Summoning A Nation: The Philippines of the Otherworld

Chapter 7: Cracking Foundations

Some Random Mid-rise Apartment in Tondo, Greater Manila Area, Republika ng Pilipinas,
September 19, 2041; 9:52 AM—

[The Philippine Stock Exchange has been hit badly, dropping to 21% since the referred 'Summoning'. Taking this into mind, the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission in collaboration with the Philippine Stock Exchange has introduced a series of radical regulatory measures to ensure the stabilization of the market and to restore confidence. One such measure, has temporary halted any short-selling activities—]

The channel changed, instead of a beautiful reporter informing the country of the financial situation. It now showcased an old man wearing a blue t-shirt and a towel resting on his shoulder. Rows of traditional and modernized jeepneys lined up in rows behind him.

[—As a jeepney driver, I don't believe that we will last a day here with the sudden price hike. It's like they don't want us to work anymore—]

The channel changed again. Now, it showed groups of laborers carrying rice sacks from a truck inside a local wet market. Which promptly showed a pre-recorded video of rice farmers doing their job in the middle of the scorching sun.

[—The DA is expecting retail prices of rice to soar to about 50 Pesos per kilo—]

The channel changed again. Now, it was aerial footage of several tens of thousands of civilians tightly packed and standing still before the entrance to the Quiapo Church.

[—Currently, this has been the third continuous day where the Quiapo church has once again flooded with devotees. Seeking to fin—]

The channel changed again. Now, it showed a large group of individuals sitting silently before a man speaking behind a podium with the seal of the Presidential Communications office. On the small stage was also the Philippine Flag, and a few personnel behind the speaker.

After he finished speaking, the group of reporters raised their hands swiftly and in unison. He then pointed towards a female reporter among the many hands that were raised. She promptly stood up and asked the following.

[Sir, the 'Summoning' event has deeply shaken the nation and is causing unease to the population. Can you please tell us any information regarding the cause of such an event? Or how it happened? Why the Philippines of all nations?]

***

Conference Room, Presidential Communications office, Malacanang, Greater Manila Area, Republika ng Pilipinas—
September 19, 2041; 10:17 AM—

"We are doing the best we can in determining what the cause of the event is. The Department of Science and Technology and Philsa has been actively collaborating with various scientists to explain such a phenomenon. However, speculations and assumptions aren't going to help us at the current time. Trust that we are doing the best we can in ensuring the safety of the citizens and stability of the nation."

The Presidential spokesperson calmly answered the numerous questions of varying news reporters across the country. The conference room was tightly packed, almost all of the major broadcasting agencies in the country were gathered in the room, like a can of sardines.

"Sir, If I may, I have heard from a contact in Tawi-Tawi that a plane has taken off from their local airport." Hearing the reporter's word, the others immediately jumped to their cameras and notepads. "This is just when an Emergency Lockdown was declared 3 days ago. Where it is stated that all planes and boats are to be grounded."

The spokesperson then started to slowly raise his hand, a common gesture of him calmly rejecting the answer. Noticing this, one of the male reporters stood up from his seat and shouted for the room to hear. "Putangina! SAY SOMETHING!"