Graveyard of Heroes

The Philippine's Heroes Cemetery is a graveyard for heroes. Whether the dead body of a former soldier that became a President and later on a dictator has the right to rest in that burial ground or not;  is a question that enthralls the heart and mind of the Filipinos up to this day and in the years to come. I have nothing against dictatorship for even a dictator can become a hero (as in the case of Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore). Unfortunately, the late former President turned dictator of this country was not like him.

The late Former Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos may had been a hero. But in the later days of his life, the world sees him as a power hungry dictator who refuses to go down in the seat of power up to the last minute of his life. And it took a “People Power Revolution” to unseat him from the presidency. Although questioned by some sectors, records and self-produced movies of the dictator had shown that he was an exceptional soldier who fought for his country during the 2nd world war. Nevertheless, the question still remain, is he indeed a hero or simply a sticky leech power-greedy ruler of his people?

To seek the wisdom of Scripture and History, Judas being one of the chosen disciples of God was both a saint and a traitor; but he is most remembered as a traitor and not as a saint.  On the other hand, Dimas, one of the two criminals who were crucified on the cross with Jesus Christ, was a thief; yet he achieved liberation and a saintly status in the last dying minutes of his life. It appears that what the world and history remember most is not how one lives in the early years of his life, but the person's state of being when he died. Indeed, a performer is only as good as his last performance.

Libingan ng mga Bayani (Graveyard for Heroes) as the term implied is a heroes' burial; and as I understand, mostly of those buried in that cemetery are Philippine soldiers, who fought for their country. However, the burial ground was not named Philippine Soldiers Cemetery; rather, it was called Graveyard of Heroes, a  heroes’ cemetery. Many of our heroes (like President Manuel L. Quezon, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., and our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal) were not even soldiers;  not all heroes are soldier and not all soldiers are heroes. Marcos was a soldier; but is he a hero? This is the underlying question that everyone must resolve in this undying issue of Marcos burial. As of now, it is not clear to me why it was named a heroes’ cemetery and not a soldier cemetery. For if it was a soldier cemetery, then we will not be in this national dilemma; and the body of the former President would had been there resting peacefully.

Burying Marcos in the heroes’ cemetery is accepting that he is a hero; and by doing so, more complication that is unimaginable might arise. In addition, the Marcoses might use the leveled-up status for their advantage legally and politically. Filipinos are kind-hearted fools. And I do not want to use Indian’s analogy regarding this issue of hero’s burial to make it appear perilous. But to be naive and kind is precarious; it could be a foolish act of giving milk to a cobra to make it more dangerous.

Lastly, the cemetery is a Graveyard of Heroes, the preposition used was “of” not “for”; meaning, heroes owned it. That is why, in case of controversy, like the present issue, it is not for any living person to resolve but for those buried dead heroes. One might ask, “What about living heroes like Manny Pacquiao?” Well, his voice is not enough to represent the consensus decision of the majority. Besides, he still alive and we do not know whether he will remain a hero or not; particularly now that he entered the dirty arena of politics.

The word hero is not a simple word and Heroes are special breed of people. We need more heroes. Let us respect the memory of our heroes and of what they fought for. Divinity, ancestry, unselfish endeavor, courage, godliness, bold exploit, nobility of purpose, sacrifices are synonyms of heroism let us not tainted it with greed, selfishness, and corruption.

“Let the dead bury the dead” those who are so engrossed about the dead are actually dead. Learn from the past, always working and using the present for the future and for the land. This is the mindset of the living and not of the dead, whose only concern is himself and who usually uses the past for his selfish end. This is Cory Aquino when she restored democracy right away after she became President, instead of using the anger of a nation and the enormous power of a revolutionary government to pursue the people behind the murder of her husband. KALI-161011