In this time of difficulties and confusion brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we, today’s children, have nothing to hold on to but the inspiring stories of the generation before us to assure us that life goes on despite the setbacks.
We are reminded of the extreme sacrifices that our heroes did for our people and nation. Theirs were also very trying times, but they pushed forward for our country.
When we asked children who inspired them to keep on during these trying, uncertain times, many cited the people written in our history books.
First-grade student from Mayfield Montessori Academy in Quezon City, Amado Benjamin Bilangel said Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio’s bravery inspired him.
Meanwhile, sixth graders from Assemblyman Segundo Moscoso Memorial School, a public school in Antique, Marienne Tagacay, Kea Yuro, and Pearl Moscoso also admire Rizal for his knowledge, bravery, and sacrifice. Yuro is inspired by our national hero’s intelligence and political activism, while Moscoso admires Rizal’s courage in fighting for freedom in a silent but effective way.
Also from the same school, fifth grader Reyza Escander and sixth grader Tricia Gellido consider Bonifacio an inspiration, with the former admiring Bonifacio’s revolutionary brand of leadership and the latter noting how he was often portrayed to be a bolo-wielding, uneducated factory worker when he was in fact a military strategist who specialized in guerilla warfare.
A fourth grader from Taluksangay Elementary School in Zamboanga City, Mariam Naureen Usman, also admires Rizal’s bravery, selflessness, and intelligence. Azlan Sadegh, a sixth grader from Sinunuc Elementary School, looks up to Lapu-Lapu who fought against Spanish conquistadors.
A third grader from Western Mindanao State University, Safiya Carong, picks Sultan Kudarat because she said he was a powerful ruler.
Meanwhile, Antiqueno student Neal Allen I. Sarabia, considers the medical front liners in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic heroes for their valiant efforts to protect the people from unseen enemies like the coronavirus.
Brothers Tommy and Ace Osunero pick their medical technologist mom as their hero and inspiration, for she had to make many adjustments so that the family would not be infected by COVID-19. They said they were inspired by her, as she heeded the call of duty for the country and people, and did everything to balance caring for patients and her own family.
These Filipino kids from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao look up to heroes we only read in books and to modern-day heroes with us today. We, Filipino kids of our generation, are inspired so that like them, we can do our part to help our people and country.
