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MANILA, Philippines – Sadness is not necessarily absent in the presence of happiness.
The Philippines had a lot of triumphs and inspiring moments this year, but there were moments that made Filipinos feel heartbroken, too.
Let’s take a look at some of the viral moments that tugged at people’s heartstrings in 2015:
When Pope Francis visited the Philippines, only a few were given the chance to meet him. One of them was 12-year-old street kid Glyzelle Palomar, who asked the Pope why God allows prostitution and other bad incidents to take place.
Pope Francis replied: “She is the only one who has put a question for which there is no answer. And she wasn’t able to express it in words, but rather in tears.” (READ: Where are the women, Pope asks)
The Special Action Force (SAF) 44 are the elite cops who clashed with Moro rebels during a police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25.
Tasked to hunt down international terrorist Marwan, the SAF 44 accomplished their mission, but lost their lives in the process. (READ: Filipinos mourn for fallen #Tagaligtas troops)
The story of Mary Jane Veloso, in her own words
From #SaveMaryJane to #MaryJaneLives, the nation witnessed how overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso fought for her life on death row in Indonesia.
Before the campaign that saved her life, one of the saddest stories in Rappler this year was Mary Jane’s account of her ordeal as a drug mule.
Inspection of balikbayan boxes
OFWs denounced the Bureau of Customs over the inspection of their balikbayan boxes, saying that their items were stolen or damaged. Many others expressed hurt and anger online as stories of OFWs’ experiences went viral. (READ: OFWs: Hands off our balikbayan boxes!)
President Benigno Aquino III later ordered the BOC to stop the physical inspections, saying that “OFW families view the balikbayan box as an integral part of the family relationship to nurture loved ones at home and as a tangible sign of their love and concern for their family members.”
Duterte: ‘I am not running for president’
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte initially left his supporters heartbroken when he announced back in September that he wasn’t running for president. But he kept them hoping until the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, and again left them disappointed when he didn’t show up. (READ: Hearts broken as ‘#DuterteSerye ‘ends’)
The so-called #DuterteSerye ended up continuing, however, with the controversial mayor eventually deciding to run for president.
Millions of Filipino hearts were broken when Floyd Mayweather, Jr (48-0, 26 knockouts) prevailed over Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) via unanimous decision in what was dubbed the Fight of the Century. Disappointed Pacquiao fans cried foul, while the People’s Champ said he was “sabotaged.”
Mayweather ended up dealing with the WBO’s decision to strip the title from him, not because he wasn’t deserving, but because he refused to pay the $200,000 sanction fee imposed by the organization.
Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino’s daughter found dead
No words can express how devastating it is for parents to lose a child.
In July, teenage actress Julia Buencamino, the daughter of veteran actors Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino, took her own life. Julia’s family asked that they be allowed to mourn in private, and thanked everyone who gave them support.
The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation has a depression and suicide prevention hotline to help those secretly suffering from depression. The numbers to call are 804-4673 and 0917-558-4673. Globe and TM subscribers may call the toll-free number 2919. More information is also on the foundation’s website. It’s also on Twitter (@NGFoundationPH) and Facebook.
Dead Syrian refugee boy by the sea
The refugee crisis gripping Europe made headlines in 2015, and one photo in particular touched the hearts of people across the globe – that of 3-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi.
The young boy was already lifeless when he was found by Turkish police officer Mehmet Ciplak by the sea. Ciplak said: “I have a 6-year-old son. The moment I saw the baby, I thought about my own son and put myself into his father’s place. Words cannot describe what a sad and tragic sight it was.”
Obama delivers eulogy for Charleston pastor
The heated gun control debate and racial discrimination again cast a shadow over the United States this year.
In June, 9 people were shot dead at a Charleston church – an attack that was apparently racially motivated. US President Barack Obama delivered a rousing eulogy for slain pastor Clementa Pinckney, touching on race, gun control and the US Civil War. “It was an act that drew on a long history of bombs and arson and shots fired at churches – not random but as a means of control, a way to terrorize and oppress.”
More lives were lost in plane crashes in 2015.
In Medan, Indonesia, a Hercules C-130 transport plane crashed after it took off from an airbase in Sumatra, killing all on board. Many of the victims were believed to be military personnel and their families.
A Russian airliner also crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, a plane crashed after taking off from South Sudan’s capital Juba, and a trainer aircraft of the Philippine Air Force crashed off the coast of Batangas. (READ: World’s deadliest aviation disasters)
What are the other sad moments in 2015 that struck you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments section. – with reports from Janessa Villamera/Rappler.com
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