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The story of the听bayani听鈥 the local term for 鈥渉ero鈥 鈥 is the story of the Filipino people.
In this听B-Side episode, historian and author John Ray B. Ramos tells听大象传媒 reporter Tobias Jared Tomas about the lesser-known side of celebrated heroes and heroes who may have been forgotten: 鈥淥ur history is not a history of defeat, it is not a history of being weak, but rather it is a history of struggle. Our heroes died and fought for the values and ideals we uphold today.鈥
A hero is different from a听bayani.听
Mythic heroes are celebrated for their personalities and their individual journeys.听Bayanis, on the other hand, are tied to their background.听
鈥淵ou cannot separate Jose Rizal from Philippine society, or Andres Bonifacio from the Katipuneros. … You cannot remove them from their context,鈥 said John Ray B. Ramos, a historian and the author of听Bayani Biographies: Jose Rizal听and the coauthor of听Bayani Biographies: Andres Bonifacio, published by Kahel Press. 鈥淭hey are not much different from us. That鈥檚 what makes the stories of our bayanis inspiring.鈥听
Stories matter.听
Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini were 鈥渟uperfans鈥 of听Florante at Laura听by Francisco Balagtas, an epic poem that was an allegory of Spain鈥檚 colonization of the Philippines.
鈥淚t contains themes of society being unequal, unfair, and full of injustices. It left a mark on our听bayanis, which, perhaps, contributed to their 鈥榳okeness,鈥欌 said Mr. Ramos.
History should be taught because heroes die when they are forgotten.听听
鈥淭he story of our heroes will die if we do not continue telling them,鈥 said Mr. Ramos.听听
鈥淜eep telling our story of being Filipinos 鈥 our struggle for freedom, democracy, and equality is a very interesting and inspiring story to tell over and over, and to pass on to the next generations.鈥听
Recorded remotely on April 27, 2022. Produced by Earl R. Lagundino听and听Sam L. Marcelo.
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