Today I learned my young nephew was shot to death during an ambush operation between the Military and the NPA (New People’s Army) in Northern Luzon.
At times like this, feelings of anger and frustration are intensified. Allow me then to mourn.
I mourn for my country and all its armed conflicts. While you point guns at each other, the rest of the world keeps on progressing.
I mourn for the NPA and their sometimes ambiguous cause as their guerilla tactics have endangered innocent lives and planted fear in the unarmed. Yes, hold high your rebel arms, as your fellow countrymen dig graves for mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.
I mourn for the Philippine military and its competence to train and protect their young recruits at ALL cause. Just thinking about our military strategies, facilities, equipments and weapons brings back the horrors of the HK bus hijacking last year.
I mourn for the idealism of the Filipino youth, for the desire to make a difference for a country whose leaders do not value honesty and integrity. Your names will only be remembered at burial ceremonies.
I mourn for my nephew, for your youthful fervor, your bravery and your military zeal that died too early. I mourn for the summers we saw each other, for the DVBS classes you joined under me, for the songs, dances and drama that I taught you, and for your quiet smile that made you look so handsome.
To Wendell Clemente, God’s soldier, you will be remembered further than your burial service.
VIOLETOLOGY 
…hahaha…ayun…pareho lang pala kau ni ate elizabeth pagdating sa pagpapatawa…nagmomourn na…may gana pang magsabi na sana ung kapitbahay nila ang namatay… but, i think…. mourn no more 4 in heaven, he now serves as the lord’s army…well…we shuld accept, nothing in this world is fair.
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amen ako jan 🙂
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Hahahha! Eh kasi naman tita, nung nag-iiyakan kami, bigla siyang dumaan (napaka-good timing talaga) so, sa isip ko “Dapat ito na lang ang kinuha ni Lord eh. Taong walang kwenta. Binigyan siya ng buhay, pero, sinayang niya. Baliw na nga, ang lakas pa mag-yosi.” — Diba? Pag namatay siya, may iiyak ba? — Hahha! I’m so bad. Pasencya na, frustrated lang ako. Unfair kasi eh. ^_^
Oo nga eh, ang daming namatay sa Tufoy. Sunod-sunod. Pang-lima na si Wendell. Nakakalungkot talaga. :C
Hay naku! Ang sakit kaya ng tiyan ko kakatawa kahapon habang ka video-chat ka. Super galing mo talaga umarte. Hahhah! Pero, hindi mo rin napigilang ngumiti. Hahhah! Ang saya namin dito the whole week kasi madami kami. Pero, si Papa umalis na at kakaalis din nila kambal (pupuntang Tufoy). Super miss ka na namin. Huwag ka mag-alala, malapit ka na ring umuwi! ^_^ Yipppeeehhhh!!!
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condolences po… 2nd Lieutenant Mark Anthony Bernardino – a close friend of mine and a brother in faith – was Wendell’s platoon leader that time.
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3 were killed and 4 were wounded, reports said. Was he anyone of them?
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fortunately, he wasn’t one of those. he survived the encounter… si mark ang may handle ng platoon kung saan nakabilang si wendell. sabi sa akin ni mark biglaan daw yung putukan tapos it just so happen na isa si wendell yung nasa pinakaharap. malaking kawalan daw si wendell kasi bilib si mark sa kanya at isa sa mga pinaka-inaasahan nya.
medyo may idea si mark na christian din si wendell because of the christian songs he listens to.
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aww..kuya, thanks for sharing. It makes what happened more real. I’m glad Mark’s a Christian. We need that kind of influence in the army 🙂
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mark’s a pastor’s kid too just like you and very serious sa faith nya.
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now that’s the kind of influence we really need! lalo na if they recruit young kids. faith and service for the country. Kuya, i sent you a message sa FB 🙂
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nagreply na ako vio. hehe.
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so sorry to hear about his death.. so young and full of hopes and dreams… i hope and pray that what he fought for would not just be considered a casualty. a brave soldier who believed and fought for peace. i may have not met him but i admire the courage he had. may his family find comfort in God’s hands and relatives…
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amen, beyjee, amen.
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Hayy… kahapon, lahat kami nag-iyakan dito. We all sat sa living room (Me, Tita Joanne, Tita Robyn, Tito Gary, Tita Phanie, Browser, Mama Gen, and Mama — plus, tito Lyle and tito Japhet on the phone) and we cried and cried and prayed. We are all shocked at lahat kami naghihinayang sa nangyari sa kanya. I don’t know Wendell personally. But, I know Tito Rudy. I can’t imagine his face grieving for his son. Napakamasayahin niyang tao at kahit walang-wala sila, bigay pa rin siya ng bigay. Super proud na proud siya nung naging army na si Wendell. He is their hope….. Tapos, biglang ganun ang nangyari. Ang sakit nun, sobra. Hindi ko maiwasang magtanong, bakit hinayaan ni Lord yun. Napaka-active nila Tito sa ministry at sobrang inaasahan nila si Wendell… tapos siya pa yung kinuha. Eh, sana, yung kapitbahay na lang namin na nabaliw sa drugs — yung hindi inaasahan ng pamilya. Nakaka-frustrate talaga. Pero, who are we to question God? Haaayy… Let’s just pray for the family and for their recovery. :C
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hahaha. eto naman, natawa ako sa dulo ng comment mo. hahahaha. kakaiba ka tlga mag-isip. sigh. but it was nice talking to you yesterday. i miss your family so bad :(( Let’s pray for kuya Rudy’s family. Grabe. lahat na ata namamatayan sa side ng tufuy 😦
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