Happy National Heroes' Day. I think it's time to get serious about what it means to be a hero. There are many times people are declared heroes or heroines for the wrong reason. What makes a hero? This is a person who's admired for achievements and noble qualities. Unfortunately, in a culture of impunity one could see how many times that some Filipinos make heroes or heroines out of the wrong people.
Right now, you have some people who are making it look like Leila Dilemma is a political prisoner and a heroine for democracy when she isn't. It turns out that her Bilibid raid was a sham. If she really cleaned Bilibid then why is there so much dirt? It's like sweeping all the dirt under the carpet. Although the numbers of rallyists supporting her may be surprisingly (or not surprisngly) low but it can be seen some people still want to present her as a prisoner of conscience. Is that any act of heroism to play selective justice?
Activist groups like Migraine International has declared heroes out of the wrong people. If you think about it just think of how they have made a heroine out of the obviously guilty Flor Contemplacion. Years later, they also portrayed the three drug mules executed in China as three new heroes for the Philippines. That alone makes me think that Migraine could be connected with drug syndicates. It's really disturbing how Migraine would make such crooks into heroes for their stupid cause.
I'm starting to have doubts on whether or not Ninoy Aquino was a hero. What people can be certain his son Noynoy isn't one. You should be amazed to think how being an Aquino or related to them may guarantee you a seat in power. It's stupid to claim to hate political dynasties all the while you're supporting the Aquinos. The Aquinos are declared heroes all because they are Aquinos. I guess some people would be stupid enough to wish for a Kris Aquino presidency though her relevance is already dying.
Not to mention we have impunity lovers who are declared as "heroes". It reminds me of how Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre went from "my new hero" to "my new enemy" because he wasn't an impunity lover. But people like Cheato Gascon tend to confuse human rights with the love for impunity. The Commission on Human Rights should be an office to defend those violated by impunity and not an office to defend impunity. But it has become the norm that impunity lovers are also considered heroes. I don't see anything heroic about making heroes out of people who refuse to follow simple guidelines. Instead of encouraging people to submit to authority whenever applicable they tend to glorify any act of rebellion over any "act of tyranny" even when there's none.
Still a Happy National Heroes Day?
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