The Last Few Chapters

Finally, I am just at the last few chapters of the book, "In The Presence of My Enemies."

I said it was tiring to just read the book and read about the Dos Palmas hostages ordeal.  At this point, only three of them remain, Martin, Gracia and Ediborah.  Reina, earlier, was 'sabayaed' by the leader Sabaya and no mention of her being with the group as of this last chapter.  See, time and again, the hostages were to be divided into two groups and then meet again and then divided again.  This is a strategy that the Abu Sayyaf did to confuse the AFP.

So, right now, I only read about Martin, Gracia and Ediborah.  Lately, Ediborah has been bothered because one of the captors is also 'proposing' that they get married when Ediborah is already married.  Just like what happened to Reina, she has left with no choice and I think, although she's been able to avoid the circumstance, it was just like her lover was just waiting for the mangoes to ripen.

Looking at the other side, the book wasn't about the ordeal at all.  I think Gracia wrote it to serve as a model of faith and trust.  I am overwhelmed every time both of them would come up with a good thing out of a bad situation.  Although I said the book was tiring to read, you put it down after a few pages, tired.  But after all, you emerge with a stronger faith after reading about the couple's positive outlook.

At this point, they have been receiving a lot of food.  They wondered and later on found out that the captors are coming up with the deal with the AFP.  The AFP was negotiating as to how much percentage they will get once the Abu Sayyaf people gets the ransom money.  Can you believe that?

But somewhere along the way, their food supply went scarce again.  This time, they discovered that the deal was off because the AFP wanted to do it 50-50 with them.

I leave you with this thought and this maybe one of the last few posts left of this book.