President Aquino today signed Proclamation No. 23 designating August 25, 2010 as a “national day of mourning” for the victims of Monday’s tragic hostage-taking incident at Quirino Grandstand, the historic site of his and other previous presidents’ inaugurals.
The proclamation said that the “deaths are a great loss to the peoples of Hong Kong and the Philippines, and call for the most solemn commemoration and respect at a time of grief for our two peoples.”
It calls on all government offices and Philippine consulates and embassies abroad to lower the Philippine flag to half mast to signify national mourning.
Aquino’s issuance of the proclamation comes at the heels of strong national and international condemnation of the hostage-taking incident that killed eight tourists from Hong Kong, and the response of Philippine authorities.
China and its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have demanded that the Philippines make a thorough investigation and provide “satisfactory answers” to questions of the people of Hong Kong.
well.. they can get angry for all they like.. we didn’t go berserk when fr. go died in cambodia to save the children that could have been hit by the grenade. we did not go wild when pinoys were killed during the 9/11 bombing. we have to take all these with utmost use of reason. things happen, what is bad is it happened to them. but there are things beyond our control. if all were in control, words like devastation, catastrophe, grief and the likes would have no meaning. but its the sad truth of life. i don’t subscribe to a day of mourning. it should be a day of acceptance and realization that we should seek to do better the next time the same circumstance befalls us.
well..i really feel sorry for them… and im praying for the souls of those people involved on that tragic event…
Please understand the situation before making a proper comments Leny, this is different from 9/11 bombing. People are angry because on how the Philippines handle the situation. Please read the news carefully.