31/08/2026
LUZVIMINDA ILAGAN
SALUDO: MGA KWENTO NG TAPANG AT PAGLILINGKOD
DAVAO CITY
31 AUGUST 2026
Today, in anticipation of the celebration of National Heroes Day, we honor our heroes, the veterans of the past world war.
We remember Teofilo Gamutan, who recently passed away at 103 years old, and Sir Florante Mallari, the oldest veteran at present, who celebrated his 101st birthday yesterday. And Sir Rufino Simon, Jr., who is still around, celebrating with us at 98 years old.
And among us here also, Florencio Reyes, a retired naval officer, 78 years old. Jesus Lingaolingao, of the Philippine Army, aged 77, while the rest are in their 70s and 60s, the youngest being 51 years old.
Idadagdag ko na rin ang aking edad, 80 taong gulang na ako. I was born after the war.
So, let us give them all a warm round of applause. So, when we are in the company of these brave men, no longer young, or when we join their families in events like this that commemorate the historic moments of victory, we realize we owe so much to them.
Their sacrifices, the valiant fight against the invaders, the courage they displayed during the bitter years of the war, and the unequalled heroism. These tell us that we would have been born into a different world if the war ended in a different way. And so, in school, we are taught that we are enjoying peace because of the heroism of our compatriots who endured the hardships of war, rest, and even gave up their lives for the mother country.
We are also told there are many kinds of peace. There is a peace that settles over a nation when a war is over. It falls under the definition that the absence of conflict is equal to peace.
Kung walang digmaan, may kapayapaan. Some may agree with this definition, others may not. It does not always follow that way.
For they say that the absence of war does not automatically bring peace. There is also the peace that comes after a lengthy, lengthy dispute over property, ‘yung nag-aagawan sa lupa at nag-aagawan ng ari-arian. Neighbors, even families, fight over inheritance.
After a judgment by the court, masosolusyunan ang alitan, ngunit walang kasiguraduhan kung may kapayapaan, dahil hindi lahat ay marunong tumanggap ng aksyon o desisyong ipatutupad.
Then there is the permanent peace that comes at the end of our lives, ang rest in peace. Walang katiyakan kung saan tayo patungo pagkatapos niyan.
And when we talk of peace, we cannot help but connect it to freedom. Peace is expected to bring about the enjoyment of personal and collective freedoms. And freedom means the ability to make choices.
As a senior citizen with health challenges, can I go to the hospital anytime when needed without worrying about the cost of medicines and confinement?
Do parents have to make a choice between sending children to school or making them drop out because tuition is very high?
Will the poor stop making a painful choice between food and medicine? Ano ang dapat unahin.
These are just a few of the unpleasant situations when choices have to be made and the answers show the extent of the freedom people want to enjoy or are deprived of. I am reminded of an essay, the lesson I taught when I was still a teacher. It is an article by Salvador P. Lopez, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, well-known writer, educator.
And he said, “freedom and economics are intertwined and that the problem of human freedom is basically an economic problem”. True freedom for an individual is nurtured by conditions of contentment and plenty.
Ang tunay na kalayaan ay uunlad kung may kaginhawaan sa buhay. Kung may maraming problema, at kung nagkakaroon ng problema sa pagpili kung anong desisyon ang kailangan na gawin, when choices are limited, there is no real freedom.
It is not a mere narrative of a desperate situation. It is a strategic reminder that we cannot just sit and accept the despotic impositions of the government on our citizens.
The rising cost of fuel that results to escalating prices of basic commodities, the loss of jobs and opportunities, unemployment which causes dropping out of school of children, the impossibly high cost of hospitalization, and the many deprivations experienced by young and old alike.
They are all economic in nature. And they have grave consequences on the decreasing choices that the ordinary Filipino family faces because of increasing poverty and deprivation. The middle class has become the new poor and the poor have sunk farther into impoverishment.
In the words of Salvador P. Lopez, he said, “scarcity leads to want and want leads to despair and anger”.
Ang kakulangan at kahirapan ay nagdudulot ng matinding pangangailangan, na kalaunan ay maaaring magbunga ng galit at desperasyon sa mga mamamayan.
Ang mamamayang desperado dahil sa kahirapan na kanilang nararanasan at hindi na naiintindihan kung bakit ito ang mga pangyayari ngayon ay mawawalan ng pag-asa at mas mabilis na mabibihag ng isang kapangyarihang mabangis at malupit. Cruel and oppressive.
Ngunit ang mamamayang namulat at nakakaintindi kung ano at sino ang dahilan ng kanilang pagkaalipin ay gagawa ng hakbang upang maputol ang tanikala ng kahirapan at makamit ang tunay na kalayaan.
Malinaw na may kaugnayan ang malayang kalagayan at ang pang-ekonomiyang kalagayan ng mamamayan.
Freedom and economics are closely intertwined. So, as we honor our heroes today, who gave us freedom and peace from war, let us show our gratitude. Restore peace and give us back the economic freedoms we all aspire for.
Maayong hapon!
