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Sunday, May 21, 2006
Acts of greatness
By Ramon Dacawi
Benchwarmer
THE FILIPINO is great. Leo Oracion, is latest proof, followed by Erwin Emata and then - as we go to press - Romeo Garduce. Their conquering Mt. Everest is also testimony to the truism that heroism and greatness can't be determined by race or creed, nationality or country. The Third World can stand at par beside the First or the North that also labeled us as the South, meaning a region that has yet to fully develop.
I go back to that Indian delegate to an international conference Paeng Gayaso of the cooperatives movement told me about while we were coming home from Manila one stormy night.
The guy heard a resource speaker from the "West" mention "Third World" in his presentation. Bristling, the Indian asked what gave the West the authority and right to tag India and the rest as Third World. With rightful pride, he went on to point out India's astounding contributions to the advancement of civilization and philosophy long before Western thought and culture - and standards - developed.
Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese Sherpa guide was as great as Edmund Hillary, even if he was not the toast after the two reached the Everest peak together, the first time that human beings accomplished the feat, shortly before noon of May 29, 1953.
Norgay used the same ice axe with which he propped up the British flag at the summit to save Hillary's life during their descent from the 8,850-meter summit. Hillary, who was eventually knighted by Queen Elizabeth, then dedicated his life to humanitarian causes for the people of Nepal. By choice, heart and action, he became a Third World citizen.
Lesser mortals like us can't even ascend Mt. Sto. Tomas, that promontory where those twin radar discs were planted. They look like giant grasshopper eyes that we tell visitors are Baguio's air fans. Folksinger Conrad Marzan did scale Mt. Pulag, the country's second highest peak where he prayed for and paid tribute to his wife Noney who passed on this month two years ago.
No point comparing Conrad with Norgay, much less Hillary, or Pulag with Kilimanjaro. Yet given the givens, the diminutive folksinger's heart is as big as that of the world-renowned mountaineer and humanitarian from New Zealand.
Monday afternoon, Conrad ascended to a corner of the highest bleacher of a cockpit - of the game fowl kind - in Shilan, La Trinidad. In-between the shouting of bet odds and the fights, he belted out country music with fellow musicians Nap Felwa, Dick Oakes and Dick's 14-year old daughter Libna.
Cockfighting enthusiasts loved the tune and turned generous. Egged on by sportsman-lawyer Rene Cortes, they dropped coins and bills into the arena, which were, in turn, picked up by the "kristos" or bet callers who faithfully turned them over to our team.
The "throw-ins" totaled over P4,500. The three-cock derby drew only 22 entries, but Atty. Cortes added over P24,000 for a gross of over P29,000. The net sum - from ordinary, mostly unknown mortals you meet everyday - will prop up two families with their own mountains to climb. It will help Mike Arnaiz, punong barangay of Outlook Drive, figure out how to rebuild the family house gobbled up by fire last Black Saturday. It's for the hospital and funeral bills after Nonoy, son of the late musician Tony Guerrero, succumbed to a stroke earlier this year.
"Salamat apo, adda gayam puso ti pallotero," I shouted for Atty. Cortes, Bonnie Tandoyog, Frankie Abalos, Sario and Wilson Tuling and Denver Domilos to hear. "Talaga a!" Atty. Cortes boomed.
I'm not sure if Baguio expatriate in Toronto Freddie de Guzman ever climbed mountains. One sure thing - he's a Sherpa for Linda Claire (not her real name), a 48-year old mother of nine. The widow's bravely battling cancer. Freddie just sent P16,000 for her chemo and P10,000 for Mike.
Freddie's not alone. Two women, one here and one in Kentucky, call up now and then to share what they have with others afflicted with ailments that are financially and emotionally crippling. Namesakes, the two lady Samaritans have just conquered cancer.
There are more Oracions, Hillarys and Norgays out there. Be it in the First or Third World, ordinary people with extraordinary deeds abound.
(May 21, 2006 issue)
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