Everyday Heroes

MANILA, Philippines - Our day-to-day reality is confronted with many complex issues. We see big national controversies unfolding one after the other, exposing how dirty, traditional politics mercilessly hinders our country’s growth. With the plethora of negative stories that surround us, people have become inured to  darkness and pessimism.

What many fail to see is that stories of hope and light continue to abound, but we fail to see them because they are too “ordinary” to be acknowledged.

Today being the commemoration of National Heroes’ Day, we recognize a few unsung heroes who do what they can to serve others. They are just a few of our everyday heroes who  make us proud to be Filipino, sans warfare and bloodshed.

Sabrina Ongkiko, public school teacher

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated professions in our country is that of a public school teacher. When one decides to become a public school teacher, discouragement is par for the course and the capability of the public school system is ordinarily questioned. The same misconceptions faced Sabrina Ongkiko, or Teacher Sabs, as she tried to change people’s mindset of the public school system.

Known for her TEDx ADMU talk back 2013, Teacher Sabs instantly became the face of public schools. She became an inspiration to many to travel the road less traveled and pursue teaching for public schools.

“In public schools, we need more people who have the passion to impart knowledge and to teach the children how to believe in themselves,” she shared.

She reiterates that “teaching is a giving job, and we don’t expect anything in return. For me, the moment a child understands the lesson or has changed his or her attitude towards something, that is already rewarding.”

And because the life she chose is not without its letdowns, there are times she feels that quitting is the only way to go. But then, she asks herself the question, “How do I love more?”

“I guess we all have to ask ourselves that question: How do I love more?”

She believes that heroism is not reserved for just a few.

“Our actions define our purpose in this world, and if we do things well and right, then we are all heroes,” she said.

Karen Viel Beblañas, student

At the age of 16, Karen was widely exposed to painstaking reality when she first set foot in Ulingan, a shanty community in Tondo, Manila where all societal problems converge. As a teen enjoying a simple and quiet life, her exposure to the community was an eyeopener.

“It was a wake-up call for me. I was young and my mind wasn’t really set at that environment, but the moment I saw what other volunteers do to the children in the community, I came to accept that this is the reality we live in – there is a barrier between social classes and we are here to break that wall,” she said.

Volunteering for Project PEARLS (Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smiles) for four years now, Karen is a familiar face to children in communities they serve. She also handles literacy clubs on most weekends that she is available.

Karen’s exposure to the community changed her perspective in life. “Our generation is known to be the ‘selfie’ generation, where teens of my age practically think of themselves first, and the welfare of others last. But those people are only a part of the bigger reality that there are young people with their minds set on helping those in dire need,” she said.

For her, the young can be encouraged to help others if they are with like-minded people.

She also noted, “In the process of seeking to make a change in the lives of others, we realize that the change also happens in us that we become better individuals with more positive stories to share.”

What does it take to be a modern-day hero? Karen answered “There are no real or stringent qualifications, you just do what you think is beneficial for others without expecting anything in return, you are already a hero.”

Heroes Without Costumes, spoken word artists

Founded by a five-man team with a common love for the arts and spoken word, Heroes Without Costumes has a simple idea: One does not need a superpower or a costume to become a hero.

“A big heart and a passion to help are two main ingredients of being a hero,” Cedrix Perez, one of the initiators said.

Tying together their passion to spoken word performing and helping the underprivileged, they launched their “Tulong Tula” series that benefited students from Paaralang Pantao in Payatas, Manila.

“It was an overwhelming feeling for the group because through fund-raising shows, the group was able to raise a substantial amount for charity,” Perez shared.

Currently, the group is working to reach out to Aetas of Sitio Target, Angeles City, Pampanga for their second project called Kalinga para sa Kababayang Katutubo (KKK) Community Immersion.

For Heroes Without Costumes, being a modern-day hero means “having the passion to help humanity.” “All we need is just to have a heart that’s full of love and compassion. We are capable of helping in our own way,” they said.

For others, being a hero means sacrificing your life for the greater good or changing things on a bigger scale, but what if we do simple, good things for others and encourage other people to do the same?