Yes, I make sure I don’t make myself a liability to my fellowmen and our beloved country. – Geoffrey Gumban, Davao City
No, I’m a coward who only humbly contributes to the peace, sanity and growth of my beloved country. – Nick Campaner, Tacloban
Little big heroes
The most heroic thing I have done in my life was when I became “mother and father” to my two siblings because my mother went to Manila for cancer treatment. I never thought that it was really hard to carry a great responsibility but I managed. I consider my parents the heroes of my life because of their struggles and hardships for us. – Alyssa Grace Gelongo, Bacolod
As a public servant, my being a good example to my fellows is already a form of heroism. – Joana Dizon, Zambales
Yes, we all have, in some way or another, in our own little way. There are a lot of unsung heroes among us who are selfless and good. – Eric Gopilan, Taguig City
I’m proud to be heroic for being a dutiful taxpayer and a good citizen who obeys the laws of the motherland. – Dave Velasco, Marinduque
I live and survive in this lupa ng araw with its yearly floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, and devalued pesos, but I’ve never entertained the idea of immigrating or aiming to become a citizen of another country. I worked, raised a family; my children are all working in this duyan ng magiting, this lupang hinirang does not need any heroes. It badly needs good, loyal, and law-abiding Filipinos. – Rey Onate, Palayan City
Paying income and value-added taxes is something I consider heroic as that amount could have gone a long way for the upkeep of my family. – C.T. Galang, Cavite
If being heroic is helping others and risking my own safety, I haven’t done anything because I am matalote, a Kapampangan term for cowardly. However, being heroic doesn’t only mean being matapang. It also means doing good in the coldness of the night. Here in our place, there are many who sleep in pushcarts and in junk jeepneys. I instruct my household help to give them food or anything else they may need. – Rose Leobrera, Manila
Modesty aside, I’ve done some heroic acts in my life in consonance with the virtues of brotherly love, relief. and truth of the Masonic craft and the 12 Scout laws of the APO fraternity. – Elpidio Que, Vigan
Isn’t being a role model heroic enough? Isn’t speaking up or fighting for the right things one heroic act? No matter how small or simple it is, as long as it’s for the good, it’s heroic. Each of us has our own share of heroism. – Imee Aglibot, Rizal
It’s enough to do good things for the welfare of some people to be called a hero. – Jen Bayona, Negros Occidental
Not really in a grand scope. I wish I had the same opportunity Justice Jose Abad Santos had. – J. Sandico, Pampanga
Our OFWs are heroic for their non-clergical spreading of Christianity abroad. – Carlos Nepomuceno, Zambales
Yes, by extending assistance to someone I didn’t even know who badly needed help. – S.C. Tomines, Tarlac
All my life I’ve always been kind. Little acts of everyday kindness make me feel heroic. – Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte
I guess so. Molding the youth to be patriotic and to be good citizens is something heroic isn’t it? You don’t have to die for our country. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan
Heroism lies inside every person. Heroism is a matter of being true and responding to the best of your ability to whatever situation. Every time I stand before students as a teacher or resource speaker, I do whatever it takes to make them understand the lessons in the light of present realities, helping them to discern better and develop their judgment. This is heroism. – Edwin Monares, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
If standing up to beliefs and principles unswervingly in life is considered heroic, then I have been many times. – Robert Young, Jr. San Juan
Yes, I did something heroic when I was in high school. I returned a wallet filled with cash and also a cellphone. Being honest and respectful of others is enough to become a hero. – John Paul Militante, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
What for?
I’ve never done something heroic. It won’t please anybody. – Loi Castillo, Davao City
Not that I know of, but to do something heroic under our grave political and social conditions isn’t worth it. Sayang lang ito. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City
Saving lives
By the grace of God, yes, I was the instrument of a heroic act by saving three lives. I still vividly remember that fateful day in February when the taxi my daughter and I were riding almost crashed, head-on, into a stalled car on C-5 road. My timely prayer and loud scream jolted the driver who instinctively swerved to the left, missing the stalled car by a hairline! It was a close encounter with death. The driver was profuse in thanking me for saving his life. He admitted to having fallen asleep while driving. – Myrna Militante, Quezon City
In the winter of January 1981, I saved a drowning 240-pound Belgian who was fishing with his young son in the Calai-s river. – Gil Planas, Davao City
I saved two people from drowning in separate occasions. I didn’t think of heroism but just obliged myself out of necessity. – Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City
Yes, I once saved a security guard’s life. – Divino Dionisio, Laguna
Seeing a burglar with his loot come out from my neighbor’s house, I gave chase and caught the culprit several blocks away. I felt nervous only when the police arrived. – Ric Vergara, Calamba
During the teen years I spent in my hometown, I had a couple of brushes with death rescuing a friend from a raging river and preventing a “fight to the death” knife duel, all by myself. Looking back, however, those incidents are not my favorite stories for my children since I have a few other less heroic, but more romantic acts. – Felix Ramento, Nueva Ecija
Call me an Inbox hero
Yes, when I rendered poll duties, being a classroom teacher then. Now, more so, being an Inbox World texter. – Romeo Caubat, Masbate
Yes, by sending my critical views to Inbox, which makes me a marked man for some politicians, for the good of the country. – Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City
Heroism is in the eyes of the beholder. It can feel heroic to see one’s opinion printed in Inbox. – Ed Medenilla, Pangasinan
Fake heroism
Heroic acts are never planned nor intended as self-proclaimed heroes may gain derision instead of adulation. Note Marcos’ medals for alleged heroic acts during the World War 2. It was documented by Alfred McCoy that such medals were granted based on affidavits made after the war about his alleged exploits which were belied by those whose presence in such events where Marcos claimed some participation, remained uncontested and well attested by existing war records here and abroad. – William Gonzaga, Marikina City
Try getting married
Have I ever done something heroic? Yes, I got married. – Ric Go, Quezon City
The most heroic act I did was marrying my ex-wife in ’79. No kidding. When we met again, she was so depressed and suicidal that my ex-guru told me, “Call her up now or you’ll regret it!” So, I did, and thwarted her plan to blow her head off by midnight. My guru then told me to invite her over and we had a “spiritual marriage.” We separated 16 months later. – Gerii Calupitan, Mandaluyong City
Marrying your wife is heroic. That’s why you are paraded on your wedding day! – P. Caguioa, Pangasinan
Haven’t had the chance
In the 48 years of my life, I’ve never had the opportunity to do a heroic act. – June Deoferio, Taguig City
When we say heroic, it refers to something you’ll die for! I haven’t done anything heroic yet because our poor country doesn’t need heroes, but only the truth regarding today’s political issues. – Jeneveb Destacamento, Bacolod City
Not that I know of, and if I did, I haven’t noticed it. – Joel Caluag, Bulacan
I’d rather not talk about it
So far, I’ve not yet done something heroic. If ever I do, I’d rather keep it a secret. – Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City
I’ve done many heroic things, but I don’t boast about it in public because God is my sole witness for my countless heroic deeds. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City
I don’t think I have; perhaps if I had, it’s something I shouldn’t be talking about. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban
Let us not judge ourselves. Acts of heroism come when we least expect them, when what we have done are acts of chivalry. – Cris Rivera, Rizal
If I ever have, I better keep it to myself and just let others do the talking. – Gerry del Cano, Tarlac
I may sound egocentric if I say I have, but too naive if I say I haven’t. How about other issues worth sharing with others? – Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City
Fighting for what I believe in
Yes, I was a recipient of a Bronze Cross Medal for demonstrating heroism, courage and bravery during a gun battle. – P. Alagano Sr., Vigan
I have done many good things, particularly when, as President of the Student Council, I fought for the rights of students fearlessly. Is that heroic? – Leo Villa, Laoag City
Yes, I have. During my activist days in the first quarter of the 70’s, I led some colegialas to block traffic at the Malacañang gate. – Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan
Never again
I helped a girl in distress, but I got mauled by a limping policeman named Diokno instead. When the girl came to her senses, she told Diokno it was my group that saved her from her molesters. Unless it involves a relative, I’ll never play hero again. – Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan
THINKING OUT LOUD
Where’s Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and his aging veterans group? Sir, ibinenta na ni PGMA ang VMMC. Tahimik na lang ba kayo? – Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City
Has stringent Beijing executed, incarcerated or even investigated any official of ZTE yet? Check it out. Somebody, please. – Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City
Erap wants to run again. What’s wrong with him? Wala na ba siyang maisip na maganda? Maawa ka naman sa bayan! – R. Veloso, Cebu City
THE WAY I SEE IT
Panfilo Lacson is so desperate to have PGMA ousted, he will use all kinds of allegations and hearsay to justify his search for truth daw. – Roger Solano, Cavite
From a crying man, Jun Lozada is now sporting a wide smile like a cat who swallowed a patriotic canary/money, courtesy of the opposition. – M. Azanza, Makati City
In the last hearing on NBN-ZTE, Ramon Sales had excellent suggestions on how to prevent government corruption but he was cut off. This shows that the Senate is not really interested in legislative work or they would have paid him more attention. – Nony de Leon, Malolos
Sen. Lacson should be circumspect in treating his witnesses who’ll always be exposed to the influence of Malacañang. He should do it clandestinely. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City
As I said in Inbox earlier, there’s nothing new that the “investigators” in the long ongoing Senate circus have extracted from their much-ballyhooed new witnesses. Itigil na yan! Dalhin na sa korte! – I. Calata, Parañaque City
REACTIONS
To A. Atienza: Only the military can unite us? Forgot dictator Marcos? We’ll have the peace and unity of the graveyard. – C. Yakal, Kalinga
I am just curious. Where is Ludwig Aguinaldo, our Inbox no. 1 texter? I don’t read his views now unlike before. Where is he? – Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan
To Edwin Castillo: Same here. I will not vote for Lozada even if he runs for barangay tanod in 2010. Lozada is an economic saboteur, rumor monger, black propagandist, and a cheap gossiper and opportunist pretending and masquerading as a “hero” and “patriot”. He tours schools agitating and fomenting hatred and anger against our government. Education Sec. Lapus should do something to stop him from “early campaigning” and sowing hatred among our young students. – Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales
Tumaas na naman ang presyo ng mantika, de lata, karne, etc. So where’s the overrated improved economy? Any answer, Mr. Alex Magno? – Carlo dela Cruz, Bulacan
To P. Ilagan: You are right. Jinggoy’s rudeness just shows where he is from. – Debbie Genato, Quezon City
To Mr. Pascual: Hindi lang sa Edsa, pati dito sa Cavite abusado rin ang mga pulitikong sipsip kay Gloria. – T. Sanez, Cavite
Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.
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