Victims of Manila bus hijacking to get last rites from Chinese, HK monks
Chinese, HK monks will travel to Manila for prayers on behalf of slain Buddhists
Thirty monks from Hong Kong and the mainland will perform Buddhist rites in Manila this Saturday for the eight Hongkongers killed when their tour bus was hijacked by a rogue policeman in 2010.
However, none of the victims' relatives or the survivors will attend the 12-hour ceremony following an invitation from Manila mayor Joseph Estrada. It included a promise that there would be no fear of any fresh tragedy occurring under his watch.
"The embassy told us the family members will not come," Manila councilor Bernardito Ang told the South China Morning Post. "The family members begged off saying they don't want to relive the past. But they said they join us in prayer," Ang said.
He added: "We will continue because the resolution has already been passed by the city council declaring August 9 of this year as a day of prayer and mourning."
Ang, who is of Chinese descent, said: "The Chinese believe that in a tragic death, you have to make sure the souls ascend. Otherwise they become wandering souls. The monks will pray the whole day to send the souls upwards."
He added that the rites were being held on the anniversary of the hijacking according to the Chinese lunar calendar, as opposed to August 23, the day the tragedy occurred on the Gregorian calendar.