Francis then messaged: “May boom boom po Sir sa paligid but flight is on schedule.” He said he could not tell if shells were landing inside the airport complex but the point of impact, according to him, was somewhere near as he could feel the ground shaking. A few hours ago, we said goodbye to … Continue reading Repatriation via Mitiga
Foreign Service
Unsung Heroes
Today, we honor one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines—Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the revolutionary society Katipunan. We will commemorate this day by paying tribute not only to the Great Plebeian but also to the unsung heroes of the Philippine foreign service—the men and women who risked their lives by serving in conflict … Continue reading Unsung Heroes
That Boy Bogs
The last time I saw Bogs was five years ago at the Tunis Carthage International Airport. He was eight years old then when we took him, his mother, and several other kababayan on a grueling 12-hour journey by land from Tripoli. They were among the more than 300 Filipinos who we were able to escort … Continue reading That Boy Bogs
United Against Daesh
I looked at them and saw that unspoken expression of sympathy and solidarity written in their faces. And they went even further. Talking through one of our Iraqi local hires, they told me: “We will fight and defeat Daesh wherever they are, whether here in Iraq or in the Philippines.”
Assignment: Tripoli
My task was to escort and debrief the Abu Sayyaf hostages on board and upon arrival in Tripoli, observe their turnover to their respective governments, and then send reports to Manila.
DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTLINE 