6th of October, 2023
Today was a blast! School was fun! My friends helped me throughout the day and even played with me! Coming home, the house smelled like a celebration of so many flavors. My Mommy made my favorite dish! Then, my Daddy came home much earlier than expected, with his very big camera! Daddy even appeared on the T.V. as usual! I wanna be like him someday. I love my family. It was a lovely day. I hope tomorrow’s the same!
7th of October, 2023
Mommy told me that something bad is happening and we should leave. We hurriedly left our home even before sunrise, I never got to bring my favorite teddy bear. Hopefully, we’ll come back soon so she will not get lonely.
14th of October, 2023
We are currently staying far from home, with my other relatives. Although, I didn’t see some of my uncles and cousins, which I found weird. Also, I haven’t seen my friends in school since my mom said the school is not open. Why would it be closed? Mom said not to worry, and she invited me to pray. My Mom is not a very religious person, so this was my first time too. I wonder what could be so important. Who are we even praying for?
1st of November, 2023
It's been almost a month since we left. I really miss my teddy bear and my toys. Mom said it’ll be a while before we come back. Although, now that I think about it, Mom seems more pale than usual. Oh! and the huge explosions kept waking me up which is annoying! Mom said some people are experimenting outside. Why would they do it even at night?! One time, I peaked into the windows while my Mommy was sleeping. Why are the buildings gone? I could swear there were some before. I only saw piles of rocks and destroyed walls. If this is the experiment, they better fix those fast.
We’ve also been eating less. Mommy has not gone to work while Daddy hasn’t gone back. I tried asking Mommy but gave me no answer.
25th of December, 2023
Daddy still has not gone home. Christmas seems lonely. The experiment outside became more frequent. I’ve gotten used to it by now.
This Christmas, we barely had anything on the table. Just the usual suspicious canned goods and some murky water. I wonder why Mommy hasn’t come back to work, I don’t like this food.
14st of February, 2024
Happy Valentine's Day. It's been a while since I wrote here. I only discovered this when my Mom suddenly packed our things and left our relatives. It was my first time going outside again, and it looked like nothing before. Houses that even after being destroyed, some still live within. We scoured the streets for days, looking for a shelter.
Then just yesterday, I saw it. A bomb falling from the sky, and sending a building into rubble. I gripped tightly onto Mom’s shirt. What had happened? We could only run. Dad was nowhere to be found. Most of our relatives are gone. Is this the experiment my Mom had talked about? What happened to Daddy?
20th of February, 2024
Finally, we found a hospital full of people. Inside, I saw some were injured, lost their legs, and so much more. It felt like a nightmare. I almost threw up upon seeing it. Nevertheless, my mom said we are gonna stay here. We will sleep on the cold floor tonight, better than nothing I guess. I miss my teddy bear. I wish it would warm me up at this moment. I wonder if my teddy is still safe.
3rd of March, 2024
We are super cramped here in the hospital. It has been suffocating but with how the real situation is here. I find solace that they are all safe. My Mom finally told everything. The bombs that destroyed my home and my teddy bear. What did we even do to deserve this? Why can’t we all just make peace?
I miss my Dad even more. Mom told me he died while reporting on the bombed places. I don’t want to be like him anymore. I wish Dad had not left for work.
27th of May, 2024
It's my birthday; however there were no celebrations. I am surrounded by injured and traumatized people, so I find it hard to be happy. The situation is not fitting. My Mom and I had grown thin. From time to time, help would arrive with food and water, but it’d only last us a couple of days. So most of the time, we had to really stretch our ration. My mom said we’ll move out of the hospital in a couple days since the raid has been getting too close. We had packed everything. Hopefully we’ll make it out alive.
….
I had found this diary in the rubble of an unrecognizable building. Looks like the author didn’t make it out alive.
Written by Herwin Magbuo, Insight PH
Herwin Magbuo, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
