On Bomb Scares and Bomberman

Photo Courtesy of www.consoleclassix.com

Bomberman---- most of the 90s kids can relate to this!

Back in the 90s when my innocence had its fair share of glory, I was in total fascination with video games. We had our own play station, but I had this peculiar obsession with that slot video game machine which we called "hulog-hulog piso". After inserting a coin, we can like play a video game for about 5 to 10 minutes. It was quite an addiction for me! Since our neighbor had this machine, I often sneak out the house and play with my childhood friends, enjoying the thrills of pushing the buttons like there's no tomorrow and moving the joystick to and fro!

I admit, violence dwells in video games. Some of my personal favorites were Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and Ghost Fighter where killing and exterminating the enemies in bloodbath are highly acceptable. There's Top Gear where it's okay to drive recklessly in full speed. Even Super Mario World  taught us to slaughter various creatures like those brown mold-like organisms, turtles, fishes, etc. And there goes the game Bomberman where you strategically place bombs so as to kill your nemesis.

I just have pondered on these thoughts---- is it possible that terrorists and bombers have this fixation for the game Bomberman once in their lives? Can we even associate their behavior with this maze-based game?

But one thing's for sure though, all of us gamers have experienced this certain delight in violence.

For the past ten days, successive mysterious bombings and bomb threats in Mindanao have been causing fear to the people. Eight lives were lost in the CDO bombing, another eight in the recent Cotabato blast. Then here's the Maguindanao bombing which happened yesterday morning. 

For the past days, the government of Davao is in full force in tightening the security unit of the city. Text messages have been spreading like wildfire nowadays as regards to bomb threats. This is one of the two circulating text messages in the region:

"A car bomb, Mitsubishi Galant with plate number TLP 535, is on its way to Davao City". 

Just this morning during our media coverage, his excellency Pres. Benigno Aquino III managed to come here in the city despite security threats to attend a business conference as well as to address several issues. Apparently, checkpoints in SM Lanang were visible. Policemen, military members and even firefighters were in the area. Even the mall guards were strict, I have to get my bag checked every fuggin' time.

Just this afternoon, there's this suspected car bomb along the parking area of SM Ecoland. Thankfully, no bomb paraphernalia were found. Actually, the Pajero was just odd looking and because it's antiquated with too many wires of red, green and blue inside, it was meant to be under suspicion. Plus, funny how the bomb-sniffing dog also sat down at that instance. Turned out, the family who owns the Pajero were just mall goers who were watching a movie in the cinema.

My point here is that Dabawenyos have to be more cautious and vigilant during these crucial times. These mystery bombings have remain unsolved, but what's certain is that these blasts' target nowadays are civilian populations in urban areas. Up to now, the culprits are still unknown.

Moreover, there's a huge possibility that Davao's Kadayawan Festival will be postponed. (Oh well, this will have been my first actual Kadayawan experience. But for everyone's safety, I'd rather have it shelved.) Mayor Rody Duterte will have his final say this Tuesday, August 13.

Anyway, might as well follow John Lloyd's piece of advice, "Ingat!"

And yes, Bomberman is real, dauntingly real.