Undiscovered Starts

Forgotten Heroes

August 28 was a hooray to every Filipino citizen after the president declared it as national holiday.
This is to give time for the reminiscence of the National Heroes who sacrificed their loves for us
to be free and to attain justice.

This one-day no classes and non-working holiday is just a simple celebration yet it tells a lot about
the prowess and bravery of the Filipinos- Jose Rizal, who faced a firing squad; Andres Bonifacio,
who led the Katipunan with his bolo; Apolinario Mabini, who fought with his wheel chair; Emilio
Aguinaldo, who used his power to fight. What about Diego Silang, the Ilocano Katipunero? Do
you know Pancho Mercado, the hero at the back of Jose Rizal? Ciriaco, the Brother of Andres
Bonifacio? Or Adelaida Villareyes, the much owned lady captin of the Guerilla from Bamban? Are
their names even familiar to us?

National Heroes Day is not just a day for us to remember our heroes heroic deeds; it is also a day
for us to be reminded that there are lots of Filipinos who died for us. We may know about five or
six big names in our history, but many are to be honored especially our local heroes. Just like
what the local historian Rhonnie Dela Cruz said, Sana pansinin muna natin kung aong meron
tayo (heroes) bago tayo lumabas at alamin kung anong meron sila.

They may not be popular for we might not know what they have done; and our local museums,
though not too wide, contains big things that could tell us why they should also be part of our
National Heroes Day Celebration.

Our local heroes are just a small part of our countrys freedom, but their contributions to at least
revenge for those who died fighting are more than enough for them to be called and honoured
as heores. Heroes hidden in our local museums and waiting to be discovered. Heroes of small
names but of terrible deeds.