The Relevance of "?"

My previous entry which had the title " Ted Failon...Shades of O.J" used the punctuation mark "?". Now, if Marocharim is to be believed, this entry aims to propound a theory or a "parallelism". But, was it intended to maliciously link the case of Manong Ted with that of O.J. Simpson?

No.

It was intended to actually squelch the very notion that these two cases have similarities. That's the reason why a question mark was used. It was written to erase every notion that this case has similarities and therefore, justifies the "professional barbarism" by the police to the family of Manong Ted.

Radio commentators had a field day, insinuating that this case has "shades of O.J." last Wednesday, April 15, 2009 and even last Thursday, April 16.I had to articulate that in the article because I heard it. If you're a journalist or an opinion writer, you'll definitely use that in your entry so that later on, you'll be able to provide information that would surely dispel any other notion that it was somewhat linked.

Likewise, if I indeed wanted to even link the case to O.J., I would have erased the question mark and instead wrote " Ted.....Shades of O.J" with a period in the end.

A blogger commented that the last paragraph was "irrelevant". Was it, irrelevant? For some, probably. But, it was not.

It was not irrelevant because it actually aimed to DISPEL certain talk about the alleged parallelism between the case of Failon and O.J. Simpson. By including a statement which says "we need to avoid speculations...etc." means that the writer just articulated a prevailing sentiment and HIS OWN SENTIMENTS were written immediately AFTER that paragraph. And that sentiment clearly and simply says that "AVOID SPECULATIONS".

Hay, naku. Ano ba naman? Hahanap lang ng butas, eh, sa mga ganito pa! Next please!

Ted's wife died tonight--my last entry

At exactly 8:50 pm, Manila Time, Trinidad "Trina" Arteche-Etong died at the New Era University General Hospital. The forty-five year old wife of ABS-CBN News Anchor Ted Failon expired due to multiple organ failure. She sustained a lone gunshot wound in the left temple and was rushed unconscious to the hospital two days ago. Doctors say the cranial fractures which Trina suffered due to the self-inflicted shooting led to multiple organ failure. Physicians tried to revive the already brain dead nurse for thirty minutes, but failed. Her blood pressure reached the most critical levels at around 8 in the evening.

She left a young daughter, Karisma and Kaye, who's now in college. Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN DZMM boss and bosom friend of Ted Failon described Ted as "unconsolable". Fr. Jerry Orbos, a family friend, gave the final rites. The priest also prayed together with the family.

I, together with my other colleagues in the media, pray for Trina's soul. I also prayed for Ted Failon and his family. The family is under tremendous pressures and stress right now. May God protect them and keep them safe from all harm.

Manong Ted, I know you're having some trials right now, but I have full faith that you'll be able to get thru with all these. May God, the Living Lord, give you strength. May God protect your kids and for them to recover from this personal tragedy.

I sincerely believe that what happened was a suicide. Whatever the reason of Trina, we'll leave it up to God, who is the Originator of Everything. Right now, tatagan mo ang loob mo Manong Ted for the sake of your young kids. There's always a reason for all of these things.

This will be my last entry. Out of respect for the grieving family of Manong Ted Failon, I shall now refrain from writing any updates on this case. Clearly, based on the pieces of evidence gathered so far and corroborated from the testimonies of eye witnesses, this is a classic case of suicide. This is a purely personal tragedy for the Failons and it is but proper for all of us to reserve judgement against them and let us just pray that they triumph over this very painful incident.

May the Living God, the Most Kind, the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful give the Failons strength to move forward. Amen.