Thursday, December 25, 2008 4-year-old blast victim celebrates birthday By Annabelle L. Ricalde
CHRISTIAN Ocoy, one of the victims of the Iligan bombings last week, will celebrate his fourth birthday Tuesday inside a small room of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Iligan City.
But there would no balloons or cakes for the boy today. A few feet away from him lay his mother, Maryjane, who was also wounded in the Iligan blast last Dec. 18.
Both mother and child were among the 55 casualties - three have died- when two crude bombs exploded at the Unicity Mall and Jerry's Shopping Center along Aguinaldo Street, this city.
"Balloon ug cake ra ba gyud na iyang pangayoon basta birthday niya, pero unsaon namo nga nia pa man mi sa hospital," Maryjane told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Maryjane lost four fingers in her right arm after the bomb exploded at the baggage center of Unicity Mall. The force of the blast knocked both of them, sending shrapnel to the back of Christian's head.
Christian could not remember the horrible incident when Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro interviewed him Monday.
"Naligsan ako (I was ran over)," was the only reply Christian said when asked if he remembered the incident.
Doctors at the hospital did not get the shrapnel that was embedded inside Christian's head fearing damage to his brain.
"It is normal to leave the shrapnel since it posed no danger. There would be greater risks if we will operate," a doctor said.
Maryjane is thankful that both of them survive the blasts, standing only a few feet from where it exploded at the baggage counter.
But she said she would bear the psychological scars for the rest of her life.
"Kalit ko makamata kada gabii kay morag gakadunggan nako ang kusog nga buto," Maryjane said.
She still could recall how the bomber, a woman, get in front of her bringing a red cellophane bag to the baggage counter.
Maryjane recalled the woman left in a hurry without getting her baggage claim number.
"Badlongon gani unta nako siya kay kalit man siya ni-insert sa akong linya, kalma lang pud siya nga nilakaw ug wala nadugay nibuto dayon," Maryjane narrated.
Maryjane said she remembered the woman was wearing ordinary blouse and pants not burkah as the CCTV images provided by Unicity Mall alleged that the bombers have worn.
"Di lang nako mahinumduman ang nawong kay nakatalikod pero sure ko nga blouse og pantalon iyang gisul-ob," she said.
A few minutes after the woman, the bomb exploded. Another bomb, this time at the baggage counter in the nearby Jerry's Shopping Center also exploded.
The force of the blast threw Maryjane and Christian several meters away. Maryjane recalled another woman was thrown along with them. The woman was unconscious.
Maryjane said she immediately stood up and took Christian by her arms unaware that four of her fingers were already cut off.
She said she took a ride to Don Gregorio Lluch Hospital with the help of some bystanders.
"Sa sakyanan nako nakabantay nga putol na diay akong upat ka tudlo nako," Maryjane said.
Maryjane said all the while, Christian would not look at her as she carried him in her arms. When they got to the hospital, Maryjane said she realized her face was covered with blood.
She is thankful that they lived through the ordeal.
Doctors at the hospital were supposed to discharge Maryjane and Christian Monday but relented saying that they wanted to observe the condition of the boy.
Maryjane said she do not mind if they would spend Christmas eve at the hospital.
"Sige na lang basta kay buhi ming duha sa akong anak," Maryjane said.
