There are two ways to interpret the phrase National Heroes Day.
On one hand, we can see it as a day for national heroes. By this we mean those towering figures in our history, remembered for their courage and conviction. They made sacrifices in their personal lives for a greater cause and risked many things to bring about the change they wanted to see.
Their names are written on history books so that Filipinos do not forget their contributions to society and that the younger generations could emulate their good example.
On the other hand, we could also look at the occasion as a wide-scale — national — commemoration of heroes’ day.
These heroes need not be household names, and indeed we may not even know their names and faces. They are the individuals toiling every day in their jobs and consistently choosing to do the right thing despite the difficulties. They are the ones who fight fair even though no material rewards seem attainable despite their honest ways. Life remains hard.
For example, there are government workers who have spent decades on the job without ever really seeing a noticeable increase in their salaries. Around them, their bosses and colleagues seem to be prospering — and not through their official monthly pay.
There are media workers who stand by the principles that moved them to choose their career despite the lack of financial stability. They look for the truth and present this to the people, helping facilitate a healthy discourse. Despite the environment of mistrust of the profession, and despite the easier path to simply give in to other interests to secure their own economic standing, they stand their ground and quietly go about their work, eschewing the temptations of glamor, personal glory, or financial gain.
Sometimes the pressure comes not from outside parties but even from their peers or superiors.
The headlines that dominate our news cycles these days seem to outdo each other in terms of shock value. How could someone, for instance, live with their act of pocketing taxpayers’ money while ordinary people lose their lives and livelihood to flooding? But there are many among our officials who are in fact able to live with the consequences of their corruption – in fact, they are living it up in terms of lifestyle.
Astoundingly, these are the same people who pretend to champion good governance or applaud the admonition to stamp out corrupt in government. What an insult to our heroes who gave their lives for the nation.
As we mark this year’s National Heroes’ Day, may we follow the example of those who refused to take the easy path to success – if such is seen conventionally in terms of riches or fame. May we strive to align ourselves with the heroes who show up every day, live simply, and do the right thing despite temptation and despite the odds.
