Glorietta 2 Blast – Uneasy feeling last night

It happened again. And again.

A few hours ago, (around 1:30pm, Manila time) an explosion ripped through Glorietta 2 (a mall in Makati’s financial district), leaving 8 people lifeless, and more than 86 wounded. There are others still trapped in the rubble when rescuers came.

I was shaking when I saw on the news about what happened! I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate event. Who in his right mind will want people to die and suffer? I am enraged. I am hurt that innocent people have to go through such pain!

I am so affected because I used to work in nearby 6750. We were practically in Glorietta, SM, Landmark and Greenbelt everyday.

More than that, I can heave a sigh of relief for myself because – I am supposed to be in Glorietta early today.

Last night, I was feeling uneasy. I even sent my good friend in LA messages, as if I was saying goodbye. He was not happy of course and told me to take back what I said because it ain’t funny anymore. But I was really feeling different. Sad, empty and, yes….as if I’m saying goodbye…..

Then this morning when I woke up, I was still feeling unwell. I told myself, “I’ll go to Glorietta in a while….”

Thank you Lord for the protection!

Don’t get me wrong please. Don’t take it as if I’m being overly melodramatic here. I am just attesting that there are really things like this that happen….situations that are inevitable…..

But there is also a God that saves and protects. I am not saying that God does not love those people who perished in the blast. Of course He loves everyone!

We just have to accept the fact that there will be people who will go ahead of us, even if we think it’s not yet time. Thy will be done, oh Lord!

I have been saved so many times. The other stories I will tell you in my next posts. Proof that there is a God and I’ve always believed in my Guardian Angel. God intervened. That is why the fact that I was not there this morning is truly a blessing!

In behalf of my family and loved ones, we extend our sincerest sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the people whose life was cut short by this evil act. We pray that justice will be served soon!

Read this news update from ABS-CBNnews.com

National (as of 4:13 PM) http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=96376

‘Blast likely caused by a bomb’

Six people were killed while over 50 others were injured after an explosion ripped through a mall in Makati City Friday afternoon.

Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon said the blast in the Glorietta 2 ground level at 1:30 p.m. was “probably caused by a bomb.”

“This was a bomb. But beyond that we can’t say anything else yet because we are still investigating. What I can say is it was not [liquefied petroleum gas] that caused this,” Razon told reporters.

A report by ABS-CBN Correspondent Charo Logarta identified four of the victims as Liza Enriquez, Janine Marcos, Jose Allen de Jesus and Lester Peregrina.

The Makati Medical Center said 51 people were rushed to hospital for treatment. Majority of the victims were children, a radio dzMM report said.

The National Capital Region Police Office was placed on red alert after the explosion. NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias said he will order more policemen deployed in nearby malls to maintain peace and order.

“We will send policemen to other malls to restore order especially here in Makati and to prevent any untoward incident,” Barias told reporters.

Several shoppers said the blast was heard from a nearby baby store in the mall. Liana Navarro, sister of Black and White Movement’s Leah Navarro and who was in the mall with her mother, said several people including children were seen with “obvious injuries.”

The explosion ripped through the roof of the mall and damaged nearby shops. Debris from the blast were scattered on the streets.

Another witness, Arel Vertucio, said the explosion was so strong that it was felt up to the third level of the mall. Vertucio said he saw some people lying on the ground.

Eyewitness Icy Marinas was only 15 meters away from the Glorietta explosion when it occurred. She said the blast felt like an “intense earthquake.”

She said she saw a pregnant woman crying after the blast while other women started rushing out of the mall with their families. She added that she saw “three bloodied men” near the blast site while the security guards just stood around with no reaction.

President Arroyo ordered the police to “leave no stone unturned” in its investigation on the explosion.

“The President is deeply saddened by this incident and extends her sympathies to the families of the casualties… She has also ordered the PNP to get to the bottom of things and to leave no stone unturned,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

Bunye said the President also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development to extend assistance to the victims to mitigate their suffering.
-from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=96376

(image courtesy of Google Earth)

This is Glorietta before the incident

Glorietta mall courtesy of http://www.panoramio.com/user/349504 T. Tambay (Google Earth)

Glorietta Mall 2007 courtesy of http://www.panoramio.com/user/163634 akuji (Google Earth)

(video courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/ianmullen)

This is Glorietta on October 19, 2007

The following are amateur and news photos and videos

courtesy of ABS-CBN

courtesy of ANC

(Video courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/adianalan)

A concerned citizen sent these photos of the aftermath of the explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in the Ayala Center in Makati.

The photos, sent through mobile phone to ABS-CBN News, show the extent of the damage from the blast, which ripped through the ground level all the way up to the roof of that portion of the mall.

Related Blog Entries:

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• Security Stupidity
• Glorietta Bombing: Trabaho Ng Mga Duwag
• Quiet Time
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• G2 Blast: Terrorist Attack or a Cover Up?
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• Friday Gloom
• Horror at the Glorietta Mall
• Testimony
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