1.

They say, and I agree, that the country is its people. And that the worth of the
country equates on how its people serve it. We have experienced so much struggles
before where triumph feels ecstatic. We lose battles along the way but we did not falter.
It may seem a long journey but these days are undeniably worthy. Now, gone are days
of authoritarianism. Gone are the days of oppression. Gone are the days of dictatorship.
But the fight against tyranny of today’s generation still exists: the tyranny of poverty,
tyranny against freedom of expression, the tyranny against freedom of information, and
the tyranny of disease. These challenges that we face nowadays conclude that the fight
for freedom as initiated by Ninoy Aquino on modern days, fueled by great passion and
nationalism, is still far from over. We sure did take a big step the moment he fought
against dictatorship against Marcos, and I believe that it solidifies the nationalism of
many Filipino. Even though many people believe that the country needs an authoritarian
as it does not want to decide for itself, I still think different. Because I can still see hope
in every individual and inside them were impulses of desire to uplift the Filipino way of
living. Inside them was not a cold genius, but a selfless human being who can lead the
big step towards freedom, which Ninoy once led. Inside them was proud sons and
daughters of Filipinas, destined to face the bullet of tyrants, and to be killed, and to
inspire.

2.
I strongly believe, like what Rizal said to Lopez-Jaena, man is destined to die
once and we should take it gloriously. I know that the individual who wants to die for the
country is also a Filipino. And I am a Filipino. The ideals, the love for peace, the thirst
for knowledge, the pursuance of dreams and the preservation of freedom are my
burning desires towards brighter future. I, together with all the youths aspiring and
looking forward towards a better country, will be shouldering the responsibility that
Ninoy once led, that he fought for, that he died for. I am now aware on how a single step
of initiation of a single person can impact a whole country. And I will make that as an
inspiration to take the path of common goal, and move forward. With all the ideals and
principles that I have learned, and all things that I yet to discover, I strongly believe that
I am worth dying for.