- No, not the one who gets remembered just dying for something hahaha. The concept of heroism in our country has more or less degraded in our transition to the modern age because the mere stating of the word “hero” commonly denotes a dead person by today’s standard of thought. What I want to do is to bring back the original definition of hero that we once had as a nation – a persona who fights for a just cause. Instilling a concept wherein death is just an afterthought and life is the motive to be fought. I believe that there is a hero in all of us and I want to be considered as a hero who opened the eyes of his fellow men as heroes as well in their own special ways.
- I do not wish to become one because I desire money nor do I wish to be one for acquisition of power. I aspire to become one with a simple goal – to make things right. The country’s negative image weighs largely on the bad press provided by the corrupt government and its obvious yet unstoppable greed. Everybody sees it yet nobody does anything about it and this is what makes me sick. I know that I may be assassinated for doing “what’s right” but who cares? It’s better than dying in a rotten system without any positive contribution. Tsk tsk...
- Identity Crisis has always been prevalent in our country due to several nationalities that conquered in our history. Because of this, the various “rulers” have injected each of their own culture in the hopes of transforming us into one of their own. What is the end result of this? A seemingly confused people that is geologically Asian but preferentially Western – a disastrous combination if you ask me. Being Filipino is not as complicated as it seems because the only thing you need to do is be proud of yourself despite the flaws of our race. As Rizal said, “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinaggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”
- I may not be the biggest animal fan out there but I still wanna experience this even once. I used to be fond of those animal shows on Animal Planet because they were something new to me at that time. Jumping Lions, running cheetahs and mauling Rhinos were some pretty cool stuff to see. It may even be better up close and personal!(not too close though cause I might die XD) The trip may cost me a lot but I believe its worth it...even though It might cut my daily McDo trips haha.
- I love reading books especially mystery and sci-fi genres be it fiction or non-fiction. They give me a sense of the extraordinary in this seemingly boring and dull world. It’s really thrilling to learn something new in this stuff due to their unorthodox nature. Because of this, I also found a knack in making my own short stories out of pure joy or sheer boredom. I seek to improve this skill of mine so that someday I can make a name for myself beyond that of the corporate world. Seeing my name beside Dan Brown or John Grisham is an ecstatic thought.
- The modern kind, not those people wearing eye patches and hooks on their right hands XD. Due to the advance of science and technology, treasure hunting has become a high-tech albeit expensive affair. Maps are replaced by charts, pirates removed for scientists and shovels exchanged for machines. In treasure hunting, these advancements may alter the feel but it can never change the thrill. You never know when lady luck might kiss you on the cheek and strike gold.
- Making people laugh is hard but if it succeeds, you know that it’s hella worth it! Humor is the one thing we need more these days because of its uplifting charm. The world today is undergoing a global downturn due to the financial crisis and the emotional depression that comes with it is only making it worse. The consequences of such events propel people to do illogical things from the usual theft to the disturbing phenomenon of suicide. They say laughter is the best medicine and I believe we need it now more than ever...I can only wish that one day I could be part of that “prescription” as well.
- Science Fiction has long been an interesting topic for me since I was a young boy. The thoughts of having something new and different happen propel a shallow albeit intense joy from within my young mind. Venturing to the uncharted is one of my “sinful” tendencies since I leap before I look most of the time hence my careless characteristic. The planet Mars has always been one of my particular interests just because of its closeness and similarities that it possesses with our planet. What lies within it? How does it feel to live there? Are we not alone? It just sits there as if screaming for my name to come to it. You better be ready red dude because I’ll be coming for you someday.
- I know that being a sailor is not the most glamorous occupation known to man due to its tedious and dangerous circumstances. Low pay, hazardous waters, sea-sickness and fatigue-magnet: these are the common aspects of sailing life but it is not all about cons. Being a sailor promotes a great sense of freedom as an individual because of, ironically, its restrictive nature. You are isolated on a vessel and are forced to make the best of it. This seemingly punishing case helps you appreciate yourself and nature because it gives you time to think and reflect especially thanks to the absence of the busy world of civilization.
- “It is nice to have something but it is more gratifying to create something.” During my youth, Lego used to be my favorite toy brand. This is because the blocks allow me to visualize and create something I originally thought(most of the time) of by myself. This also gives me the possibility to recreate something I admire with ease and in a much smaller scale. Once upon a time I tried to build a home for myself using these plastic blocks yet I never finished it since I lack more Legos that I needed to complete it. One day I’ll put it into reality, I’ll build a home with my own 2 hands as a symbol of personal accomplishment.
- To flourish in the economic world, you must become a smart entrepreneur. It holds challenges and risks but the returns will be worth it. To many people, they may think I’m in it just for wealth, fame or power just because those are the basic aspirations of the traditional businessmen...they are wrong. I’m in it not merely for those alone but for something far more rewarding – worth. To make your mark in this world you must persevere and contribute to society with everything you have and that is basically what I will do since worthiness has always been one of my basic principles in life.
- My college degree maybe related to business but that won’t stop me from studying the natural world. As a youthful student, my favorite subject used to be science or biological science to be more precise. The world around me fuels my curious nature and often leads me into trouble because of my limited knowledge. Now that I’m into the verge of adulthood, I’m once again allowing this nature of mine to be unleashed and more importantly, entertained. The corporate world will not restrict my dreams of being a scientist...not anymore.
I totally agree with your assessment on a Filipino's estimation of a national hero! I also agree with the Filipino identity crisis. Trust me, I know. It's hard enough being a Filipino being influenced by the Western world, but being a Filipino-Chinese is even harder! It's as if we Filipino-Chinese belong to a new group of Chinese people. We don't exactly fit in with the mainland Chinese, and we don't exactly fit in with the Filipinos too! :(
ReplyDeleteOh! while you want to write a book, I just want to get published. If you do get around to writing a novel, call me up so that I could buy your book and have you autograph it too!
Traveling the seas seems interesting! But I'd rather take a cruise. Haha!
Great piece on the identity and national hero crisis of the Philippines. It's saddening that people associate heroism with medals nowadays. I truly believe that Ninoy Aquino is the Filipino that everyone should emulate.
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