On Heroism Today

Before Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad in 1896, he was already regarded as a hero by his fellow countrymen. And all the more when he was martyred on that fateful day, 30 December. But he did not want this for himself. His request to his family was for a simple grave with an epitaph marking his name, date of birth, and date of death. No anniversaries.

Years after his death, his bones were interred from the Paco Cemetery to the monument erected in his honor at the Luneta. And we commemorate every December 30 his martyrdom.

Question: Did his family seek the State's recognition to bestow a hero's burial for Jose Rizal?

Recently, the Marcos family won a Supreme Court (SC) decision favoring their dead patriarch to be buried - finally - at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB). Due to the information that he was a World War 2 veteran, Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos has basis to be buried there. After 20 years in Malacañang, he was ousted by a popular uprising dubbed Edsa 1 in 1986. Before he died in Hawaii as an exile, it was reported that he wanted to be buried next to his mother in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Then President Fidel Ramos allowed the return of the late president's remains provided that Marcos be buried there. The Marcos family returned to the country but sought the State that their patriarch be buried at the LMNB. And they requested for it since then.

Countless court cases and motions were filed prohibiting the move because of the horrors brought about by Marcos's proclamation of Martial Law in 1972 and even after its official lifting in 1981. The SC justices then affirmed history's judgment that Marcos was ousted and served as dictator thereby denying State burial.

Upon the assumption of Rodrigo Duterte as president, a State burial for Marcos began to ring again since the term of former President Joseph Estrada. Another round of cases and motions were submitted to the SC again. But with the present SC, a 90 degree turn occurred. The dictator Marcos will now be buried with State honors. And his family, of course, rejoiced. They are now saying that the country can move on.

The Marcos family sought the State's recognition to regard their patriarch as a hero. But did they seek the Filipino people's affirmation?

Now, let Rizal's bones be removed from his monument in Luneta. He was regarded as "a traitor to Mother Spain," right? Therefore, it is not correct to call him a hero.

But a tyrant Marcos can now be called as such. Thanks to the State.

Thanks, but no thanks.

On the Sabah question, a personal note

As a Filipino, I side with the Philippines right to claim Sabah as part of our national territory. Enough said.

But the claim now resulted into violent clashes between the two sides, the followers of the Sultan of Sulu and the Malaysian military. Since last month, newspapers carry reports about the "takeover" of the land of Sabah by Filipino-Muslims loyal to the Sultan of Sulu. Other reports use the word "settlement" but the groups who arrived on Lahad Datu, Sabah carry arms and are "ready to die for their cause."

As of this writing, events continue to unfold about the claim.  But all I know since my elementary days, this Sabah question started during the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal. Malaysia, after gaining freedom and independence from the hands of its British colonial lords, included Sabah in its territory. A historic speech by the great Senator Jovito Salonga (thanks to the internet) delivered in the Senate 50 years ago still rings a vigilant and resolute stand on the Sabah question.

This problem was carried over by the next president, Ferdinand Marcos. Reports of a supposed takeover, called Operation Merdeka, were leaked by then Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. included in his speech at the Senate. And in 1983, Ninoy allegedly talked to Malaysian authorities on dropping the Sabah claim.

The present Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III administration condemned the act of the Sultan of Sulu. He even said that the Sultan's forces should go home and be "tried" for their act is against the law. Filipinos were shocked by this statement coming from OUR president. He was bashed by comments coming from facebook comments and statuses on his "arrogant and mindless" principle on the Sabah question. Only a few minutes ago, the website of the President was hacked by Anonymous Philippines bearing their open letter to the President.

Screen shot of the hacked page of the President's website. Accessed March 14, 2013.

As a Filipino, I side with the Philippines right to claim Sabah as part of our national territory. And our government should represent that claim. Enough said.