Read-Along lesson: It’s hard but you can be a hero

HEROES Villaflor (left) and Rariza (right) flank Malvar, Diola and Abacan at the Inquirer Read-Along session marking National Heroes Day. ROMY HOMILLADA

SOME 60 children aged 6 to 12 listened to tales of courage, selflessness and sacrifice during the special Inquirer Read-Along session on Saturday to commemorate National Heroes Day.

“Is it really difficult to become like you?” Vincent, 10, asked Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor of the Philippine Army, a 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos awardee and one of the session’s featured storytellers.

“Yes, it is,” Villaflor said. “We have sacrifices to make but they don’t matter because we do our job to serve our nation.”

The other readers were teen actress Therese Malvar, veteran storyteller Ann Abacan and Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Filipinos awardees Police Senior Supt. Mario Rariza Jr. and teacher Winona Diola.

Malvar opened the session with “Carancal: Ang Bayaning Isang Dangkal,” Rene Villanueva’s story about a small boy who outsmarted a giant and helped free an entire town.

The young actress recently won the Silver St. George Award for best actress at the 38th Moscow International Film Festival and the Screen International’s Rising Star Award at the New York Asian Film Festival for her role in the award-winning independent film “Hamog.”

“All the stories read today had a unifying message—that even if you are young, you can still be a modern-day hero. Nothing should stop you from helping your country,” said Malvar, who is in the cast of GMA 7’s new show “Oh My Mama.”

Abacan read “Si Makisig” by Lamberto Antonio, a retelling of Lapu-Lapu’s Battle of Mactan through the eyes of a brave boy who showed heroism and love of country.

Villaflor, Rariza and Diola gave an interactive rendition of Rene Villanueva’s “Patrolman Ngiyaw,” a story about a cat police officer who is committed to his job without expecting any reward.

Persevere, give your best

Rariza, who admitted that he could relate to the story’s protagonist being a police officer, said heroism should not come with a price.

“Kids must learn to persevere and to give their best to any task that will be assigned to them no matter how unexciting it is. The reward may not come right away—but eventually,” said Rariza, deputy director of the Philippine National Police Community Relations Group.

Stressing that heroism is not limited to fighting for or dying for the country, Diola, a teacher for over two decades, said everyone can be a hero in simple ways.

“Every small act of kindness, when done consistently, could create a large impact. What matters most is how you expressed compassion to others, without expecting any recognition,” said Diola, a Grade 5 Science teacher at De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City.

Villaflor said children do not necessarily have to become a soldier who fights against enemies of the society to be called a hero.

“Simple acts like obeying your parents are already heroism. You need not to do extraordinary acts like dying for the country just so you can be called a hero,” said Villaflor, chief of staff of the Special Operations Command at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Vangie Abrazaldo, who accompanied the children from Laura Vicuña Foundation, said: “I think mothers are modern day heroes. Mothers sacrifice a lot to take care of their families and to be with their children. That makes mothers like me heroic.”

Saturday’s session was hosted by Inquirer Research’s Rafael Antonio and was held in cooperation with Laarni Luna of Metrobank Foundation, Robert Mendoza of GMA 7, Cherry Malvar, Mandaluyong Elementary School, Antonio Regidor Elementary School, Juan Sumulong Elementary School and Laura Vicuña Foundation.