Bonifacio remembered through heroes of Yolanda – Aquino

MANILA, Philippines – It’s the “ordinary Filipino” who stands up to adversity and changes the country’s destiny. It happened in the Philippine Revolution, and it’s happening in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

“Kung babalikan ang mga pahina ng nakaraan, hindi na bago sa naratibo ng lahing Pilipino ang mga dambuhalang hamon,” Aquino said in a speech delivered at the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan. 

(If we take a look at our history, facing huge challenges is nothing new to the Filipino people.)

On November 30, the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine Revolution leader Andres Bonifacio, President Benigno Aquino III highlighted the importance of the “ordinary Filipino,” comparing the likes of Padre Gomez, Burgos, Zamora and Bonifacio to the heroes of Yolanda.

“Nariyan ang mga kawal, pulis, at bumberong nagtaya ng kanilang sariling buhay sa pagsalba sa mga nasalanta, at araw-gabing nagtipon sa mga labi ng nasawi; mga nurse at doktor, na nagtayo ng mga sariling tolda upang makapaghatid ng agarang-lunas at makapagbigay-kalinga; mga volunteer sa loob at labas ng bansa, mula sa pribado at pampublikong sektor—naka-barong man, unipormado, estudyante, may titulo o wala—na nag-alay ng donasyon at kapit-kamay na nag-impake ng relief goods para sa mga pamilyang nabiktima,” he said.

(They were there – the police and firemen who risked their own lives to save victims of the typhoon, who collected the dead daily. The nurses and doctors who set up their own tents to give first aid and care for the sick, the volunteers from here and abroad, from the private and public sector – whether in barong or uniform, student, whether with a title or none – who donated and together packed relief goods for families who were victims of the storm.)

Yolanda ravaged the Visayas more than 3 weeks ago, destroying cities and taking the lives of more than 5,600 as of posting. The dead continue to be collected in devastated cities, and hundreds of thousands remain homeless in the wake of the storm.

Aquino said that Bonifacio’s birth anniversary is a reminder for Filipinos to overcome adversity and imbibe the “bayanihan” ideal, calamity or no calamity.

“Hindi kailangan pang hintaying maharap muli ang bansa sa isang malaking problema o sakuna, bago tayo kumilos at magkaisa. Araw-araw ay may mga kababayan tayong nakikipagtuos sa hirap ng buhay, nakikidigma sa gutom at kahirapan para lamang may harapin pang kinabukasan. Ang mga ganitong mukha ng pagdurusa ay dapat magtulak sa atin upang araw-araw ding iangat ang ating kapwa,” he said.

(We don’t need to wait for the next calamity before we act and be one. Every day, Filipinos brave life’s hardships, fighting hunger and poverty just to face the future. These faces of suffering are what should push us to help them every day.)

Aquino, however, made no mention of government’s reaction to calls by several groups to declare Bonifacio a national hero. The Manila City Council also recently passed a resolution urging the national government to declare Bonifacio the first president of the country. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com