EDITORIAL— Moral compasses and role models

Today we celebrate National Heroes Day, the day set aside for those men and women who selflessly contributed to the founding, freedom, and development of the Philippines.

Off the top of our head we can name the most famous as well as what they were known for: Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Emilio Jacinto, Gabriela Silang, Marcelo del Pilar, Juan Luna, even Datu Lapulapu and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

We remember them today even in a world that’s fast becoming disconnected with “distant” historical figures representing a version of the Philippines many of us, especially the youth, are no longer familiar with.

Are our national heroes still relevant today? For us the answer is yes; we need them now more than even as moral compasses and role models for the young.

Following different incidents involving young people, including several school shootings, and various bomb and shooting threats, we feel that the youth have never become so lost and unpredictable as they are now.

Perhaps by looking at how our national heroes lived and died, they can gain some sense of national pride and an appreciation for what it’s like to live a life for others.

But then again it’s not just the youths who need a morale boost. No doubt many of us ordinary Filipino have become demoralized and disheartened by the never-ending political infighting and the non-stop scandals involving public funds.

We need to be reminded that not all Filipinos are corrupt. We need to be reminded that not all Filipinos stayed silent when the time came to speak up.

Make no mistake about this, our national heroes weren’t saints. They weren’t perfect. They were humans with their own weaknesses and biases. But that’s also what makes them ideal role models for the average person; they were common men and women who were still somehow able to achieve uncommon things.