Who do you consider a hero in this day and age?

For having a headless and heartless government, our OFWs dare fate just to keep their heads above water. They are my heroes. – Ruel Bautista, Laguna

Our OFWs are keeping our economy afloat, but I appreciate more our professionals who decided to stay here, striving hard to earn an honest living. – Edwin Castillo, Batangas

Parents that make sacrifices. They work hard to give their children a better education, nourish them with moral values to help them become better citizens, and devote precious time to their children. They are today’s heroes. ­– Manuel Canlas, Pampanga

There are many individuals out there that people consider as heroes. For me, none can be more heroic than my father. Nope, he’s no politician with elaborate speeches. He’s no actor or pastor. What he is is the most responsible loving person that I know and love. My father works hard for us, gives us everything we need and yes, even those things that we just want. He doesn’t mind wearing the same old clothes or using the same old jeans as long as he can give us what we asked for. He never lets us down and whenever we talk, he never fails to put a smile on our faces. He is more than just a father to me. He’s my confidant, my best friend, my adviser, my idol. For me, my dad, Alberto Perez, is simply the best. He is irreplaceable. – Alvin Perez, Manila

Those parents who teach and lead their families to value spirituality more than money. – Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa

Those parents who remain faithful to their call of rearing their children in spite of all the hardships in life. – Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City

Who else better fits a hero in this day and age than our parents? Of my 21 years of being a “pasaway,” mine are still there, patiently taking care of us and enduring every hardship that comes our way. I thank them for all the blessings they have given me and the lessons they’ve instilled in me. There’s your hero right there. – JC Macavinta, CaloocanCity

In this day and age of graft and corruption, immorality and criminality, unabated rebellion and injustices, there are still many heroes in our midst, but they are unknown and unsung because they are giving their best in serving God and their fellowmen without any expectation of rewards or recognition and with no fanfare at all. – Germi Sison, Manila

Countless of them certainly abound in our dear planet, but to me, a hero is one individual who genuinely offers help or assistance to any person or entity, tirelessly sharing his comforts in life, wisdom or God-given talent. Henceforth, the aforementioned constitute classic examples of acts of heroism. – Manny Cordeta, MarikinaCity

I count as heroes the doctor who opted to work in a remote barangay and the corporal in the frontline fighting the enemies of this country. – Digoy Coro, Batangas

It’s Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga because his heroic act simply does not ask for anything in return. He’s not a politician. Among politicians, it’s Gordon. He is one you can rely on in times of emergency. I also would like to mention the Chinese firefighter-volunteers of Binondo. I can’t recall his name, but it is headed by the owner of Eng Bee Tin. I saw them in action, and they were quick to help. Doing something worthwhile and also good things for others makes one a in his or her own simple way. – Rose Leobrera, Manila

It’s the OFWs who work very hard and need to be away from their families because of the lack of opportunities in their own country. This is because the government can’t provide wages that are right for their professions and prioritize political survival above anything else. – James Gaw, Quezon City

OFWs are our modern-day heroes. Besides their US$15-billion annual remittances that sustain our ailing economy, OFWs also exemplify the good qualities of Filipino workers. Foreign employers prefer Filipinos because they are hardworking, complain less, and have a mastery of the English language. A few even sacrifice their lives to save the children of their employers. Too bad hundreds of our OFWs languish in foreign jails; many need help from their abusive employers. The government should exert more effort to help them. – C.K. Yeo, IloiloCity

OFWs are modern-day heroes. They leave their loved ones to earn and contribute immensely to our economic growth through their dollar remittances. They sacrifice and take all the risks. – Leonard Villar, BatacCity

My heroes are the OFWs who go through terrible trials to provide for their families and, by so doing, help tremendously to keep our economy afloat. – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City

The modern-day heroes are the OFWs whose blood and sweat have helped keep our economy afloat. Without them, our condition would turn for the worse. – Ricardo Tolentino, LaoagCity

Tinatanong pa ba ‘yan? Who else, but us OFWs. If not for us, our economy would have gone down the drain a long time ago. Special mention goes to parents who try their best to provide a good education to their children. - Danny de Leon, Al-Khafji, Saudi Arabia

In this day and age, anybody or anything can be considered a hero as long as he or she has been prominently featured on TV by some idiot box journalists. – Leandro Tolentino, Batangas

A hero in this day and age? Parang wala yata! Almost everyone is corrupt and if one is corrupt, we cannot consider him a hero. – Tony Gomez, Quezon City

After an hour of thinking and weighing thoughts, the hero I’ve come to know, one who does small, insignificant things yet, somehow, by the end of the day, satisfies me, is no one else but the man in the mirror. – Rico Fabello, ParañaqueCity

Myself, because if it weren’t for my strength, I wouldn’t be alive today. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City

In this day and age, we taxpayers are the real heroes. We are the ones funding the government’s corrupted projects and doleouts for the poor. It is through taxes deducted from our hard-earned salaries that government officials get to travel abroad. We are the ones who languish in high inflation rates and endless oil price increases and it is because of our dedication to our respective jobs that our economy is (supposedly) improving. You don’t become a hero until after you’re dead, so I guess after all the hard work and slave driving, we’ll all end up in our graves sooner than we think—and we’ll still be paying taxes! – Marielle Quiboquibo, Rizal

It’s still the person who works hard to earn a decent living for the family amidst the grinding difficulties that beset our country today. – Rey Ibalan, AntipoloCity

Those who fight the daily grind painstakingly and honestly for survival are undoubtedly the heroes of today. – Rodolfo Capili, CaloocanCity

Oh my, what a question! The OFWs may be pointed to easily again. But in these difficult times, it’s the unnamed ordinary peaceful and honest Filipino, such as those engaged in the underground economy who make do with anything that can keep their families alive, with his uncanny grit and characteristic will to strive in order to survive under all trying circumstances, who I consider the real hero. – I.Q. Calata, ParañaqueCity

A hero is one who fearlessly risks his life to defend his principles or to uplift our country’s situation from the pitfall of degradation and abomination. – C. Gaspar, LaoagCity

I consider a person of exceptional quality who wins admiration by noble deeds, especially deeds of courage, as a hero of all time. – Pedro Alagano, Vigan

My devoted and loving wife. She’s my heroine; she fully cared for me when I met an accident. I wish her success and happiness. – Dave Velasco, Marinduque

Personally, I would call them heroes: Married couples living faithfully and blissfully with each other, solving the problem of infidelity which is so rampant nowadays, and also those married couples maintaining at least a kid or two, solving population explosion. Two main problems of ours today are solved by these heroes. – June Deoferio, Cavite

Those soldiers who died in Mindanao serving their country are all heroes for me. I salute them. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan

Air Force Maj. Mammuel Zambrano is a modern-day hero. He helped countless Filipinos flee from the war zone, and brought medicine and food to people in calamity with his mercy mission. – Vic Alim, CaloocanCity

Our soldiers fighting the MILF rebels are heroes. There’s no telling what would happen to Mindanao and its people if not for these brave soldiers. – E. Linsangan, Isabela

Our soldiers become heroes by fighting our wars. They’re a notch above heroism by fighting a war temporized by our leader’s tentative political will. – C.B. Fundales, Bulacan

I consider the Filipino farmer a hero. He is the sacrificial victim of continually rising prices brought about by the poor economic policies of an inept and corrupt government. He is a sufferer for the cause of the Filipino people who are captive victims of political and economic opportunism and exploitation. When can the Filipino farmer invoke his “unrecovered losses” and fix a higher price for his product to, at least, have a very minimal profit? When can he rise from the level of being just on the receiving end of ill-conceived government programs and policies, and have his voice heard in the much hyped “participatory approach to development”? Ah, the questions are endless for our hero of today, the Filipino farmer. – Mario Tejada, Ilocos Norte

Rice farmers who, in spite of the rising cost of fertilizer, manage to feed their countrymen even as our government opts to import rice rather than to alleviate their plight. – Diony Yap, BacolodCity

In this day and age, I consider people risking their lives to help victims of crime and accidents on the streets as unsung heroes. – Nap Cinco, Rizal

We have our share of modern-day heroes and some of them have not even reached their teens. Four-year-old Chrisanta Seboc from Guimaras, Iloilo saved her three-year-old sister and two- year-old brother when their house caught fire; Rona Mahilum, a young girl from Negros Occidental, sustained third degree burns while saving five brothers and sisters from their burning house; and 13-year-old Aris Espinosa from Lanao, who hurled himself to cover a grenade about to explode which took his life but saved many of his friends. Too bad, unlike soldiers or leaders, modern- day heroes are easily forgotten. Somebody should put up life-size bronze statues to honor them and to set examples for other youth to emulate. – Robert Young Jr., San Juan

Ninoy, with his radical ways, is still my hero. His decisiveness would have served us in good stead now if he were alive. – Jim Veneracion, NagaCity

The likes of Jun Lozada. He was already earning enough and living comfortably but he sacrificed all these so the people may know the truth. God bless him. – Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan

First is Tony Meloto, for his humility and charity, his two spiritual edifices that led him to make Gawad Kalinga possible. Second, our soldiers who risk their lives to protect our country from the threat of war; they are the unsung heroes of our times. – Ella Arenas, Pangasinan

A person who lives a simple, honest and just life and refuses to bow to the influence of a corporeal existence is a hero. A person who refuses to steal public funds in order to support an opulent lifestyle is a hero. A hero is one whose values are not impaired by materialism. – Rey Onate, PalayanCity

I consider all honest, incorruptible, and idealist government officials and employees as today’s heroes. Meron kayang ganyan sa Pilipinas? – Rene Manglinong, Ilocos Sur

The one I consider a hero, in these days when most government officials are corrupt, is a leader who will think of himself as a statesman rather than a politician. As the saying goes, the politician thinks of the next elections, but a statesman thinks of the next generation. We need this hero very badly in our times to extricate us from our plight and to lead us to the land of peace and prosperity. – Vic Sanchez, PasigCity

Among the real heroes of today, Manny Pacquiao tops my list. Pero ang tunay na bayani ay si Fernando, huwag lang tatakbo sa 2010. FM with his fake medals destroyed heroism; Ninoy brought it back. Villar, Ping, Loren, Chiz, Alan Peter and Jinggoy cannot be heroes, kapag walang media, wala nang ganang pumapel. Our soldiers who die fighting the MILF, Abu Sayyaf and NPA, or die when vintage aircrafts crash; and OFWs who prop up our economy, sila ang real heroes. – Gerii Calupitan, MuntinlupaCity

Bill and Melinda Gates. They worked hard for the money. Now that they have enough, they are working hard to give the money away. – Jose Fabello Jr., Misamis Oriental

Bill Gates. He made multi-mode all-weather communications swift for all purposes. It’s a great boon to mankind. – Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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