Model Pinoys: Modern Heroes
Chambers Encyclopedic English Dictionary defines “hero” as a person who is admired for bravery, courage, and noble qualities. Merriam-Webster describes a “hero” as a man admired for their achievements and noble qualities.
Ang Bagong Pinoy, an online community of Filipinos aiming to dedicate the Filipino identity to build a better Philippines, envisions a “model Pinoy” as a Filipino who:
- loves God
- has a deep sense of national pride
- is a person of integrity and governs his/her life with strict moral and ethical discipline
- has passion for excellence, shuns mediocrity and is constantly striving to improve his/her personal condition
- has a social conscience and does things for the good of society and not just for the good of the individual
- has global perspective and learns to strike an appropriate balance between love of country and global cooperation.
- is a critical thinker, a student of logic, forms his own well-educated opinions, and is not afraid of expressing these, with diplomacy, to anyone, anywhere and anytime.
In more ways than one, the definition of the word “hero” has already evolved through time. We will always bear in our hearts and minds the ideals and visions of Gomburza, Rizal, Bonifacio, and all our national heroes but, nowadays, you don’t need to lead a rebel army or get shot in Bagumbayan to be called a hero. We witness heroic deeds everyday --- parents taking care of and working for their families, teachers inspiring and motivating students to learn, and ordinary people doing simple acts of honesty, kindness, generosity, and selflessness. We all can be a model Pinoy. We all can be a hero. We are the modern heroes.
Listed below are some of the model Pinoys who have shown their love for God, their country, and their fellowmen. May their deeds and those of other courageous and noble Filipinos continue to inspire us to go beyond our borders and be a hero to our families and communities.
The Few Who Can Inspire the Many: The “Many Faces of the Teacher” Awardees
Four educators were honored by the Bato Balani Foundation Inc. and Diwa Learning Systems Inc. for their selflessness and courage in continuing their good work despite the odds of the country’s education system. Let us give our highest salute to mobile teacher Ronyla Santiago of Nueva Ecija, special education teacher Elsa Grafilo Duran of Cotabato City, philosophy professor Fr. Roque Angel Ferriols of the Ateneo De Manila, and journalism professor Luis Teodoro of the University of the Philippines.
Beyond the borders: Marines lead special literacy program
In response to the government’s “beat the odds” propaganda, the 2nd Marine Brigade went beyond their usual task of maintaining peace and order in Sulu and taught Badjaos how to read and write.
Sajid Bulig: Age Doesn’t Matter
Thirteen-year old Sajid Bulig, an elementary school student, died while saving four children from drowning in the “Krus sa Wawa” feast on July 8, 1993. Also known as the “Pagoda Tragedy,” the fluvial festivity killed 279 people.
Honesty Is The Best Policy
While they were just searching for a cat which was allegedly stealing food from the neighborhood, Luigi Villania, Ken Marcial, Kevin Alan, Marc Dagal, and Fernan Jacinto – all Grade 6 students at the Lucena East Elementary School --- found a wallet containing P40,000. The five children returned the wallet to its owner and they were saluted by the community for their good deed.
He could’ve just used the money for his wife’s hospital bills but, instead, 45-year old tricycle driver Illuminado Boc turned over to the police the pouch containing $17,000 which was left by its owner in the tricycle passenger seat.
When George Bacod, a security guard at a Quezon City condominium, found a belt bag containing a bundle of P500 bills amounting to P34,500 and a roll of US dollar bills worth $10,000 in the condominium lobby, he knew what to do right away --- return the bag to its owner.
Mobile Teachers
Named by DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus as the “force behind our Alternative Learning System,” Mobile Teachers or MTs risk their lives, travel long distances, hold classes in small classrooms and sometimes even on outdoor sites just to reach their students.
Giving Free Quality Christian Education for All
As part of the family’s tradition and values, the descendants of Marietta Ledesma, founder of the St. Francis of Assisi School in Hacienda Tinihaban, Silay City, help the children of farm workers get access to free quality Christian education. Some of the beneficiaries of the school are now working as engineers and nurses and have broken free from the cycle of poverty.
Achievers in Public Service
Working for the benefit of their fellowmen, seven government employees were honored and recognized as achievers in public service: DILG operations officer Reinalda Raffinan; Baguio City General Hospital administrative aide Pedro del Rosario; Gerry Baucan, level-III teacher at the Alfonso Tabora Elementary School in Baguio City; Carmen C. Cubrado, agricultural officer for the local government of Pilar, Bohol; La Union public school nurse Arelie Jacildo; DSWD social welfare assistant Melecio Fernandez; and DepEd education supervisor Ninie del Rosario.
Kaya ng Pinay!
Being the first women in the world to complete a traverse climb of Mt. Everest and the first women from Southeast Asia to reach the peak, Filipino mountaineers Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, and Janet Belarmino empowered Filipino women and boosted the country’s pride.
A Model Community
Through the unity and cooperation of community members of Barangay Molino V in Bacoor, Cavite and the local government, a waste dump was transformed into a field of vegetables. The community maintains a zero-waste management and converted the dump into a Material Recovery Facility.
Rising from tragedy: Pia Corvera
Sexually abused by two foreigners when she was 12 years old, Pia Corvera did not let her tragic past stop her from fighting for children’s rights. Instead, she used it as her motivation to help women rebuild their lives and protect their rights.
Golden Hearts: Nelly Banaag and Leticia Ramos
In recognition of their courage and sacrifice in defending the sanctity of the ballot, elementary school teacher Nelly Banaag and poll watcher Leticia Ramos were given the Order of the Golden Heart by President Arroyo. The two died in a school torched in Taysan, Batangas during the canvassing of votes for the May 2007 elections.
Over the seas: Jesus Sumook
Jesus Sumook, a Filipino seaman, gave up his oxygen mask to a rescue worker and saved the rescuer’s life. The rescue worker that Sumook saved has been weakened by fumes while responding to an emergency on the ship Saga Spray. Sumook was awarded for his heroism by The Foundation of the Swedish Seafarers.
Uncommon Valor
Refusing to surrender a ballot box, elementary teacher Filomena Tatlonghari lost her life while on election duty in May 1995. A building at the Talaga East Elementary School has been named after her and she was given posthumous awards by both the Department of Education and the Civil Service Commission for her valor.
Through the Fire: Hazel Reposo
Hazel Reposo left the country for her son’s sake and had been working as a nanny since November 2003. Caring for her employers’ children as if they were her own, she saved her four “alaga” and their two friends from a house fire in Stowe, Vermont.
Dedication
Believing that she can teach her students discipline without the need for her to shout, elementary teacher Ofelia Lavarez-Loñoza chooses an unorthodox approach in her class and never uses the rod. She was chosen as one of the 10 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers for 2006 for her dedication to her profession. Lavarez-Loñoza teaches in Lucena North I Elementary School in Barangay 1 in Lucena City, Quezon.
Building Homes, Building Lives
Gawad Kalinga has been tapping individuals and institutions all over the world for one mission: to help eradicate homelessness in the Philippines by building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven (7) years or by 2010. In the Philippines, GK volunteers have constructed more than 850 housing developments for more than 100,000 in various regions.
Peacemaker
Raised in Banga, South Cotabato, Scout Ranger Ferdinand Flores Quidilla received the Special Services Medals for his work and dedication in preserving peace in Timor-Leste.
Philanthropist: Laki Iwan de Jesus
The community of Sitio Danlog, Barangay Monteclaro in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro remembers Laki Iwan de Jesus as a man of generosity. In hopes of providing education for the next Mangyan generations, Laki Iwan, a Buhid Mangyan, donated several parcels of land to different schools. One of the schools is the Paaralang Mangyan na Angkop sa Kulturang Aalagaan (Pamana Ka).
Who are your local modern heroes? Have them featured in our website! Send your articles to smartschools@smart.com.ph!
