The dramatic hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in Manila has shaken and terrified STOMPer May. The STOMPer says vehemently that she wouldn't dare to go to Manila for a vacation any time soon.

The STOMPer, a frequent visitor to the capital city of Philippines, was shocked to hear the news on Monday that a bus packed with Hong Kong tourists had been hijacked.

The tourists had been held hostage by a disgruntled ex-policeman, Rolando Mendoza, armed with an M-16 assault rifle in a desperate bid to get his job back.

According to news reports, commandos were forced to storm the bus and start firing when the gunman started shooting.

A sniper shot killed Mendoza in the final moments of the 12-hour standoff. Eight tourists were killed while seven others suffered injures and had to be hospitalised.

May says:

"I was horrified when I heard the news yesterday.

"The gunman had apparently hitched a ride with the tourists as they visited historic sites in the city and then taken them hostage to win his job back.

"He apparently told a local radio station that he had shot two Chinese and would finish them all if the police didn't stop.

"Talk about a vacation going horribly wrong. This is a tourist's worst nightmare.

"Even though I travel frequently to Manila, I am going to stop visiting for the time being. I am too terrified by this incident.

"What about other tourists? Would you all still dare to go after this?"