In hallowed halls of our history, there are heroes that are already ingrained in our consciousness. Their ideal acts of selflessness and bravery go side by side with images that associate the hero with the deed. During our formative years, we have been generously supplemented with artistic renditions of our heroes. Add those images with comics, films, television series, etc., and we now begin to develop visual constructs of Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, Luna, and the like, that could be essential in building a strong sense of identity in relation to one’s country.
But what can we say about the less popular heroes? What tangible images do we have of them? One example is a grand old lady celebrating her 200th birth anniversary this year. Melchora Aquino, who goes by the name Tandang Sora, was called the Mother of the Katipunan. At the ripe old age of 84, she went out of her way to help the Katipunan by taking care of the sick and being an all-around mother to the revolutionaries who were caught in the struggle for Philippine Independence. She was interrogated by the Spaniards and was squeezed for information regarding the Katipunan, but she didn’t share any that would harm her ‘”sons” which led to her eventual exile to the Marianas. Tandang Sora went back and found her country under the Stars and Stripes; she died in 1919 at the age of 107.Her contribution to the cause of the Philippine Revolution of 1896—one of our finest moments as a nation—is a genuine example of our altruistic nature. But what images do we have of her? We are only left with portraits of her in her advanced age, donning traditional Filipiniana garments or in the act of treating a wounded Katipunero. There’s always of look of concern in her eyes, motherly and affectionate.
Looking back at the lives of our heroes is crucial for us to discover our capabilities as individuals and as a nation. They are the benchmarks of the ideals that we can and are bound to reach. Their virtues should serve as intangible talismans that will envelop and empower us through the rigors of modern-day living. As for Tandang Sora, her value to us goes beyond the image and that should be enough for now.
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