Then, we must be like this

ni Jian Carlo R. Gomez

Several years have passed, we still look forward to thresholds our mind set in what makes a hero really means nowadays. When someone says the hero, typically we ask ourselves what we should admire for in his noble achievements and qualities. He is someone devoted and extremely imposes his immense amount of capacity in serving his society while ensuring the well being of fellows. There is just one name compromise in our culture that was given his whole life for the inheritance of freedom and independence of his kababayan, no other than Jose Rizal.

Rizal leaves a momentous legacy in our nation which we still are experiencing even today. A heroism blood wrote its own historical movement that firmly resolves the virtue and reason for what is fighting in the sense of struggling against society and the vein of activism that continuously marched towards the status quo of survival generation. But today, several Filipinos do believe that being a hero needs to be the self sacrificing person just to deliberate his loyalty for the innovation of the nation’s future.  Thus it's really the basis of serving our country in act of heroism to offer one’s body and blood just to change the system of play here in our society? It is just an act of barbarism and martyrs, being a hero does not require leaving his existence to cover up the catalyst we’re experiencing and to conquer death, disease and war.

With the increased amount of awareness of these modern day heroes many people are inspired to become heroes themselves. Being a war fighter comes in multitude acts of hardships and consequences. They act as a model for the next generation of its own kind to ensure the capability of labeling as being a courageous figure in society. Heroes are not selfless leaders who follow the call of the needs; he didn’t put the life of others before his own.

Many people want to gain this qualification and characteristics to be like them too. But we should remember this; a hero is unique on his own guts, and of course, many people have already inner qualities that are possessed by these so called heroes. And sometimes, it requires of self crossing life which is you need to leave everything that you have before just to maintain and achieve your prime purpose in life; to serve for human involvement, to save your land from the colonizer and even alien cultivator and to give your life for your own country which need your comfort for an accomplishment which not be found in the book pages but instead to the heart of your fellows that will last until the next race of people who will strive hard just to take the query inside and out of the battle field.

It’s not about honor and excellence. It’s not about leaving a name in the history and stretches your work to flourish your name in the future. It’s about how you conquer the alien without anticipation and appreciation from your fellow because you will know that even you didn’t do that, a small space will occupy their hearts just to remember what you’ve done for the betterment of your salvation.

Bulan

ni Jian Carlo R. Gomez

Isa kang likha
Isa kang biyaya
Isa kang malaking piso
Isa kang malaking tipak ng keso

Isa kang ilaw
sa pundido kong tahanan
Isa kang pangarap
sa mga katulad kong hibang
Isa kang bantay
sa mga musmos sa lansangan
Isa kang mata sa mga bulag na sumpa
Isa kang tanglaw
sa mga iniligaw

Unti-unti'y kinukumutan ka ng mga ulap
Huwag kang magtago
Huwag kang umilap
Hinintay ko ang ika-dalawampu't anim ng Pebrero

Sa pagitan ng mga bundok
sa parang
sa bukid
sa dagat
sa paglubog ng araw
na nakatitig sa silangan

Dito lang pala kita muling makikita
Sa himlayang tahimik ng iyong ama at ina
Hihiramin kita panandalian
Maaari mo bang lisanin ang kalangitan
At lalong padilimin ang kalupaan?
Gusto kong namnamin ang pinagsamang alat
At tamis ng iyong katawan
Sa pagitan ng uwang sa kabundukan
Sa isang gabi, sandali lamang naman
Mapagbibigyan mo ba ang aking kahilingan?
Ako at Ikaw


Hihintayin kita
Aking Bula

*Unang inilimbag sa KALas (Opisyal na literary folio ng KALasag, Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura., Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman)