As you are reading this letter, I bet that you have seen/heard about what happened earlier in our country.

Tourists were hostages of a policeman here, Rolando Mendoza. After a few hours of the horrible crime, some of the victims were dead including the hostage-taker.

I wrote this letter not just to apologize but also to let everyone know that we Filipinos are not all like Mendoza. We are loving and good-hearted people.

For so many years, our country has been standing tall and surpassing every dilemma; be it small or big. Years ago (back when I wasn’t born yet), you have watched us fight for what we think is right. We fought for the democracy of our nation.. The EDSA revolution. But that’s just one out of many.

Second. We Filipinos have been serving other countries for our families and we treat you as our own as well. With all due respect, I thank you all for giving us the trust through the years. For helping us to become what we are now.

The Philippines is more than just a group of islands. We are a nation of strong and remarkable people. A country of beauty and love known to be hospitable and well-valued. I humbly apologize for what happened tonight. No one in this world would want something like that to happen for life should be valued.

I politely ask the attention of the world. Please do not judge and mistreat us just because of what happened tonight. I have been searching the net and found terrible things. Hong Kong advices to avoid travels here, China and HK bans Filipinos and that Philippines is the worst place to go.

I can’t blame you for what you have decided but I hope that you could understand. Our country is now in a sea of problems. And I know for sure that we helped you in a way or another. Let peace and understanding reign this time.

I know that this letter will just be trash but I wish that you would understand. On behalf of the Philippine population.. WE ARE SORRY.

As a song puts it…

And I believe that in my life I will see an end to hopelessness, giving-up and suffering. And we all stand together this one time then no one will get left behind. Stand up for life. STAND UP FOR LOVE

Sincerely yours,

Reigno Jose Dilao

既然你在读着这封信，我想你一定看过或者听说过早前在我的祖国发生的事情。

游客们被警察Rolando Mendoza当作人质。可怕的罪行持续一段时间后，一些人质死了，而劫匪Mendoza也被击毙。

我写这封信，不仅仅是为了道歉，也是为了让所有人知道，我们菲律宾人并不都是Mendoza。我们是充满爱并且热心的人民。

许多年来，我们的国家曾经挺立于世，经历了所有，无论大或者小的困境。数十年前（回到我还没出生的时候），你看过我们为了我们所认同的真理而战斗。我们是为了自己国家的民主而奋战......像EDSA起义。但那只是我们许多努力中的一部分。

其次，我们菲律宾人为了我们的家庭一直在为其他国家服务，我们对待你们如同对待自己的家人。冒昧的说，我感谢你们所有人这么多年来信任我们，帮助我们成为今天的菲律宾人。

菲律宾不仅仅由一些岛屿组成。我们的民族是一个由坚强，卓越的人们组成的民族。我们的国家是一个美丽好客，价值非凡的国家。我谦卑地为昨晚发生的事情道歉。世界上没有人会希望类似的事情发生在宝贵无价的生命上面。

我诚恳地请求全世界注意。请不要只因为昨晚发生的事件就武断地判定和误解我们。我在网络上搜寻后发现了一些很糟糕的事情。香港政府建议不要来这里旅游，中国大陆和香港对菲律宾颁布禁令，菲律宾变成了最不该去的地方。

我不能因为你所决定的而责怪你，但我希望你理解。我们的国家现在正处于无数问题之中。我也肯定我们在某方面帮助过你们。让和平与谅解统领这个时刻。

我知道这封信将会被丢弃，但我祈求你会理解。我以菲律宾人的名义说出，我们，很抱歉。

正如一首歌唱的一样......

我相信在我的生命中我将会看到绝望，放弃，折磨迎来尽头。这一次我们所有人都会站在一起，没人会被落下。为了生命而站出来，为了爱站出来。

你真诚的，

Reigno Jose Dilao