In the play, The Life of Galileo, German playwright, Bertolt Brecht, had the character of Galileo say: “Unhappy is the land that needs heroes”. This quote has often been invoked by many a writer, conveying a message of disarray, of shortcomings and the redemption that followed or the lack of it, or the implementation of new methodologies with their numerous benefits, or the inception of valuable creativity and discoveries in science and medicine, arts and culture, by which man’s meaningful life is enhanced and strengthened, if not defined. In the play, it was a correction to a statement delivered by another character, who said, “Unhappy is the land that has no heroes”. Quite clearly, should there be a need for a hero, something needs fixing; something is causing harm; something is stagnant and requires ebullient energy to facilitate improvements or, in a more somber angle, the state of human sensibilities has exceedingly advanced to a moldering state, perhaps even down to simple living, in which relationships and interactions can change surprisingly from the mundane, tame and discerning, to the profligate, vitriolic and catastrophic.When the Nazi Buchenwald concentration camp was being liberated on April 11, 1945, 18-year-old Feodor Mikhailichenko, a Russian, shielded 8-year-old Israel Meir Lau, nick named Lulek, from German gunfire. He stole and cooked potatoes for this very young lad, and knitted him wool earmuffs to protect him from the bone-penetrating cold. The Russian looked after him daily like a father, and was befittingly proclaimed hero by the boy.
We all know the tragedy of that period, and plainly, of evil dreams’ devastating claws. They can consume a family, a group, a community, a country.
Not straying farther from home, Efren Penaflorida, a new, modern-time hero has responded to the circumstances of his period, scrutinizing, feeling, and grappling with the challenges of a familiar, yet, abhorrent environment, though instrumental in tapping his humanitarian and creative skills for the sake of many.
Filipino history books cite quite a number of heroes. To have so many, speaks of the depth of oppression, and of how much normalcy and decency have eluded the daily life of a nation. Our heroes depict the conditions of their time, conditions that prompted brave tirades and clenched fists aching in hopelessness and yearning for justice, whilst most citizenry recoiled in fear, whilst laughter escaped victimized homes, whilst reforms seemed far-fetched, and whilst human intellect and emotions could no longer endure. Dilemmas replaced peaceful minds; persecution invited sacrifices instead of submission. What dire circumstances!
Heroes need not only be for the multitude, though certainly for posterity. Most of us can name a personal hero, one unknown to others, but to us, it is the blood that flows in our veins. And there are unnamed heroes whose souls were never trumpeted, nonetheless, as important, worthy of respect and praise. From them, surely: a moment saved, an adversity avoided, a struggle ended and hope renewed.
In the better known version of heroism, while not unexpectedly because of the number of beneficiaries involved, the hero’s choices entail hard work and commitment. Imperatively, there is character. His options have roots originating from situations that deteriorated over time. Ignorance, profligacy, protean coalition of ideas compromising egalitarian ethos, selfish ambitions, poor governance, crime, and many more human weaknesses are triggers for either good or more evil to arise. We rejoice at the good that springs; but, this needs facilitators, and to the fullest extent, heroes. But why does man push things too far or neglect responsibilities that a hero should come to the rescue? Why not aim for the best so that if things do not go a hundred per cent, the degree of failure is not penetratingly disastrous. Why not prefer and mold an environment where most, if not all, can live in peace and be happy. Why not at least work sincerely and with dignity towards it. It is not impossible. Happy is the land where no heroes travail.
By: Jenny
28 comments:
Thanks Ms. Jenny.
It is a beautiful article.
Heroes are panacea to the troubled world where there are suffering, they are not far behind.
Unfortunately there are more calamities, hardships, and deprivation than there are heroes.
Further, heroes are not heroes where they don't travail.
That's why heroes travail. So their presence means there's hard work to do.
That's why when there is no need for heroes, the place's or land's hardship is manageable or simple put, a happy place.
Rather, or simply put, a happy place.
Great literary piece, Ms. Jenny.
Igua daw qui may mga mapurot kan trabaho para sa ikakapakarhay kan pagbuhay sa Bacon? Con igua, paki-ubay man tabi ang krimen nang ang tamang pamumulitika.
Ms. Jenny,
Tama ka man na kung maray an kinab-an; dai ta kaipohan ang Heroes.
Kung daing marara-ot na gibo, daing pagsarakit; dai ta kaipohan ang Heroes.
PERO: Dakol ang mararaot, pagsarakit nan bakong perpekto ang tawo nan ang kinab-an na pighihiruan kan tawo...kaya kaipohan ta ki HEROES.
Charity begins at home. So is heroism. Start with mundane things, small kindness to family, poor struggling relatives and volunteer service to community. Heroism need not have to be grandiose. Heroism is simply a selfless act of humanity.
I agree with you Loma.
I also believe that there are accidental heroes that emerge in time of calamities.
Yes La Loma, one's mettle or weakness is truly tested in times of danger and calamities.
Ms Jenny
Yes, very beautiful article as one said, great literary piece another one said. But we are going too far...How will this great literary piece would help BACON folks? What is its relevance to the problem that we had here in Bacon? Like what Ruben said, CALAMITIES, HARDSHIPS, DEPRIVATION, POVERTY. As GURANG said, WITH YOUR GREAT MASTERPIECE, could it give job opportunities, tamang pamumulitika,(right time for the 2010 election) poverty alleviation in Bacon resulting to rampant crime occurrence? And look at the local news shown in this blog, NPA atrocities happening almost weekly. Talking of Heroes? There are many in Bacon. We had that here in Bacon. Only they are not publicized nor sensationalized nor given due recognition. No need to read foreign article, quote it and motivate somebody here to become hero. Heroism is instinct in every man, when danger comes.
Great article? I dont think so....
Sabi digdi sa plasa (for info igwa naman digdi ki internet shop), ano itong nabasa mo? An simbag "INDA".
Salamat sa komentaryo Taga kuta:
Iyo mananggad na lagpas sa payo su article ni Ms. Jenny.
Kaya an advise sa iya baba-babaan tanganing siya masabutan kan ordinaryong mentalidad.
My dear Taga kuta,
Still it is a beautiful article.
If you think it is not good enough to your taste, so be it.
But may we invite you to write an article in this blog about your issues in Bacon. You seem to have a lot of idea with what is happening in Bacon.
You can use your pseudonym if you are a little bit shy.
To Taga Kuta, Contrarian:
Please write an article in your style, in the manner you think its constructive, something that is truly helpful. Your criticism per se will be meaningless too without a positive alternative.
To Nakasabot: (This will be in two parts)
Thank you. True, there are many evil things in this world, majority are man-made. Man and the world are two flawed elements. Combined, it makes life imperfect. This imperfection leads to two roads. As much as it is a motivation for man to invent, to reinvent, to empathize, to positively alleviate his conditions at least, to delve deeper into what his purposes are in this world, and to discover what life really means, so is it also an overused rationalization for his indiscretions, negligence, and intended choices . The latter is more convenient to lean on if the only assertion we can grasp is the human nature to err and to survive; nothing more, man reduced to mere physicality. But there is more than just to survive. There is interaction and connectivity from the past to present and into the future, from one person to another.
Man’s imperfection and therefore, predisposition to wrong or bad things is more convenient to assert and comforting enough to use in order to evade responsibility and accountability, rather than explore the depth and usefulness of his intelligence and his capacity to do what is good. The definitive statement, “We are not God” or “Nobody is perfect” is always handy so that wrong choices we make give a semblance of correctness and this thrusts us and our actions to a certain validity, one we conditioned ourselves to believe. This solicits a wider accommodation, which over time, gratifies bad beliefs, disguised, self-defeating social programming, habits of indolence, and aversion to communal, humanitarian, egalitarian goals. We become saturated with it. This acceptance is passed on to the next generation and any identification of any notion of what can be done ideally is sneered at may be deemed unrealistic, not workable, an impossibility. The overuse and convenience of accepting this predisposition has sadly led or contributed to a world of more confusion and chaos. At this point, and after all what we have done wrong, without or with very minimal effort to correct or avoid bad things, we rely on the existence of individuals who could undo the terrible effects of our negligence, complacency, indiscretions and bad choices. And of course, these individuals are heroes. Today, because of the presence of so many, overpowering things going wrong and bad, anybody who does something good, be it in what should be normally ethical, moral and prudent thing to do, becomes a hero……and indeed, heroes galore, publicized or not, local or foreign. This is somehow different from somebody who saves a life in the middle of calamities and fire; or somebody who donates blood or an organ in order to let somebody live. Even these seemingly uncontrollable scenarios may have more to what meets the eye. Examples: Did somebody or a system of governance fail in meeting the responsibilities assigned that these calamities created so much havoc, rather than just minimal effect? Were the systems or infrastructure that should be in place weak because initial negotiations in establishing them were undermined by graft and corruption, by tax evasion (taxes are supposed to be used to fund several social services and welfare systems), by harassment, by selfish motives?
The theme of my article is about man not plunging deeper into misfortunes such as poverty, ignorance, deceit, hatred, social discrimination, crime, discord, improper governance and many others, which to a certain extent could lead to rebellion, wars, and the deterioration of the life line of the majority of citizens……....at which stage, we call for heroes, our panacea (magic potion, cure-all, universal remedy). How many really are apt to the challenge? The way I see it, with all the unpleasant things still happening, a lot worsening, with all the complaints tossed left and right, there are not that many heroes to go around. It is not desirable to have demand exceed supply……. So, why not do something better, elevate standards, character specially because it is the foundation of every action, every choice, so that comfortably, man can hold the panacea.To Nakasabot: (Second Part)
To everyone with misgivings re this article or anything I have posted (regardless of the possibility that comments or remarks may come from only one person with several aliases):
First
Bacon is dear to me, closer than anyone would know, better thought of than some Bacongnons do.If not for these sentiments, I won’t be a contributor.What matters is what I can contribute to Bacon given the limitations I have.To some people, material things, tokens and even the physical presence of a person in action are the only measurement, conceptualization or manifestation of help or assistance – this is very short-sighted in my opinion. What if the person has irremediable constraints that the only assistance that he/she can give are recommendations or words, not mean ones in both tone and syllables, but motivational, constructive or informative or something that either way, originates from sincere and true, good intentions.
Second
The administrator(s) of this blog informed me:
1) that any manner of writing, provided it is not meant to harm and within the norms of decent intent, is acceptable; it could be informative, inspirational, factual, poetic, spiritual or just plain narratives of experiences that could relate to the better purposes of man in general.Surely, you have seen what others have contributed to this site: poems, religious interpretation by a seminarian of ordinary living or challenges man faces, political information, gay rights, sports particularly a team whose impact or benefit to Bacon is vague if not nil, etc.(How come Taga Kuta never threw in any unfavorable, sarcastic comments to these essays?)
2) that variety is necessary to serve participants’ different tastes, beliefs, dispositions (emotional, mental, spiritual)
Third
All my articles posted on this blog have relevance to life in Bacon or any democratic environment (it’s my choice), if only the reader would concentrate on the message(s) or meaning and not on petty things that do not suit his/her taste; if only the reader would be open-minded and be accommodating. I do not expect everyone to conform with my thoughts or sentiments, but there is a way of expressing this properly.My style may different from others, but who or what isn’t in this world? Otherwise, I might as well sign my articles as “Taga Kuta” or “Contrarian”, should there be a rule that no other style is acceptable but that, that would suit Taga Kuta’s tastes or any Bacongnon’s style.It’s not that there is no other way of understanding any article or passages or sentences written by anyone.If things are vague or not understandable, there is no harm in asking politely. What is wrong with that? In my case, I would gladly reply or explain.
Fourth
I am not a computer addict; life has so much to offer aside from technology.What this means is that I may not touch my keyboard for more than a week, a month or two.I do not have so much time to spare; more often than not, the Administrator(s) of this blog has to request for my contribution.Because of personal constraints, I pick the options that for me, would facilitate an earliest delivery of an article or essay.(Understand that these options are not the same for every person because of so many factors; style, language, availability of familiar topics included.)I am not always putting this blog or any websites under my radar and for this, I am sorry that I could not address questions promptly. Surely, I would in due time.
Fifth
The world has groups of different people and Bacon has its own; but our only link if ever, is our love for humanity, decency, peace and harmony.These have always been my underlying themes.If they did not come across clearly, question them, but do it on these same premises…or ask for some help if indeed you are sincere to know the true meaning and purpose.
Relax and let’s have fun as we help Bacon
To Taga Kuta: I am breaking my reply in parts because this blog accepts only a certain number of words per remark. (Thank you by the way for sparing some time to read my article and comment on it)
First Part:
Your question: “How will this great literary piece would help Bacon folks?”
My reply: First of all, you could have avoided the sarcasm in your question. You don’t think it is a great article and I respect that because when I started this piece or any other article I have written, there were no thoughts of accolades; otherwise, I would have chosen to be identified properly so that the honor and glory would be complete. I want to remain as is. If others find this a good or great piece, I am grateful.
Now, to the other part of your question: Check the premise on which the article is explored. So as not to repeat, refer to my comments addressed to Nakasabot. Heroes are needed when things are no longer manageable in the normal course; meaning, the situation is exceptionally bad or the current signs of absolute harm, be it short-term or long-term are transparent and there is more work to do with nobody or just a few to handle the rebuilding or solution required. In the process towards the deterioration (this takes time, may be several years in the making) of daily living people are hurt, victimized and hope erodes. Push them further and you beget rebels, thieves, unscrupulous politicians and immorality skyrocket in different aspects of life. The youth becomes confused, and during their tender years, they look up to models that would lead them to the future and if what they see are bad examples, they would be the ones to perpetuate the same old habits, practices, negligence, complacency and indolence. As a result, you have a stagnantly weak place. There may be some new infrastructure, but the integrity that should support it is loose. Because of this, sooner or later, new problems arise or old ones never disappear. Bacon has many challenges and adversities, but not in short supply of intelligent people, who could be creative and resourceful to help address its misfortunes, particularly poverty and poor governance…...before things truly get out of hand. In my own little way, perhaps my articles could move or tweak some Bacongnon readers to analyze what’s going on in Bacon and if not collaboratively come up with something to improve it, at least avoid becoming part of the problem. Avert any degenerative social, civic, political, economic and spiritual dispositions and mindsets. Be open-minded and receptive to change, productive change. Refrain from perpetuating habits that have proven to be setbacks. Ignore all these and Bacon or any struggling place will find it tediously difficult or painfully slow to move productively.
Your question: “What is its relevance to the problem that we had here in Bacon?”
My reply: Simple, the article lays out why heroes exist. Why they become the panacea and how do we hold this panacea back (refer again to the above explanation).
To Taga Kuta and by the way, Contrarian, you might want to browse as well.
Second Part:
More explanation: You interpreted GURANG’S remark erroneously. He/she understands the article by emphasizing, not in your own way, but his/hers, by wondering if there would be a hero who could pick up or shoulder the responsibility or hard work of leading Bacongons towards improvement. He/she is also requesting that in the process of doing the hard work, this person or hero may somehow include addressing crime and correct the existing political practices.
You talk of many heroes in Bacon, then why is it continually deteriorating in the most sensitive areas important to the life line of Bacongnons? Why are there so many complaints in this blog alone? Are you one of these heroes? You contradict yourself. You mention crimes, the NPAs and poverty. Where are the heroes you are mentioning that should be looking after these? Maybe the heroes you know are personal heroes of perhaps, one or two individuals or a small group. And they are important and commendable, don’t get me wrong again. Well, I know of a very small group: the poor children of Bacon who receive donations, not substantial, but at least something, from a very small group of donors, not heroes by the way, because it’s just the right thing to do----share blessings. Maybe some of these poor children are sons or daughters of struggling parents with nowhere to go, no one to rely on. Are donations sufficient to last the lifetime of these children? Do these donations extend to the full well-being and future of the parents of these children? When donations stop does proper governance in Bacon have a back-up support to fill the gaps? Where would the families of these children fall back to if ever---to crime, to gangs, to rebel memberships? Would parents recommend their children to become maids and handy men for dirty politicians? Would they be slaves to the notion of the everlasting “utang na loob” in which one does not have any choice but to balance his/her life on this premise with inconspicuous inhibitions for progress? I could go on and on. And there are other good works by good-hearted individuals or maybe associations. However, are these works “band-aids” meant to improve one’s life temporarily? I am not underestimating the contributions of some Bacongnons because surely any help is still help, but what I am trying to say is, there should be some permanency to avert or significantly diminish hardships and atrocities, to improve the moral, economic, ethical and spiritual fabrics of the Bacon society.
The mention of foreign elements in my article is for emphasis, to support what I am trying to explore; that the core of problems and hardships are almost the same, local or foreign. It all starts in the most mundane, almost unrecognizable at first----bad character. Then it snowballs from there. (To explain this further will require a lot of space again)
No need for motivation? Check again. Besides, what articles do you really want posted on this blog----The indiscretions and negligence of politicians and of Bacongnons responsible for the well-being of Bacon; the never-ending complaints with no solution at hand or something to look forward to; the nostalgic languishing in the memories of the good old days, which should have imbedded some solidarity beneficial to the majority, but did not? How much of these should be repeated and how often really? We are going in circles. Why don’t you submit an article and indicate that it should be the right theme.
By the way, man’s foremost instint, especially in danger, is to survive. If every man’s instinct is heoism, the world, including Bacon would have few problems. (Again, I can explore this further but space is necessary)
Enjoy!....or not...
Ms. Jenny, your reply could not be more clearer.
Thank you so much for caring to explain. I feel more enlightened, indeed.
Thank you Ms. Jenny for the masterful rebuttal. Love it.
Ako man may sasabihon, maski primero at ngonyan man sa na.
May mga tawong dapat tabangan. Igua ki dapat salbaron. Igua man ki dai nang maski diit na pagasa, na sa sadiring maraot na pagkatawo, naglalapa na sa sadiring salang paguugali. Ang karaotan ka ini, nakadamay man su ibang dapat tabangan. Ta ang Bacon nagsasakit, madaliunon makatapon ang naglalapang Bacongnon. Kon dai nang muyang magtabang sa Bacon, free for all na sana. Niyaon na magharabasan, maggaradanan, magrulukuhan nandangan magirinutan kon sisay ang makamalisya na pigluluko. Maski paryentes magdurunungan bacong magtarabangan. Su may inadalan diit o dakula na makatabang bubutungon paibaba kan nauuri. Su iba hababa ang paghiling sa mga tawong daing inadalan , maski maray ang buot at may pagisip na diretso ining dai nag-adal. Su nagbabanal-banalan, pigagamit ang spiritwal tanganing masabing maray na tawo, bago tagawagwag kan personal na impormasyon kan kapwa niya taga suriyaw kan bata kan kataning niya maski daing prewba. Su daing prinsipiyong namumulitika na dai man ki kakayahn para mapamugtak sa marhay ang Bacon, nagkakandidato ta muya sanang maging sikat ta aram na dakul na Bacongnon ang muya man makisakay sa pagsikat niya. Iyo ini ang mga tawong dapat isalbar kan pigsasabing heroes?
To Bacongnong Nagiisip
Your comment is quite biting. Though there is certainly some truth in it, it is focus more on the cegative and the cynical.
I am a Bacongnon and I am definitely sure the majority of Bacongnons are good though poor and certainly needs a hero.
matagal ng pobre ang Bacon. nagpapatunay na tutuong igua ki deperensiya na sa katamaran, at makasariling kapabayaan ng mga dapat mag-asikaso kan Bacon e hindi na umunlad ito sa nararapat na landasin at patutunguhan. meron akong nabasa ditong mga paalala at rekomendasyon, bakit hindi magpulong ang mga may malasakit upang maumpisahan man laang ang kahit na anong makatabang. pero, naiintindahan ko rin kung nata ta daing nasulong na magasikaso. sisay mananggad ang pagkakatiwalaan sa Bacon kundi diyot-diyot man sana, tapos kung bacong gurangonon at maluya na e daing kapit sa may position. hilinga nindo ining mga pagsurat ni Jenny ta pigiinsulto. ano ang ginibuhan kan tawong ini ta garo nagkabaraldi ang nagbarasa kan sinurat niya. palagay ko ta mili nakasurat ki maray, nakalagpas sa kaaraman kan may purupayo man na Bacongnon tapos sa kaurihan ininsulto na sana si Jenny. o kung hindi naman, igua ki may tinamaan sa mga pagsurat ni Jenny. ay, sayang kan mga Bacongnon na mayroon ding kabutihan pero napapangibawbawan ng karamihang dai nagiisip para sa gabos kundi pansadiri sana.
To Puedeng Makisali:
Thank you for your comment which has depth and substance.
First of all, thank you so much Jenny. I wish i can express myself as eloquently as you do.
I have only came across this site a couple of days ago and enjoyed reading the articles very much..
I am not highly educated but i read a lot to educate myself. Our young people there in Bacon, thanks to the internet have now more opportunities than ever before to read and learn to their hearts' content all about the world outside Bacon..
They must be encouraged to read in english because it is the language of the world we live in..It is to their benifit if they understand articles written in english such as the article you shared with us here..Because if they understand the article, they will know the quality of the person who post it..and there are no books of enlightenment that are written in Bacongnon..
I know that there are those who believe that if one writes in english, one must be putting self up higher than everyone else..To those who understand, this is not so..This mentality is one of the many things we need to unlearn..We can not continue to hold our young ones back where we the adults have been imprisoned for so long..
To learn new mindset, we need to unlearn layers of beliefs that kept us stagnant..We the adults who are in our fifties, must find heroes amongst the children who are 35 years old and below, because the future belongs to them.Our's is only the present..
We, the Bacongnons in diaspora, let us make it a mission to do whatever we can to help enlighten our young people..It is a waste of our precious time to interact with those whose energy are only devoted to criticisms and playing the blame game..V*E
Thank you, Anonymous. I truly mean well. And you are right; there are many of our fellowmen who seem to be contented with the usual, unproductive old ways including those of better living, acquiring information and knowledge: spoon-fed. The Bicolano term I think is IHUNGIT/HUNGITON. Things have to be easy; no finger or brain muscle or neuron to be moved as much as possible. It’s inviting judgment day when you deviate a little or share something different so that there is progress even at a snail’s pace; so that you open a path that perhaps a young mind would be interested to investigate, to research, to explore and move even just a little to know what is preventing him/her from advancing. There are many, many intelligent Filipinos and Bacon has many to offer; but, the old habits are inhibiting and our children are trapped by these persistent mindsets. By expressing this, unwelcoming, old dispositions may equate it to the surrender of valuable civil, ethical, and moral values ----- this alone is ignorance! Pity the children who absorb our “degenerative” habits.
Many Filipinos have obtained success. Some are known outside of the country; but, it is a very unfortunate, sad fact that majority of our countrymen are not known internationally to hold impressive, if not better careers or occupations. Even in relation to other similar countries, the Filipinos seem to be tailing behind. In fact, the stereotypes are disheartening. It overrides whatever better accomplishments others have attained. The citizenry’s choice of politicians and the ever-entrenched graft and corruption are not helping either in uplifting the Filipino psyche or image abroad. But they are very good, reliable, hard workers, though very, very inhibited. Their frustrations are expressed through back-stabbing or whispered moaning. Very few become leaders, just followers. IHUNGIT MO whatever must be done. The few who break this in an honorable way deserve every admiration.
What is also disturbing is the fact these old, counter-progressive, inhibiting habits are exploited by manipulative politicians and leaders of all sorts in the country that forever nurtures them.
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