God's Rise | WOTG #2

Twenty-Four

C A D E

THE SPEED OF MY feet could send me flying as I swarmed through the hallways, not caring about the people who I almost bumped with. They all stared at me while I ran through the control room. I looked back and noticed why they were all looking at me: I was the only one running.

"Cade!" sigaw sa 'kin ni Deo. "Sandali lang!"

Pero hindi ko siya pinakinggan at nagtuloy-tuloy lang sa pagtakbo. Wala na akong pakialam kung maiwan man silang dalawa sa likod ko.

Two automated huge doors faced me. It opened and revealed a large room full of people who were dressed professionally. The vast room was dim and only the blurred illuminations from the corners of the chamber and the holograms were the only source of light. There was a colossal holographic screen at the front and rows of holoComputers were facing it. Each holoComputers has its own operator whose eyes were nailed at the big screen that showed the face of Goldberg. The symbol of World United Governments was his backdrop. Its symbol—the Earth with laurels around it and two wings sprouting on each side—did not go along with him very well.

The whole room was quiet and focused on Goldberg's anticipated announcement. His devilish smirk plastered on his lips as his conspiring lilac eyes reeked with schemes and connivance.

"Greetings, citizens of the Philippines. I, the president of this Republic, am unraveling the connections of our government to this mentioned world organization and to other countries particularly with its allies," he announced. "As the most powerful and richest country in the world, we can stand on our feet. That is all, thank you very much," he finished and the screens blacked out.

Whispers invaded the whole room. Any trace of quietness was gone.

Hindi maganda 'to. Siguradong ito ang magiging mitsa ng kaguluhan sa buong mundo. Ang mga pinuno ng ibang bansa ay hindi magdadalawang isip ng mangialam at manghingi ng paliwanag sa kung anong nangyayari. At tiyak, kapag ginawa nila 'yon ay 'yon din ang magiging simula ng isang giyera.

Digmaan.

Digmaan ang naging dahilan kung bakit ang Pilipinas ang nangunguna sa buong mundo. Digmaan ang pinanggalingan kung bakit Pilipinas na ang tinitingala ngayon.

Nangyari ang lahat ng 'yon simula no'ng huling giyerang halos sumira sa mga bansa nang tuluyan. Halos sumira sa mundo at sangkatauhan. Mahigit limang daang taon na ang nakakalipas simula nang mangyari ang mapangwasak na digmaang kumitil ng ilang milyong buhay.

Pinangalanan 'yon ng mga historians bilang Armageddon dahil sa mga panahong 'yon ay para bang 'yon na ang huling laban ng dalawang panig na sisira sa lahat ng uri ng buhay. Amerika pa ang nangunguna no'ng mga panahong 'yon at Amerika rin ang namumuno sa isang panig ng giyera. 

Several countries—such as France, South Africa, and Japan—allied themselves with the United States and there were countries who set themselves—India, Russian Federation, North Korea—against them. The People's Republic of China led the opposing side against the Allied Powers. The Chinese lands were divided into two as the people were torn on which forces they would merge theirs, giving birth to the youngest nation, the Collaborative Provinces of China. The war hurt them more for as they faced the foreign forces' wrath they were also fighting their own countrymen. They were imploding.

Ang Pilipinas noon ay hindi na lamang nakisali at nakianib sa kahit anong panig dahil mayroon itong pansariling krisis na kailangang atupagin bago makisali sa ibang suliranin. Lalo na sa digmaang wala naman talaga silang kinalaman. Yumayaman na at umuunlad na ang bansa no'n. Tumanggi ang presidente ng Pilipinas, si Karnus Cervantes, sa alok ng Amerika na kapag nakisanib siya sa panig nila at kapag sila'y nanalo, tutulungan ng Amerikang makabangon ang Pilipinas sa krisis. Kaya naman gano'n na lang ituring si Pangulong Cervantes bilang Ama ng Makabagong Pilipinas.