Forgotten and Lost 1

The man stood at his office window, a mug of coffee in his hand. The sky was growing dark as night was coming down softly upon Cagayan de Oro. It would be a long night ahead. Lord Ethan was coming to Cagayan for a few days. The bank's branches were preparing for his routine inspection. Thoughts turned toward the past; to distant and painful memories.

He was not born here. Indeed, he came from another place, far up north.

February 4, 2006

That was how he remembered it. That day tore his life apart. He was just five years old when the stampede happened. It was at the ULTRA Stadium.

For days they had camped outside; hoping to take a chance at instant riches. A million pesos... a jeepney... a taxi...

His father bought and sold used bottles to junk shops for a living. Hi bicycle, with its improvised side attachment used for collecting the bottles, was his only means of living. His mother had no income. Her days were spent washing clothes by the Pasig River.

They had very little money. They loved Wowowee and regularly watched it in a neighbor's house.

When it was announced that the show was celebrating its first anniversary, they decided to stake all their fortunes in order to leave a life of poverty. His father sold his bicycle. They knew that they had to be at the stadium early so they could snatch a ticket that would let them participate in the Pera o Bayong portion of the show, where they expected to make anywhere between Php10,000 and 50,000. They bought food and set up a makeshift tent. The days passed and the crowd grew.

And then it happened; the big day came. They were told that only the first 300 people to line on the walkway would be given the tickets. The crowd became frenzied; pushing, tugging, pulling, fighting. He and his family were no different. They rushed in, arms linked together; father, mother, younger brother and sister. The stampede broke out. Pure madness.

When it was over, there was nothing left. They weren't even able to enter the stadium. Some 400 people were injured and 78 were dead. He and his family were still standing outside. They were aghast. And a feeling of despair set in. They had lost everything

The man looked down, into his coffee. He took a sip and turned around. Behind, on the wall, hung a massive painting of Cardinal Zhang; the one who saved him and his family. He gazed at the portrait almost reverently and looked down again.

Suddenly, a knock was heard on the door. Another man opened it.

"Sir?" it was his deputy. "Lord Ethan's plane has arrived." he said