Every time the 21st of August comes around, we remember Ninoy. The image of that figure in white, falling at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport, which was later renamed in his honor, is still clear in our minds. And whenever we think about Ninoy, we think about the famous message he has for us: “The Filipino is worth dying for.”
If we are asked the question: “Who would you die for?” probably our answer would be, our children, our parents, some friends or even relatives. But it is not within the usual capacity of most Filipino citizens to die for people they don’t know, including those they don’t really like.
Minor altercations on the road, for example, are blown out of proportion, with some people ending up injured or dead. Adults, due to extreme poverty and muddled thinking, sometimes hurt even their own children. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! How can one even think of dying for some stranger?
And yet Ninoy, with the heart of a real hero who loves his people, said those words and meant them. We know he fulfilled the noble meaning of his words. It wouldn’t hurt if we would take a little inspiration not only from his famous line, but also from his life and death, at this time in our country’s history.
When it is difficult to understand our neighbors, much more tolerate them; when it is difficult to be compassionate toward those who kill and harm and spread violence—we need to unleash the hero inside us so we could recognize the value of our fellowmen. Ninoy saw this value in every Filipino. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said those words.
Now it is our turn to see the value in every Filipino. It is our turn to be the hero that this nation so badly needs.
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I would like to invite everyone to an art exhibit opening on August 25 at the Saturday Group of Artists Gallery, 4th level, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing. It will be an exhibition of Bahagi, a group of artists from the Saturday Group. I am part of this group and exhibit, together with the following artists: Amado “Ding” Hidalgo, Daisy Carlos, Inna Naanep-Vitasa, Mary Rose Gisbert, Nida Cranbourne, Rudy Lunod (Roma) and Tessie Picaña. We had our first group exhibit in 2011, and we are now ready to show to the world a new collection of artworks this month. I hope that you can come by and meet us on the 25th, or drop by the gallery while the artworks are still on display. Thank you very much for supporting Filipino artists and the local art community!