Faye Arellano, a former journalist now based in Toronto, never imagined “that taking a stand for the unborn on a Sunday afternoon during a silent protest” would see her facing a violent assault from a pro-abortion activist that would land her in the hospital.
Arellano was praying and silently holding a pro-life sign when she found herself on the receiving end of a vicious, unprovoked attack by a knife-wielding, unidentified attacker who suddenly assaulted Faye as she stood outside a Catholic Church in Toronto.
A Filipino news agency has more details on what happened:
“The peaceful mass action turned ugly when I was suddenly assaulted viciously by an unknown bystander. Grabbed by the hair, smacked on the ground, kicked and punched repeatedly. I grabbed the man by his jacket and was yelling for people to call the cops,” goes her recollection of that fateful Sunday in her Facebook account.
Her instinctive courage to fight back–obviously honed from years of covering events in Manila, where she met husband Nestor Arellano, former reporter for Tempo, Malaya and TODAY–kicked in during the first few seconds of the attack. It got ugly soon after, however. Faye continues: “But when I finally saw the attacker pull a knife I just had to muster all the courage to get up and run for safety. Everyone froze at the sight of the knife. A good samaritan came and shielded me while I could see the assailant looking for me. The police came and the attacker was arrested.”
The feisty Faye said that while she survived the ordeal, “the experience was one harrowing moment in life that will be etched in my memory. However, knowing that my assailant is now behind bars awaiting trial for charges of assault with a weapon was a consolation. At least the streets are safer.”
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Recovering from home after being discharged from the Sunnybrook hospital, Faye even manages to crack a self-deprecating joke. It’s an endearing trait of both husband and wife. “In the meantime, I am achy all over and the doctor ordered me to take things easy because of the concussion that I sustained. No exercise, no intense mental activity (which Nestor thinks that I don’t do anyway, hehehe) while under observation.
“I intend to get better sooner and get on with life as normal as possible. I thank you all (and you know who you are) for your thoughts and prayers. I shall overcome.”
Nestor said Canadian police have taken a videotaped statement from Faye and her attacker remains in custody.
In a subsequent exchange of notes with FB friends, Faye is hit by the coincidence: “The unprovoked attack happened on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Come to think of it, I lost my placard during the assault, but when I was rushed to Sunnybrook I still had a rosary on my hand. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death. Amen.”
