NATIONAL Heroes' day or Araw ng Kagitingan passed by and so did Easter Sunday and all the solemn rituals attached to it. Baguio’s still the same, broken streets, traffic everywhere, lesser people now, then more tomorrow and hereafter. Life goes on despite events that mark or mar our lives. It’s summertime too, and “ the living is easy...fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high.” The heat of summer is felt by all, sweat abounds and clingy clothes are out. Yet, better to be in Baguio during summer than anywhere else. Our evenings are still cool and refreshing to the skin. And these are what make our city attractive and enjoyable.
Our country’s Day of Valor shouldn’t go to waste. What with all the speeches and the programs citing Rizal, Mabini, Bonifacio Silang, etc.; to add, the tarpaulin that announces that “government workers are heroes too, ” simply makes the onlooker look and think again. This thought crosses my mind ever so often and on one hand, I nod but on the other hand, I reflect...process and remember that not all government workers are heroes. No Sir and Madame, heroism is a high level of bravery, intrepidity, fortitude and valor . So all these adjectives can be used for any action so long as one is brave enough to do it? I guess not. An action done with valor and bravery gets to be heroic only when one does it for the good of the people or the community. Heroism carries with it a color of dignity and integrity. Crimes can be done with bravery too and my, what intrepidity some of our government leaders do them. In our country, the first crime against the people is corruption, and it seems this is true for every nation except for a very few.
The good news though is that heroism can be done on our own and surely, we can be our own heroes. Living by example is the foremost path towards heroism. It is when we find role models of honesty in government, people who work with bravery, stick to the truth and live it, and those who work with fortitude that despite all, they can live and lead the country with clear consciences, strong enough not to yield to the temptation of money and more money from the people’s coffers. .. there is heroism.
Heroism does not thrive on pride but on quiet humility and determination. Being good to others and practising this in one’s own life is an act of heroism too. Many people can be called heroes in their own way. It does not take an execution like that of Jose Rizal, to make one a hero; or an assassination like those of Andres Bonifacio and Ninoy. One can be a hero by leading others to the good path of honesty and respect, strength of character and fortitude. Children can be heroes too, and many of them are such: they do simple acts like picking trash scattered on the way and putting them in the right bins and containers, greeting their teachers and elders with respect, taking care of the younger ones in school and at home. And parents, oh the parents, they are the walls on which their children lean and take a pause from life, they are the roofs under which the children seek shelter and nourishment of the body and the spirit. Parents can be heroes too.
What it takes to be a hero is to find one’s truth and live it, take charge of honesty and integrity and live them by example. In this era of humanity, the opposite of heroism still abides as they had in the past generations of history. Man must take steps to be a hero in his own way, an example to those who follow, to be a source of inspiration to do and to be ...good. Baguio, be a hero. I love you.