A Son and a Daughter

My heart bleeds for Geraldine Palma and Cris Mendez. 

Just last month, a little daughter and a  young son, with promising futures ahead of them, were killed by violence. They left this world, too soon, too painful.  

Geraldine Palma was a seven-year old girl who was kidnapped for ransom but ended up raped, choked to death and stuffed in a suitcase.  She was found days after she was killed. 

Cris Mendez, a 20-year old graduating student from the University of the Philippines was pronounced dead on arrival at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.  He was a victim of hazing during initiation rites of the Sigma Rho Fraternity. 

Young.  They were both so young. Imagine the pain their parents went through upon learning of their deaths.  Imagine the EXCRUCIATING pain they went through when they learned their child's life ended violently.  Especially Geraldine Palma. Damn! She was only seven.  So innocent and pure. How she suffered in the hands of those MONSTERS. My heart cannot take the cruelty and the ignominy of it all.  

I echo the statement of Geraldine's cousin  in her LiveJournal entry  :

"I have no pity for those that harm children. Burn in hell."

I'm not a mother.  The closest state I am to motherhood is being the dotting aunt to my nephew Hendrich.  I love my nephew to pieces. I try my best to nurture him and make him happy.  He is a sweet and jolly child who fills my life with brightness and love.  I could just imagine how this feeling I have is magnified a hundred times especially for a parent to his or her child.  Geraldine must have brought a lot of moments of joy to her parents.  She was a beautiful child.  Cris must be his parents hope and pride. Gosh, a UP student.  Bright kid.  Imagine all those wonderful moments he has given to his parents. 

Children are gifts from God.  They should grow up, lead fruitful lives  and be the support of their parents in their old age. They SHOULD not die ahead of their parents. They SHOULD not die violent deaths.

For the people whose lives were touched by these two souls, they will have to deal with painful memories. And the rest of us have to live with the thought how scum such as Geraldine's rapists-killers and Cris' murderers still roam the earth. 

I say a fervent prayer for Geraldine and Cris.  May justice prevail for them. 

That's the least this world could do. 

Photos from:  ABS-CBN Interactive  and Cris Mendez' Friendster Page