Roxas Night Market customers dining at one of the food stalls. Photo by Ram Manlatican

Despite the mournful Roxas night market memorial positioned at the ground zero of the recent bombing tragedy, sights of few food stalls and merchandise displays started to reappear and resume operations tonight, Sept. 4, at the Roxas Avenue.

The night market was already given clearance to operate yesterday evening, Sept. 3 by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who made the announcement after attending the memorial mass for the victims.

Davaoeños from different walks of life still find the night market as part of their lives.

“Tama man pud ang giingon ni Mayor na i-open gihapon siya [market] kay kumbaga ang mga tao is naanad na diari. Sa nahitabo karon, although shocking siya and alarming pud, pero in terms of security okay man pud,” Grace Salvino, an avid Roxas night market goer, shared.

However, one of the night market masseurs, Synette, still expressed her strong feelings despite that the night market is back once again.

“Dili maayo. Wala pa gyud mi maayo!” she exclaimed while providing massage to a listening customer.

“Ana sila na dili lang ma-trauma. Pero bisa’g ako gani, mahadlok ko karon mogawas og balay samot na kanang dagha’y tao mahadlok ko kay basi’g, simbako, maunsa diraa.

“Mag-amping lang gyud. Magbantay-bantay bisa’g kinsa imong kauban,” Synette added.

As a response to the perpetrators of the terror attack, the city mayor said that Davao was not “fazed by the explosion and the city will stand up once more”.

Last Friday night, Sept. 2, an explosion by an unidentified explosive device claimed 14 lives and wounded 68 people.