Relentless men may not be but could be more than heroes depending on how history judges them. Starting from home my choice of relentless men are at first very few: Andres Bonifacio, Goyo del Pilar, Vibora. In the world over, the biographies of relentless men will fill a convention size library. Because every relentless one is a book of many books yet to be written. In Canada three names come to mind: Louis David Riel, William Lyon Mackenzie and Pierre Elliot Trudeau. In the USA they are many: Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and others referred to in nostalgia as the Founding Fathers. Every country large or small have their own relentless men all dyed in the wool albatrosses. They soar in boundless seas and sky of conflicted societies; careless and amorous with adorable women, restless and tireless to inflict change in the faith and fates of their fellowmen.
The lives of these relentless men are not perfect, unblemished or unsoiled by their feet of clay. Jesus the Christ leads them all as both God and relentless man in his preaching and ceremonious death. As man Jesus Christ was alleged to have sired with Mary Magdalene as His descendants future French Kings. But Jesus the man was relentless, inexorable and fearless even of the agony of crucifixion. Jesus died as the albatross of sinners. But when He came back as God incarnate and met adorable her in the garden Jesus won’t (Noli Me Tangere) let Mary Magdalene touch Him again.
That’s biblical, to be historical (not historic) let me be at home musing over Filipino relentless men. Andres Bonifacio was more a foot soldier, a bolo (bush knife) man than a swords buckler of a general. As reported by witnesses he was stabbed and hacked (probably with bolos) to death while lying sick in a hammock. His mind habituated the bigger world of the French Revolution, yet he preferred fighting shoulder-to-shoulder little battles with his men. He was relentless. Floated on the surface of ocean waves. Soared against the wind, trailing the ship of his countrymen. Until unaware of his speed in the vastness of the open sea, miscalculated his flight, landed, hit the deck and died, without seeing the distant shore of his country’s liberty, equality, fraternity.
The other relentless called “Boy” General because he was young to be one, Gregorio “Goyo” del Pilar emerged unscathed from skirmishes and significant battles of the revolt against Spain. Unexpected from a newly graduated Atenean, he fought last and died for a symbol, defending a fleeing President. Even a Kevlar could not have save him in the Battle of Tirad Pass where shot in the neck, his corpse unburied, was left to the embrace of the elements. Sometime later an American officer found his decaying body, gave him a military burial, with head stone unnamed but inscribed “an Officer and a Gentleman”.
In his photos, this Boy General’s sword was more a symbol of rank and glamor, not of his courage and pistol – like the photos with a sword of General George Patton who was more known for brandishing and firing his caliber forty-five.
Relentless Filipinos just like their foreign counterpart perhaps do not aspire to be heroes. Heroism may accept mistakes of principles, and is not confined to opposing and not surrendering. Some can even be branded as traitors or killers but relenting, giving in, is not their game. They know what empowers the greedy thieves or corrupt manipulators among national leaders.
A play with words can play light (not disrespect) of the Philippine Army whose father it was said is a viper. General Artemio “Vibora” Ricarte of the revolt against Spain and the war against the Americans. He fought a continual and protracted battle against turn of the century Philippine invaders. General Ricarte was said to have organized the Makapili who went after the guerrillas during the last days of WWII. Vibora was relentless as struggling restauranteur in Yokohama in Japan, as warrior opposing and even siding with invaders. He preferred to suffer than raised his hand in oath of allegiance to his perceived enemy of his people. He is buried in Manila’s Heroes Cemetery. Vibora’s life demonstrates the heroism-treason equation paradox. One side can diminish or cancel the other side. Hero or traitor does not diminish their being relentless men.
The Albatross men (my choice) of Canada like Riel, Mackenzie, and Trudeau among several, can hazard the proposition that the modern day Canadian known for their indomitable spirit, resolute character and calm demeanor is the embodiment, the amalgam of the positive attributes of their three forebears. How he died and for why, that is Louis Riel; how hard he lived and bloodied the noses of the elite that’s William Lyon Mackenzie and how his people take his humble funeral in silent grandeur as they send him to his final resting place is the singular measure of Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s stature among his people. Pierre’s son Justin could well be Prime Minister soon of Canada if voters are convinced he could be as relentless as his Dad in tackling their public interest issues. Watch a Canadian hockey game, digest the players and the cheering audience and be perplexed of the paradox mix play of violence and the fans who are apostles of non-violence.
It is not for me to specify, amplify and magnify the lives of these three relentless Canadian Albatross, besides being in the books, immigrants and newcomers encounter them daily with the Canadians extra ordinarily care for their kids and the elderly, personified mostly in a good way.
The punch line of this piece is the here and now. Stephen Harper so I read about him was once an active student, drawn into political activities, became a Secretary to an MP but did not enjoy the genre, went home to become a teacher who needed a master’s degree, who asked his professor who is the philosopher he must read, was told, that’s not done anymore (reading philosophers?) enticing him more to be versed on the subject. Drawn again to politics, he run and beat his former boss? in Ottawa, became a minority PM. Relentless he won the majority votes along with the watchful eye and critical scalpel of media. Would he now be training his successor.
Who (as of June 6) will be the transient Albatross (good luck and bad luck) of Ontario? Kathleen Wynne or Tim Hudak or Andrea Horwath? Regardless of their political platforms, the campaign and the debate, their alacrity or mediocrity; their being somehow RELENTLESS on how as their Premier will POSITIVELY affect their daily lives, will nail the voter’s choice.
Canada Day vis-à-vis Philippines Day
Should not be part of this piece but as a SALUTE– It’s July 1st—Canada Day! A Day for what and why? For those who believe and live the peace and the struggle for a good life where the need for hope is so distant; not invoke or necessary where the first nations grew, co-existed and so surviving with the second (the French) , the third (the British) the fourth (the Europeans) and the fifth (the millenium immigrants) all 35 million bodies and souls climbing the top of the heap of 190 undisputed nations. Why the need for even just a Day only to remember? To be proud of? A Day to start progressive continuity, to be merry and properly carefree? To exult one’s existence ? to increase and lengthen the miles between the good old days and the coming bad nowadays?
When is Philippines Day? A Day that calls not for hope but celebrates thanksgiving; a greedless day even for commerce to declare just one of 365 days honest discounts of 80%; a “politicians-free-day” of deceit and thievery; a day of oneness for all the undetermined number of tribes; a day when leaders’ heads held high in celebration of single day when corruption in sacred and sin places started to decline and die?
Perhaps among the World’s Richest in National Holy and Holidays, there are lots (18? of 365) of holy and holidays, changing and fluctuating every year : Independence Day, Rizal Day, National Heroes Day, All Saint’s Day, EDSA Revolution Day, etc. etc. There are 104 Saturdays and Sundays, plus 18 holidays which approximates 122 days and leave only 243 working days for the year . . .
BUT THERE IS NO PHILIPPINES DAY—twenty -four hours for the country alone. Many is heard to say: Patriotism is what we lack today. Perhaps it’s because the minority politicians are so busy hoodwinking the populous poor, thieving for that mansion and trips abroad while the majority are breaking their backs for the next meal. I simply want a Philippines Day to explain why regardless or despite everything, the stay Home and Global Filipino keep on smiling.
