BAYANI
Old
heroes were those who contributed to the birth of a nation. Maybe the modern
bayani is one who pushes the envelope further by contributing to a nation in a
global world.
—Ambeth R. Ocampo, “‘Bayani’
a richer word than ‘hero’,” Philippine
Daily Inquirer (September 2, 2016)
TATLONG BAYANI
Old
heroes:
New
heroes:
WHAT MAKES A HERO?
Through
Executive Order No. 75 issued on March 28, 1993, former president Fidel Ramos
created the National Heroes Commission, which is tasked to study and recommend
national heroes to be recognized for their character and contributions to the
country.
The
commission was also tasked to evaluate, recommend, and come up with the
criteria to determine how a historical figure qualifies as a national hero.
The
committee came up with the following criteria:
-
Heroes are those who have a concept of nation, and aspire and struggle for the
nation’s freedom
-
Heroes define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a
nation
-
Heroes contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation
Additional
criteria were adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Committee on November 15, 1995:
-
Heroes are part of the people’s expression
-
Heroes think of the future, especially of the future generations
-
The choice of heroes involves the entire process that made a particular person
a hero
On
November 15, 1995, the technical committee of the National Heroes commission
chose 9 Filipino historical figures to be considered national heroes:
-
Jose Rizal
-
Andres Bonifacio
-
Emilio Aguinaldo
-
Apolinario Mabini
-
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
-
Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
-
Juan Luna
-
Melchora Aquino
-
Gabriela Silang
Link: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/180016-fast-facts-filipino-national-hero-criteria-heroes-day-philippines?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social
—Hannah Mallorca, “FAST
FACTS: What makes a Filipino historical figure a national hero?” Rappler.com, August 28, 2017
MARCOS NOT A HERO
In
a 26-page pamphlet entitled, “Why Ferdinand E. Marcos Should Not Be Buried at
the Libingan ng mga Bayani”, the NHCP disputed Marcos’ record as a soldier
during World War II, saying that it is “fraught with myths, factual
inconsistencies, and lies.”
The
commission said that Marcos “lied about receiving the Distinguished Service
Cross, Silver Star, and Order of the Purple Heart,” a claim he supposedly made
as early as 1945.
The
NHCP earlier said it was the US Medal of Honor that Marcos claimed he received,
but the commission on Monday, August 8, clarified it was the Distinguished
Service Cross, along with the two other awards.
Marcos’
supposed guerrilla unit, Ang Mga Maharlika, was also “never officially
recognized and neither was his leadership of it,” said the NHCP.
US
officials, added the NHCP, “did not recognize Mr. Marcos’ rank promotion,” from
major in 1944 to lieutenant colonel by 1947.
The
former president’s actions as a soldier during WWII were likewise “officially
called into question” by the US military.
Along
with other sources, the NHCP referred to two documents from the Guerrilla Unit
Recognition Files (1942-1948) in the Philippine Archives Collection.
The
Ang Mga Maharlika file “contains letters, memoranda, reports, and accounts
relating to the guerrilla unit Maj. Marcos claimed to have founded and led.”
Meanwhile,
the Allas Intelligence Unit file “pertains to the organization led by Cipriano
Allas, which claimed to be the intelligence unit of Ang Mga Maharlika.”
When
a historical matter is doubtful, like Marcos’ WWII record, the NHCP wrote in the
study’s executive summary that it “may not be established or taken as fact.”
“A
doubtful record also does not serve as sound, unassailable basis of historical
recognition of any sort, let alone burial in a site intended, as its name
suggests, for heroes,” the NHCP added.
…Published
on July 12, the pamphlet was the result of NHCP’s study as part of its mandate
under Republic Act 10086 “to conduct and disseminate historical research and
resolve historical controversies.”
Link:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/142145-nhcp-objects-marcos-burial-libingan-bayani
—Michael Bueza, “NHCP
objects to Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Rappler.com, August 6, 2016
 |
| Indio Bravo (1880) by Juan Luna |
August 28, 2017 is National Heroes’ Day in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteGonzalinho
AN EXEMPLARY FILIPINO
ReplyDeleteBy: Joel Ruiz Butuyan - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:08 AM July 02, 2018
We are living at a time when the behavior of so many of our country’s leaders engenders extreme dismay and anger. They curse and commit blasphemy. They boast of their extramarital affairs. They exhibit no remorse for their plundered wealth. They don’t feel dishonor in changing political parties. They show no shame for their political dynasties.
Our youth are vulnerable to being desensitized to the corruption, immorality and offensive conduct of those in public office. There is a danger that they will grow up thinking these forms of behavior are acceptable traits in our leaders.
It has become very stressful to read and watch the news, because we are bombarded with constant reminders of the miscreant nature of our politicians.
Notwithstanding the distressing characters of our leaders, we have exceptional individuals among our people who we can look up to as role models in various fields. Our prototypes of exemplary Filipinos should not be confined to dead heroes. There are remarkable Filipinos living in our midst who shun fame and fortune, and who are dedicating their lives to the public good.
I have my own list of outstanding Filipinos. I will feature each one of them starting today to highlight positive personalities, and to serve as a break from my usual writings on negative issues. I hope this will start a conversation on model leaders, and to take away the limelight from leaders who deaden us with hopelessness.
First on my list is Rene Saguisag, who I consider to be a remarkable Filipino in the field of politics. His stint as an elected politician ended 25 years ago, but it is precisely the fact that he readily gave up power that makes him worthy of exaltation. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve been observing and admiring him from a distance.
Saguisag possesses all the academic and work credentials that guarantee fame and fortune. He went to San Beda College and Harvard University for his law degrees. He was a bar topnotcher, a prominent human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship, a Cabinet member during the Corazon Aquino administration, and an elected senator from 1987 to 1992.
But these are not the qualifications that earn him a place in my list. After all, the same bona fides are possessed by many of his contemporaries who have wreaked havoc on this country.
To be continued
AN EXEMPLARY FILIPINO (continued)
ReplyDeleteWhat makes Saguisag worthy of praise is that he did not take advantage of his credentials, his close connections to the centers of power, and his national stature to gain fame and fortune. He did not perpetuate himself in power, acquire filthy wealth for his family, and create his own political dynasty. He is so unlike many of his colleagues who cling to power even to this day, and who have misused that power to gain riches for their families.
Saguisag occupied public office and wielded power for the sole purpose of serving his country. And he readily walked away from power without a whimper. In one article he wrote, he said: “It wasn’t hard to give up power, because I told my staff and myself, ‘We’re here only for a short visit.’”
Saguisag continued his involvement in politics as an activist citizen who filed public interest cases against government actions that he deemed antipeople. He was an acerbic gadfly who spoke and wrote stinging rebukes against the powers-that-be.
Shorn of illicit wealth amassed from public office, he faces the same fears being felt by his ordinary countrymen who are in the sunset years of their lives. Saguisag wrote recently: “Now, finally I admit to being scared of one thing — long, lingering, hopeless illness. And if that happens to me, the little that we have would be spent on my care for nothing. So I just hope that the good Lord will continue to take care of me as another lily of the field. That has been the story of my life. I took seriously what I read in the Bible that the odds are worse for a rich man than a camel passing through the eye of a needle.”
Rene Saguisag is a living exemplar of the Filipino race.
Comments to fleamarketofideas@gmail.com
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/114312/an-exemplary-filipino#ixzz5NGCW432q
Gonzalinho
Marcos did not eradicate corruption, contrary to what Duterte implied. Marcos centralized it: he decided who can steal with impunity among his officials and cronies, but he made sure he got the lion’s share. He stole enough to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records.
ReplyDeleteLuis V. Teodoro, @luisteodoro
Philippine Daily Inquirer (June 19, 2019)
Gonzalinho
FIVE FORGOTTEN HEROES OF THE PHILIPPINE SENATE
ReplyDeleteThey championed advocacies and fought uncompromisingly for their ideals
By: Javier Vilchez
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:20 AM August 31, 2019
Geronima Pecson
Lorenzo Tañada Sr.
Jose W. Diokno
Jovito Salonga
Raul Roco
…History shows that the greatest senators championed advocacies and fought uncompromisingly for their ideals.
History is filled with everyday people who stepped up to the plate because they saw a systemic wrong and tried to correct it.
Read more: https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/344364/five-forgotten-heroes-of-the-philippine-senate/#ixzz6SSULHe1n
Gonzalinho