Heroes

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

FOR a month now, Fe Mangahas and I have been mulling over what really makes a hero. She is doing a book on heroes, which for now constitutes of Philippine heroes such as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Gregoria de Jesus, etc. For now, we agree on one word, greatness.

The word greatness brings to mind a conversation I had on the occasion of the release of International Gallerie’s issue on the art and culture of the Philippines, an endeavor to strengthen ties between India and the Philippines, in commemoration of the 70th year of Philippine-Indian diplomatic relations. A local Filipino artist was discussing with me why he wants to become a National Artist, when Hon. Jaideep Mazumdar, Ambassador of India, came back to our table, making me repeat my earlier question.

“I was asking him, what makes one want to be a national artist?”

“It is but logical, isn’t it? I am already a Hall of Famer in the Palanca Awards. I want to be a National Artist to inspire others, to inspire myself to do greater work.”

“But,” the Ambassador said, quoting Shakespeare, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

Greatness.That is the key word for heroes and heroines as well. Greatness is the quality of being in “an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average”, the quality of being exceptional, eminent and exhibiting marked courage and daring (especially in battle). But this definition comes short when we speak of heroes.

Heroes must connect greatness with the values and wellbeing of others. That is why someone else’s hero may not be another’s because someone’s values and well-being may be detrimental to another. This is especially problematic in understanding war heroes.

In the Ilocos region, children jokingly repeat, “Isbo ni Pasyo a hero?”, a double-edged question relating to a teacher’s question, “Is Bonifacio a hero?” They understand the joke, but can hardly remember the heroism associated with Bonifacio, or any other hero for that matter. If students cannot relate heroes to their own lives and context, how else can heroes be relevant?

The problem with heroes is that they are imposed on a population that hardly knows about them. There is no attempt, like surveys about politicians, on finding out who their heroes are, or their definition of it. If a national survey is done today, what is the definition of a hero/heroine and who can they be? Since we are also globally-linked and culturally enmeshed in the digital age, are we also evolving a transnational hero?

It is indeed a challenge to find the heroes of today by asking those who truly need to be inspired by them, without being tempted to impose a traditional conceptual framework consistent with the writer’s own personal values.

Heroine

no one remembers, her name.

not the birds, or the bats

carelessly dropping gifts,

feces, on her face.

it stands there,

a monument of deeds

gathering moss, a muted story,

covered by the thickness of the vines.

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