On Respect and Alex Lacson's "The Filipino Today"

“Right here, right now, the only story worth telling is how we, as a people, remained vigilant so our government does not stray from its promised ‘straight and righteous path.’”

A team led by astrophysicist Reinabelle Reyes, achieved what has eluded everyone else for decades – they proved, on a cosmic scale, the great Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity.

Reyes is Filipino, her team members are not.

Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta is the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in combat.

“Giunta, 25, was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, serving as a rifle team leader when he engaged the enemy to recover a wounded Soldier on Oct. 25, 2007 that the enemy was trying to take prisoner. After throwing hand grenades at the enemy positions in order to suppress them, Giunta moved forward without hesitation, into what had been enemy fighting position only moments before. Giunta engaged two enemy fighters and then rescued his wounded comrade and assisted in keeping him alive before the Soldier eventually succumbed to his wounds. Giunta's unwavering courage, in the midst of an ambush in which two American paratroopers gave their lives and several more were wounded, embodied the highest ideals of the Army Values. His selflessness and leadership above and beyond the call of duty exemplifies the strength of the Nation.”

He’s an American of Italian descent. But who’s to say the heroism of others, regardless of race, did not inspire Giunta?

We are awed by the cinematic depiction of how 300 Spartan warriors held off hordes of invading Persians in the “Battle of Thermopylae.” What we do not know is that Filipinos have long surpassed that feat with the “Battle of Tirad Pass” in Ilocos Sur, when Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, the “boy general,” no older than 24, led 60 Filipino soldiers against American troops in pursuit of then-Republic President, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Unlike the Greeks, they had neither specialized training nor superior arms.

52 of them, including del Pilar perished on that fateful morning of Dec. 2, 1899. But their heroism allowed Aguinaldo to retreat to the “Mountain Province(s)” (as the provinces of the Cordilleras were then collectively referred) and temporarily re-establish the seat of government in Lubuagan, in now the province of Kalinga.

Filipinos displayed heroism on that day, though even that was caused by the betrayal of other Filipinos.

Ironically, while many of us have forgotten that episode in history, Americans, remember that day with fondness and respect.

The US remembers it as “the battle above the clouds,” about which American correspondent Richard Henry Little, wrote:

“On this day a century ago a battle raged between 60 Filipino soldiers headed by General Gregorio del Pilar and 300 Americans under Major Peyton C. March at a mountain pass 4,441 feet above sea level in the highlands of lIocos Sur. Gen. del Pilar, then aged 24, was one of the youngest generals in the revolutionary army. He was the commander of General Emilio Aguinaldo's rear guard. With the American forces close behind him, Gen. Aguinaldo desperately needed to delay the enemy's advance so he could escape and continue (to) keep alive the struggle for Philippine independence.

On that fateful morning of the 2nd of December 1899, the battle was fought at Tirad Pass. The battle raged for six hours and by 10 o'clock it was over.

It was reported that while Gregorio del Pilar was fighting the troops of General March and was surrounded by the dead and wounded who fell by his side, he valiantly inspired his troops by his example. Gen. del Pilar was the last to fall. Of the sixty Filipinos who fought with him, only eight were able to escape.

Among Gen. del Pilar's belongings was his diary which had his last entry. He wrote: ‘The General (Aguinaldo) has given me a platoon of available men and has ordered me to defend this pass. I am aware what a difficult task has been given to me. Nevertheless, I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacrifice.’”

-- Lines no different from Ninoy Aquino’s “the Filipino is worth dying for.”

Benigno Aquino, Jr., one of the great Filipino martyrs, advocated for non-violent resistance against the Marcos dictatorship. His vision eventually saw fruition in the 1986 Revolution People Power revolt that restored democracy to Philippine shores. But it was the life, works, and ideas of Mohandas K. Gandhi that steered him to this path.

Gandhi was Indian.

The truth is, there are as many, if not more, great individuals, in other parts of the world as there are in the Philippines. We inspire them in as much as they inspire us – Aquino by Gandhi; the tearing down of the Berlin wall in Germany by the peaceful uprising, “people power” in the Philippines.

It is by a chain reaction of events, inspired by the indomitable human spirit that brought all these about.

It would be a folly, if not an injustice to the rest of the world, though mostly ourselves, if we should acquire a sense of pride that allows us to simply go about our daily lives, deaf to the voice of bereaved families in Hong Kong, dumb to our government whose ineptitude caused the deaths of our neighbors. Their uproar, unlike our silence, is not without reasons.

Let us tell stories of greatness, one, two, three at a time, if we must. But let not these be just about ours, let it be about others’, too.

Right here, right now, the only story worth telling is how we, as a people, remained vigilant so our government does not stray from its promised “straight and righteous path.”

Sa daang matuwid, iwinawasto ang mali habang pinapanagot ang mga nagkamali. 

The results of an impartial investigation should have heads rolling faster than they were shot on August 23. That is the only story the world needs to hear. That is how we get to feel good about ourselves again.

Nothing inspires more; nothing earns respect better, than the power to hold our own leaders truly accountable.

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Alex Lacson is the “real deal.” Two decades I have known him so.

Contrary to the cliché, “it’s about the message, not the messenger,” I may have reservations about Alex Lacson’s message, but I will always hold in high esteem, Alex as the messenger, regardless of what he says.

Like Quixote, he tilts at windmills, fights injustice with chivalry. Like Ninoy, I hope his idealism makes possible “the impossible dream.” (DPG)