Monday, March 16, 2009
Becoming a heroic being
Honestly, I've been whiling away time doing nothing. Well actually it's not nothing. I've read all the posts about Project Twitch and I've seen the efforts of other Pinoy bloggers in helping out Yanah in her crisis. My prayers are with you, Yanah.
What I was actually doing was checking on YouTube and watching the videos of and about Ninoy and Cory Aquino.
If you have time, watch the following videos:
- Ninoy's speech in Los Angeles on February 15, 1981 (there were a total of nine videos but if you'll only take time to watch them you'll get a few laughs and a whole lot of lessons from Ninoy);
- Ninoy's last recorded telephone call with his friend Steve Psinakis (you will be surprised by the revelations you will hear on this short phone call);
- The very eloquent Tina Monzon Palma hosted a documentary on Ninoy's assassination (a very engrossing report);
- Cory Aquino's speech at the US Congress in September 1986.
Heroes in littlest of ways
When we control our urge to spend because we wanted to help a relative finish through school, isn't it heroism?
When we assist someone complete a remittance form because he can't write well, isn't it heroism? (If you have in your hands five to six remittance slips from five to six of your friends who have no time to go to remittance centers because they're off watching 'Tayong Dalawa', you are not a hero; you are a goffer -- and I hope you get a service fee from what you're doing).
On a bus, if we give our seat to an elderly, isn't it heroism? (If you give your seat to someone you like, not to someone who needs it, you're not a hero. You're something else not worth mentioning).
If you help someone without anyone else knowing it, isn't it heroism? (Helping others in lieu of popularity, just like how politicians do it, is not something to be proud of).
If we become an example of kindness to a young child, isn't it heroism?
If we find a stranger a good job, isn't it heroism? (It doesnt' count if you're into professional recruitment; it counts if you find a job for your needy relatives).
If, by your acts and words, you changed a foreigner's negative view of the Philippines to something good, hey, you're my hero! (Because, no matter what the world's perception is of the Philippines, our country is not a big prostitution den and it's people are not corrupt and thieves).
Heroism has no place and time. Heroism is every second, every day, anywhere. OFW or not, we all have the makings of a hero.
So, when was the last time you became a hero?
I firmly believe that in this age of consumerism and everything instant, there are still Filipinos out there who are untiring in their efforts to share a little of themselves to others through every means possible. I'm honored by those people.
And so...let's ask:
(RJ, Super Gulaman and Kenjie commented prior to my writing the mid-section of this post. Nothing. I just thought it's worth mentioning, that's all).
Tama Kuya Nebz!
Sa kasalukuyang panahong naging makabago na rin pati ang ating mga laban at pakikibaka... hindi lamang ang mga nakapagsulat ng nobela, nakipaglaban sa mga Kastila, binaril sa Luneta o sa Pambansang Paliparan ng Manila ang mga itinuturing na bayani ng ating bansa...
Ang mga makabagong bayaning Pilipino'y hindi lamang makikita sa mga bilyete o nakaukit sa ating mga barya... sila ngayon ay ang mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, at 'yong mga Pilipinong nasa Pilipinas man o wala ay likas na matulungin sa kapwa- mga bayaning Pilipinong buhay na buhay, ating nakakasama at nakakasalamuha!
yan ang pinoy...san mansulok ng mundo...bayani sa knyang sariling paraan... hindi nya pababayaan ang kababayang nangangailangan...
^_^
Hahaha! Parang may mali po. o",)
PANDAIGDIGANG Paliparan ng Maynila po pala, hindi 'Pambansang'... Whew!
Nebz!!! Thank you may not be enough, but thank you anyway! I am so thankful po sa lahat ng tumulong financially or through prayer rally kay Ms. Twitch.
A lot of developments pa ang mga nangyayari and hope will have time to blog a post about it mamaya.
I owe this information for the people who selflessly offer their time, effort and kind support.
But still can't forget the time hearing someone's voice over the phone and actually seeing them, especially a blogger that you greatly admire.
What's more surprising, we just live in the same street in khobar!
hehe! Hope matuloy yung get together natin one time.
RJ, Super G and Kenjie:
Salamat sa comments! I agree with your points...
...because people shouldn't stop being everyday heroes!
pards! medyo huli ako sa balita tungkol kay yanah...
daan ako sa youtube.ayaw magbukas nung sa pc ko..di ko alam kung may virus natong pc.di ko rin mabuksan yung blog ni yanah.
Ever: Bz k kasi e. Salamat po sa dalaw. Pag hindi mo ma-open ung YouTube links, punta ka na lang derecho sa YouTube.
Yong kay Yanah, parang isinara yata nya for private viewing. Try nyo po ulit mamaya.
You can't be a hero unless you're dead. In my dictionary, giving a helping hand if yours are free, to those who are in need I call "empathy". A human trait which separate humanity from the other species. Ingrained to all good people who aren't touched or refused to be absorbed by society's maladies.
@ever, by invitation only na ngayon ang pag punta sa blog ni yanah. If you can't get in, that means hindi ka "invited". : D
Ed, hindi a!
I'm pretty sure your kids have once told you that you're their hero, right? Because, Ed, if you inspire others (like how you inspire me), you are a hero to them.
Sapul na sapol mo yan! So kahit paano pala ay hero ako sa mga kamag-anak, kaibigan at pamilya hehehe. Salamat sa magandang blog mo at namulat ang natutulog kong isipan sa usaping "heroism." Bayani ka Nebz :-)
Nebz, lugi ung tatlong naunang nag-comment... the mid part of the post said much on what daily heroism is.
When was the last time I became a hero? I felt I was a hero today! I have forgiven one staff who's supposed to be terminated but I accepted him back to work with me in my department... He doesn't deserve it but the soft spot in my heart kept on prodding to give him a chance. Like all other heroes, only time will tell and let time be the judge.
The world's battlefields have been in the heart chiefly; more heroism has been displayed in the household and the closet, than on the most memorable battlefields in history.
Very good blog parekoy! Malalim anf tusok!
Sardonyx: Hindi nga? Bayani ako? Hmmm...sasabihin ko sa nanay ko.
NJ: Very well put! Gusto ko yung line na "The world's battlefields have been in the heart...displayed in the household and the closet...". Parang ilagay ko ulit sa 'I'm blown!' page ko....
Hmm...maraming namamatay sa pagiging makabayan o pagtulong sa kabayan kaya nagiging bayani. Pero may mga bayani ding buhay...gaya nating mga OFW. (heheh). Siguro isang maliit na kabayanihang ginawa ko nung tinulungan ko ung kasamahan k0ng nurse na muntik ng magawan ng masama ng isang pasyente namin nung isang gabi. Nakakatakot pero kailangang maging matapang lalo na kung para ipagtanggol ang ating kaligtasan.
and since my second part, magcocomment din ako twice, nyehehe
There are a lot of heroism everyday. I agree with NJ, nasa heart yun. The choice is ours, exclusively ours, kung gusto natin maging bayani or maging villain. Pero not so much to others, within the walls of our home, or within us. Simple things like being true to yourself is heroism itself. Because of the lack of real heroes now a days, we tend to look at the cartoon characters or the dead among us.
Doing something worthwhile that will surely make a difference is another kind of heroism. You are one of them Nebz. The people and bloggers you touched are recipient and testament of that. I am one of them you touched.
I did start typing my entry for the topic, but confused if the theme is: when are you a filipino hero or
what does it mean to be a filipino.
So I just post it in my blog, and wonder if it is okey. Should I send it to whom first?
Anyway, it is for fun and to join the filipino activities without really expecting anything, hehe.
will update you if it is posted.
All the best to pinoy bloggers.