SM City Pampanga Bank Robery-Shoot Out..Wake-up Call?

My friends and I planned a girl-bonding date before hand to watch Shall we dance. February 9, 2004 6am, I checked City Guide web site to verify the movies showing, Unz, Sak, Dhines and I really want to watch Shall We Dance but unfortunately, it's not yet showing on SM. We are having second thoughts on going because of that but we decided to go and watch another movie. We are choosing between A very long engagement and Elektra. Unz and I stayed at Sak's place. We had our pedicure and I took a nap for 30 minutes. Dhoy sent me text message telling me that it is showing on Jade Cinema. We are thinking to go there instead but we ended up going to SM City still and watch Shall We Dance on other day.

On our way to SM, we are giggling and laughing while telling stories. All the passengers are looking because we are so loud on the jeepney. We arrived at around 11 and we immediately checked the movies showing and we decided to watch Elektra on its second screening at 1pm. We want to eat first and chit-chat before we watch. We ate at Sbarro as Dhines recommended. Dhines ordered Italian spaghetti, mine is lasagna with white sauce, Unz ordered baked macaroni on tomato sauce mixed with white sauce and stuff pizza for Sak. Dhines paid for our meal, it's a treat. The food is great..no kidding. Sak, Unz and I ate there for the first time and we enjoyed the food. We shared our meals of course. I love the pizza and lasagna on white sauce. While eating we shared our family stories, on my turn I cried and I made them cried too. I am really emotional and too sensitive when it comes to my family because I love them so much. I told them about my younger sister, my nieces and nephews, my mom and my dad that I'm missing so much. I shared them my dreams for my family. I even told them that I can't leave my family without fulfulling my dreams and give them what they need. Sak shared her stories on how they struggle when her older sister was sick and died. She shared her dramatic family story. Unz wants to have her own family and take her mom with her away from her brothers and sisters. Dhines is the only person among us that have not so-dramatic family story. We are laughing when Dhines told us about her younger brother. How sweet he is and his being naughty sometimes. But I admire Dhines for she chosen to pursue a mission.. to reach out with poor people and she will give up her career on AOL to pursue that. Would you imagine that sacrifices? This friend touched my life in a way. I have planned that too but I decided to take good care of my family instead.

It's 12:45pm... time for the movie. We are sitting pretty on theather with our feet elevated. The movie was great. Jennifer Garner is so hot, really beautiful and sexy and the scenes was really wonderful. The movie ended around 3:30, alright it's shopping time. Sak will be buying sandals for her mudra (mother), I'll be buying plate set for my baby Ashley and clothes for my nieces. Dhines does not want to go in Department Store because she does not want to be tempted and told us that she'll go to National Bookstore and we will meet her there after we shop. On SM Department store, I found the plate set for Ashley then Sak and Unz asked me if they can go to the Shoes section to find the sandals for mudra. So I was left alone. Then I found a dress for Annabelle and looking for something for Andrea. I send text message to my sister asking if Andrea's bust is starting to develop because I want to buy baby bra for her but they don't reply. I found really cute panties for them so I picked one. Then I heard shouting and I saw people running towards my direction. I'm wondering what's happening but starting to palpitate. Then I heard shots and more people are running. I started running to look for sak but I can't pass because more people are coming so I ran with them till I reached the fire exit. I stopped on the stairs then I asked a guy what is happening. He told me that there is a shoot-out and they are coming in here on department store. I took out my phone and start calling Sak but I could not reach her. Then I tried Unz number same thing cannot reach her my heart beating faster and my body starting to shake. I am receiving auto-message from Globe Call Alert. I could not reach them because they are calling me while I'm calling. I stop calling for few minutes then start calling again then I reached them. Sak answered asking me where I am. I told her that I am on a fire exit. I asked her where are they. She told me they are outside, "Outside? Where is that?" I asked again. Infront of Popeye's. "Where are you exactly? How did you get there?" Sak asked. "Here on fire exit. I don't know how did I get here. I just ran. I'll go there stay where you are" I answered. While I ran a guy told me we cannot go out. "Sak, they don't want me out (crying)" I said. "Ok stay there and we'll be there" Sak anwered. While talking we're really shaking and panicking. When I hang up the phone, I heard people shouting and running towards my direction again. I don't know what to do then. Are they coming? I asked myself. Then I started running again. Can't run faster because I'm shaking and there are lot of people running with me. Then we reached SM Admin office but we cannot go out. Then more people shouting and running towards our direction. I go inside the cafeteria then I sat down thinking, praying for my friends to be safe. I dialled Dhines number to check if she is safe but I can't reach her. I send a message asking where she is and if she is safe. No reply, I am so worried about her because she is all alone. I don't want my family know what is happening so I did not text them. Then Jhay came into my mind. I send him a message telling him what is happening to me, that whatever will happen to me, he should remember that I am grateful for knowing him. He is important to me and I care so much about him. I tried to call him but there is no answer. Then I heard shouts and people are running again. My God what will I do where will I go? My whole body is shaking and I don't know what to think and what to do at the same time worried about my friend because they are outside. I saw a door and some of the people are running there. I decided to go there too, that is SM's stock room. When I reach the dead end, there was a gate where you can go out to the street but I can't leave my friends so I stayed. I saw a chair and I sitted there, I vowed my head and prayed ask him to take good care of my friends. I dialled Dhines number again to no avail. I was about to dial Unz number then I saw Sak coming. I shouted then I hugged her tight and my tears fall down. While hugging her, I asked where is Dhines, "Were you able to talk to her? I cannot reach her" I said. Sak said no, she can't reach her too. I am so happy to see them but worried about Dhines because she is all alone. We can't do nothing so we sitted and asked each other what happened till someone says "It's safe now. They're gone. They were arrested. You can go out now" We stand out and go out to look for Dhines. We went to National Bookstore to look for Dhines because that is supposed to be our meeting place. While walking Unz and I hold each other's hand so tight because we don't wanna lose each anyone again but we are still shaking. Then we search all the corners of National Bookstore but unfortunately she is not there. We asked some people but they didn't remember her and don't recognize her. Then we looked around for her went back and forth and back to department store but we cannot find her still. Nervous and fear is still there and it's getting stronger when we are hearing noises. We spent almost 2 hours looking for Dhines but we still can't find her. I became more worried. But we decided to go home because it's getting late. Sak and Unz go home togethere because I have a different way. after a few minutes I got a message from Dhines telling me that she looked for us in the Department Store. Asking if we are safe and she is safe and don't worry about her. My heart beats faster and started to cry again I don't know why. I should have been feel fine by then knowing that she is ok. Then I dialled her number to ask where she is for me to wait for her but she didn't answer the fone so I proceed going home. I'm starting to be ok thinking we are all safe but shaking still. Thank God we are all safe. God is so great for He kept us safe. On my way home, I'm still shaking and crying. I send text message to Daneth telling her wish she is here and hug her and our other barkada and tell them how much I care for them. I asked Auh to visit me at home that time because I want to see her. But she can't go but told me to visit me the next day instead. I can't text Sheng because she does not have her fone as well as Sharon because she is in Cambodia. I really wanna see them all that time and hug them. When I got home I run crying reaching for my mom, then I hugged her tight while crying. She was surprised and asked me what happened and I told her what happened. Whay asked (my sister) "how about glenn? he is there." "what? i though it was his day off." I asked. We tried to call him but no response. Then I called Jhay, and told him what happened. He sent me a message telling me that Everything happens for a purpose for a reason. Worry not for God is in control. Very inspirational message which is true and I am very much grateful for we are all safe and learned a lot from that experience. I thought the stamp-feed which happened when we watched Eat Bulaga at Expo was the most unforgettable experience I had but this is worst.

I slept but I woke up in a few minutes and I couldn't go back to sleep because I can't help to cry because the memories are coming back. I was thinking, what if I died that time? what if i was shut? or one of us was killed or shut? Oh my that is terrible I think I had a trauma. I send another message to Jhay but I don't expect a response thinking that he's aslept. I told him that I can't sleep and all the questions I had on my mind and told him that I am really grateful for knowing him, if I could only do something for him I will, I want to help him find the right girl for him, I want him to be happy and succeed and all the stuff on my mind. Then I got a reply telling me that I am making him nervous. No need to prove something simply knowing that you are there is enough. Then I asked, what if i died that time? will you fo on my funeral? Then he answered, of course yes but I won't go alone, I'll bring Gen with me, who am I? You know what? For you not to worry, open your Bible now and pray. You'll get the answers. "I will do that my dear. Thanks a lot. Sleep now, sorry for disturbing you. Do not worry you can go alone on my funeral, my family and my friends know you just tell your name and they will surely hug and thank you on my behalf. Goodnight!" I replied. I immediately look for my bible but I can't find it. It's on my mom's room but I cannot go there, they're aslept. It's too late to disturb them. Then I found my The Purpose Driven Life book and opened it and I read: God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult. It's what enables us to grow. You exist for God's purposes not vice versa. I prayed afterwards and I can't help to cry. The tears keep on flowing. I asked for forgiveness and and thanked Him for keeping us safe and for the blessings.

I've learned a lot from that experience. I learned how to value life and the things I have. The value of friendship. I was so touched when Unz and Sak looked for me when they've learned that I cannot go out. They still look for me knowing it's too risky. Dhines was all alone but took the risk on looking for us. Thank God for giving me such a wonderful friends. I am so grateful for we are all safe. I became sweeter, more loving and more faithful and much closer to God, to my family and my friends. Jhay is right, everything happens for a reason and God is in control. God is so great and we have to thank him always. Value everything He had given you those are blessings. I am ok now knowing that God, my family and my friends are always there for me. Thank you Lord for being so good to me. I maybe don't deserve all the blessings He has given but I will make everything I received worth it. Let God control your life and it's worth it.