This week was supposed to bring good news for Filipinos: Miss Philippines, Maria Venus Raj, a farm girl turned fashion model, was a big favorite headed into Monday’s Miss Universe final. The competition, a parade of flashy clothes, straight teeth and slick hair, is popular here; and the country is very proud of its two previous Filipina winners of the pageant. Wracked by two insurgencies, endemic corruption and poverty, the Philippines could do with more national heroes and good press. So, on Monday, Raj was the talk of the town. “Good luck to Maria Venus Raj! Proud to be PINOY!” wrote a fan on twitter . “Represent” said another.
Then, an ex-police inspector stepped on to a tourist bus with an M16 rifle.
At 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning, Rolando D. Mendoza commandeered a bus carrying Hong Kong tourists in downtown Manila. Mendoza was reportedly furious about his dismissal on corruption charges and demanded redress, at gunpoint. As the standoff progressed, television crews swarmed the scene and Manileos gathered in restaurants and shops to follow live footage. Many were still watching, hours later, when shots rang out, SWAT teams moved in and gunfire swallowed the vehicle. Mendoza killed eight people before the police managed to shoot him dead. Another victim later died in a hospital.
