students of Notre Dame School of Jolo. I have also invited two volunteers to join me in Jolo to facilitate a wall mural painting activity and a photography seminar. These activities coincide with the celebration of the feast day of Notre Dame School of Jolo.

The following morning, I met up with AG Saño, one of the volunteers and a wall mural artist. He just arrived in Zamboanga City from Manila. We were supposed to fly together to Jolo that morning. Mon Corpuz, the other volunteer who is a photographer, had gone to Jolo a day ahead of us. I woke up that morning with a text message from Mon Corpuz who is staying with the Marine battalion at Camp Buyag in Talipao. And then he called me up to tell me that they are monitoring the situation and movements in Zamboanga City. Early that morning, an armed group from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has taken civilian hostages in several barangays in Zamboanga City. They wanted to hoist the MNLF flag at the city hall, allegedly asking for their group’s independence in Mindanao. There have been sporadic firefights early that morning between the military and members of the MNLF group.

At the airport, while waiting for our flight to Jolo, AG Saño unexpectedly met an acquaintance who happens to be an officer of the Marines. Mon and AG have worked together in “Classrooms ng Pagasa”, an outreach project in Patikul to restore classrooms damaged by the war. A few minutes before our scheduled flight, it was announced that all flights to and from Zamboanga City have been cancelled due to the on going crisis involving the MNLF. Meanwhile, Fr. Bien Trinilla, OP, one of our former missionaries in Maco and Gensan, sent me a text message asking me where I am and what the situation in Zamboanga City is. He knew that I was bound for Jolo via Zamboanga that day. Fr. Bien have contacted the Missionary Dominican Sisters of the Rosary in Zamboanga City and informed them that I was stranded in the city due to the situation. Afterwards we joined the officer to stand by at the Western Mindanao Command, which was a few minutes drive from the airport.

A few minutes later, the sisters have contacted me and arranged to pick us up to bring us to their convent. They have provided a room for me and AG. The sisters accommodated us while the situation has not been resolved. Throughout the day and throughout the night, we monitored on radio and television the developments of the crisis situation. I have posted several updates on my facebook status regarding the situation in Zamboanga City. The city government has imposed curfew hours from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am. People in the city have been advised to stay calm and vigilant and to stay indoors. My friends have sent messages for us to stay safe. Until the following morning, as I write this story, I can hear helicopters and airplanes hovering up in the air. Flights and boat trips to and from Zamboanga City are still suspended. I still have no idea if we can make it to Jolo, supposedly my first visit there. In the meantime, we continue to pray for peace in Mindanao and our beloved Philippines.