Heroes were people, too

Remembering the ordinary Filipinos who lived extraordinarily well

- By DOM GALEON

It is no coincidence that August in the Philippines is a month for heroes and history. In this month, every year, there are several celebrations that highlight significant moments in the country’s past—milestones that mark the growth of what has now become the Filipino nation.

Yet, in this month dedicated to remembering how we got to where we are right now, oftentimes people get too caught up in what can be considered academic. For instance, the reason why National Heroes Day is celebrated on the last Monday of August is to commemorate the so-called Cry of Pugad Lawin, which has been considered as the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896. Reading about Pugad Lawin, one of the first things one might encounter is how historians have historically been unsure of where and when this “cry” happened. Some even debate whether there was indeed a “cry” or uproar, or if an actual shouting of some catchphrase happened.

History gets lost in the details, one might say.

One other fact that is often overlooked when it comes to honoring heroes is the reality that these men and women were exactly that—men and women. Heroes were people, too. They lived the same kind of lives most Filipinos have, felt the same type of feelings every person has, and experienced suffering in the manner that every human being does.