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“Bigyan po natin ng saysay ang tila walang kasaysay-saysay na pagkamatay ng mga kababayan nating ito,”

said Sharon Cuneta in a phone patch interview by Ai Ai delas Alas and Direk Joey Reyes of ABS-CBN’s showbiz talk show, ETK, several hours after the stampede at the Ultra.

A few hours later, thousands of Pinoys could be heard saying that “…it’s all ABS-CBN’s fault. Had they focused more on securing those poor people instead of their multi-million peso equipment, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Earlier, at round 7 in the evening - while I was eating barbeque-d innards in Blumentritt, an old woman selling grilled corn shouted, “Bukas! Pipila ako sa Wowowee!” One man laughed and shouted back, “Wala nang Wowowee! Kawawa-wowoweeee!” Everyone laughed – including me.

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Several hours after the stampede at the Ultra, Sharon Cuneta in a phone patch interview by Ai Ai delas Alas and Direk Joey Reyes of ABS-CBN’s showbiz talk show, ETK, said,

“Bigyan po natin ng saysay ang tila walang kasaysay-saysay na pagkamatay ng mga kababayan nating ito.”

On that statement alone, I agree with her.

While I wouldn't deny the fact that the station really had its share of shortcomings that may have led to the stampede, I believe that to stop at saying that it is all ABS-CBN’s fault steps on the whole point of the tragedy and puts the death of these people in vain.

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I remember, once, in a leadership forum organized by Pathways, the mayor of Naga, one of the most progressive regions outside Manila, was asked by a middle aged member of the audience,

“Mayor! What can you say about the deteriorating morals and values of the Filipino Youth?”

The mayor answered, “The youth are but a reflection of the whole society. If indeed they are losing their morals it is simply because society, in general, is losing its morals.”

I, as a member of the youth sector, think he was right. But for me, the real lesson in what he said is that too often things that occur in small scales reflect the bigger picture.

What happened before, while and after the stampede, I believe, is a reflection, really, of what’s happening on a daily basis in our society; Those who live comfortably enough wondered why these crazy people had to line up for 4 or 5 or 6 days for a gameshow that guarantees practically... nothing but laughter. On the other hand, the rich, in their expensive cars, only cared about the traffic and hassle caused by the freakin’ lines. There were those who felt pity for the old women in the front line and there were those who took pride in being indifferent. There were those who talked about the tragedy with much detachment and finger-pointing while there were those who tried to find meaning in what happened. In the end, of course – clearly, there were those who died holding on to the dream of getting a free taxi or tricycle.

There’s an old adage that goes, “Death is the great equalizer.” For the most part, yeah, I guess it is true; When you die, even if you are the richest man on earth, you will bring nothing with you --But just freakin’ try saying this to a child who lost his mother to a stupid stampede.

Sometimes, even in death, the rich and the poor are not equal. And that’s the sad truth – that our society has learned to accept.

Now, where would you rather be in all these? Pointing your nasty finger to a station, which, I’m damn sure, never planned and wished this to happen, or shouting, “I maybe just one man but I’m gonna freakin’ do something about this!”

Really. What would you do? Where would you be?