One roar of Motorcycle followed by numbers of Philippine Army Trucks and Army Tanks of not less than 10 or not more than 60, mothers tried to put on pillows on the heads of their children in order for them not to account the Government Forces that passes by in our community. We were on the affected area but not in the combat zone. Hours after the roars, the bombs control our very sense of hearing. Mothers can no longer put pillows in the heads of their children. The magnitude rang like an intensity of earthquake. Birds flew away from their sanctuary as chickens quaked. The scene was true for animals used for faming. They tried to pull off roofs that controlled them into the pasture. Perhaps, they have already this lesson that suspended the lives of other animals. Numbers of them have lost their lives in the hands of the Government Army. That was why they can recognize the familiar sounds of bombs.
One of our students confessed about the misfortune of his favorite horse which used to carry him in its back until his high school days. They cannot define the quaking of their chickens when the Government Army torched on their houses and group their horses, died instantly when they were fired by the same forces. It was a surprised for them for the combat zone was in the other province and not in their province. The man that the Army is hunting into was more than 20 kilometers away from this Barangay, though the two Province are adjacent with each other. It is unbelievable for them to be affected. They want to shout and deny that they were not for he saw his cousins fired when they tried to save their horses. His mother attempted to cool him off, explaining the extreme dawn of the day and it is not fine to keep awake. At his age, he knew he need not wait for the dawn for he lost his only horse which will bring him to school. The boy burst with tears as he remembered the last day with his horse.
I recall, this student has two sets of suit in a day. He separated one for school. He used to leave this horse away from the school vicinity, fearing to be the laughing stock of other students. He will be seeing his horse again in the afternoon upon dismissal. I cannot hold myself but cried too. He asked to be exempted in the second periodical examinations for he lost all his concentrations in taking the test. I did not allow him to be exempted for it is not fair for the rest of the class. I advise him to go home early and rest. When his worries subsided, I will be waiting for him and provide the special examinations instead. With a harsh voice, he whispered that he cannot promise for his comeback for there is no dawn for tomorrow any longer. I shook his shoulder and assured him that there is always dawn in a day as there is dawn in tomorrow. For me…the dawn is the time which I bring my horse to an early pasture for I will be riding on it for school. Before he went to school, the horse must be feed, he seconded. I understand his feeling. The dawn he was referring to is the pastoral time he used with his horse. I cannot account the same sentiments as there are more of our students who confessed their experiences, anecdotes and nightmares since the war begin.
I was left alone, counting every ring of the school bell until I forget my two subject assignments in the morning. I tried to account how many more students will I missed if the war continues. We have more than two dozens of them who asked for conditional absence. They have common reasons…it is the war. Some parents came to see me and asked for the best security we can provide if ever but I decline to declare for I know I cannot. For a situation like this, the parents prevail in deciding for their children. We as mentors can just sit and wait for any students who will come for schooling. Though majority of our students still come, but I was carried by the few who failed to move toward because of the hostilities. We can assure the best security at school but we cannot guarantee to and from school. Most of them were in remote places that safety measures do not warrant. We reminded them for their uniforms and Identification Card for it distinguishes from government enemies. I know it is not enough that is why I did not promise.
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