The bitter aftermath of terrorism

DAVAO CITY - "Mama, mama, taxi! Ngitngit kaayo (It is so dark!)."

Those were the last words of Filomena Espera Songaling’s only child, Bonnel, 14, when a bomb ripped through a row of foodstalls at the gate of the passenger terminal of the Sasa Wharf here on Wednesday night.

At least 16 people died and 57 others were wounded in the bomb blast, the second in Davao city in less than a month.

Filomena, 40, said the blast was so loud, the deafening thud seemed to black out everything momentarily.

"I heard my son cry for help for me to get a taxi but there was no taxi around. I cried because I could not help my son. I just told him there was no taxi," Songaling told The STAR.

After the blast, mangled bodies were all around her, her son among the bloodied remains.

Filomena herself suffered minor injuries but what was deeply devastating was losing her son in the tragic incident, which also took the lives of four other members of her family — her mother Pablita Espera, 57; nieces Cadilyn May, 14, and Jaymarie, 2; and nephew Mark, 8.

Her three other siblings — Corazon Espera-Quirol, Aurelia and Bryan Espera — were among those injured and brought to the hospital for treatment.

At the house of the Esperas in Barangay Soliman, the family was caught yesterday between crying and being busy as they prepared for the wake of the five family members who died in the blast.

And why were the Esperas at the Sasa Wharf?

Filomena explained that her mother sells chicken barbecue at a makeshift stall by the gate of the wharf on Mondays and Wednesdays when passenger vessels dock at the harbor.

She said it has been the habit of the Espera children and grandchildren to help the family matriarch in her small business.

"We have always been doing that. Almost all of us would go to the stall to help our mother. And as usual, on Wednesday night, we were all there when it happened," she said.

Security has reportedly been tightened around her sister Corazon, who was admitted in one of the local hospitals here, as she was reportedly the one who saw the man who left the package, which was suspected to contain the bomb, in a yellow plastic bag.

Filomena’s son Bonnel was a high school student at the San Juan High School in Agdao District.

"Bonnel was a model son, he never gave me problems. He was so obedient and was always helpful. It hurts me so much because he was so good and was never in trouble," she said. The grieving mother also recounted that her son used to save his P25 daily allowance and would return the money to her on Fridays.

"He would always tell me, Mama, here is my money, use it."

Though the Songalings are not well-off, with her husband Bonifacio working at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, she said that Bonnel had wanted to become an engineer.

"He wanted to be a working student just so he could make his dream of becoming an engineer come true," she said.

Another only child who perished in the bomb blast was six-year-old Jaylord Amarillento. Like Bonnel, Jaylord was doted on by his parents, Rommel and Christine, both originally from Davao City but were now working in Manila. The boy was brought by his parents here for a vacation and to continue his studies here.

Jaylord and his father Rommel just arrived from Manila aboard Superferry 15, which docked at the Sasa Wharf on Wednesday night, shortly before the bombing. They were waiting for a ride by the gate when the bomb went off.