Venus Raj - Ms. Universe 2010 4th Runner Up

Just what the Philippines needed today!!!

After the Philippines went to bed after a nightmare hostage crisis, we wake up to beautiful news... Our very own Venus Raj has made the country smile and hope as she makes the Top 5 of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant.

I was screaming my lungs out when I heard her name called in the Top 10... That for me was enough to lift up my spirits... and then Top 5. Wow! That made me scream a little bit more (I think my noisy condo neighbors were wondering why I was screaming! :-)).

We may have not won the Miss Universe Pageant, we have not even solved the big problem that is the PNP or changed the image that we have now in the international scene, but for one morning, for one day, Ms. Venus Raj made me hope again and reminded me of my love for my country.

Thank you, Venus... not only for winning the 4th runner up slot in that pageant but for making the Filipinos flash the sunny smiles and making us believe in our fellow country men again.

A Heartbreaking Scene For Our Country

Woke up this morning and felt weak... Food poisoning has hit me bad but that does not even come close to how badly I felt when I turned on the television at around 5 pm. I caught a glimpse of the hostage drama around 2 pm but I didn't think it would end this way.

Around 6 pm, wanting to watch the news, I got glued to the events that were happening live. A man was sitting on the floor crying to police officers not to take him... relatives hanging on to him so that the police won't get to him. I don't blame him one bit for fearing for his life... the PNP's reputation does not even come close to what they are supposed to be doing... saving and protecting our lives.

With all bits and pieces of what I hear in the news, the details of the case is still not clear, but my heart broke seeing that man crying and hold on to dear life, not wanting the police to take him. I feared that he might have a stroke. I cried because if he was a relative or a friend, I will not want to see him in that situation. My heart bled for him... whether or not he has something to do with this, I fear for his life too. You never know what the PNP can do to him and that saddens me.

Watching the different torture videos and the abuse of power that the PNP does, I find it difficult right now to give them the respect that we should give to uniformed officials. There's so many changes that need to be done to fix the system.

With all that has happened, I have so many questions which may or may not be answered truthfully since you'll never know whether you get an unbiased information.

1. Why did the SPO2 Mendoza's dismissal happened when he does not have a copy of the ombudsman's decision?

2. How can a man with numerous medals of honors have a measly Php19,000 ($400)/ month salary? -- Now I understand why he wants reinstatement since he needs his benefits after retirement. He doesn't have enough for himself and his family.

3. Why does media need to exploit the father of SPO2 Mendoza? He's old and frail. He should not be exposed in such a vulnerable state.

4. Why did the PNP arrest his brother that way? I'm pretty sure they know that they cannot agitate the hostage takers?

5. How can you regulate the media in situations like these?

6. Why are Pinoys such usiseros that they need to be in a scene where they are in direct harm's way?

I will sleep tonight with fear and sadness in my heart. There's so much to be fixed in the system. I don't know how they will begin but hopefully the PNP works on their system so things like this won't happen again.

Here's a video of the suspect's brother being forced by PNP to be taken into custody.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Life Did Move On... Thank God!

Life did move on. The tears have dried and the smiles become more real as time passed.

Its been more than a year and what a year it has been. When I look back at 2009 and half of 2010, I cannot be more thankful for the experiences I have had. Friends have moved to another country, moved back to the Philippines, got married, got engaged, broke up with their boyfriends and got new ones. All in one year....

As we get older, the hope is we get wiser. Maybe that's what happened. Maybe that's what has helped me cope and ensured that I came out of the dark more radiant than I've ever been. Ok... that's self-flattery right there. :-) I gotta give myself a pat in the back though... I did pretty well.

Now, I understand why heartbreaks happen. It is not to intentionally hurt another but to give each other a chance to be with someone who can make the wrong things right. It is a chance to re-assess and re-align the direction of their lives because somehow, they know that the direction they are taking together is headed towards a lifetime of unhappiness. I guess at a certain point, you do become thankful that one or (both of you) was brave enough to admit that you can't move one step more. That doing so will just prolong the agony.

It is true too that time made me somehow forget the pain, not the experiences I went through, but the pain has gone and it has been replaced by gratitude and excitement for what the future holds. What felt like the end of the world is such a thing of the past.

We must never forget though the learnings along the way. The learning that no matter how painful, hope will help you get out of bed when you feel like the day is not your friend. The learning that your friends will never ever leave your side and you should do the same. The learning that your family is the best support system you can find. The learning that when your tears dry up, a man you never thought would make you laugh again has brought the sunshine back with the rainbow in hand.

It is not to say though, that one should just wait for the sunshine to come back. Its a lot of work to smile again, but when you see that new someone smiling back at you... you know that God has blessed your dark knights with another ray of sunshine. Hoping that this light will never leave you again even through the cloudy and gloomy periods of your life.

Yes, I feel blessed to be in love with one of my closest friends. Yes, I am blessed that life hasn't stopped surprising me one bit. Yes, I am showered with blessings because everyday is an adventure... maybe because God knows I don't like to get bored... and so, the journey continues.