A Reaction to Tess Uriza Holthe's book WHEN THE ELEPHANTS DANCE
He places a hand on my head. "I do not hide, Alejandro. Remember this day. Remember how everyone fought together. Keep it in your heart, and never let anyone divide us again. As for me, I will try to build something from what remains. My soul needs time to heal. I go now to see where this new peace shall lead us. Please, tell the others goodbye." - Domingo Matapang
I don't read news anymore from the Pinoy land. There is nothing more to read, except the lines of politicians bent on destroying a country that was built by a brave generation of World War Two Pinoys. I wonder how those Filipinos who were murdered on the streets of Manila, whose corpses rotted as they fed the flies, I wonder what they would say if they'd see the Philippines today. I wonder how they'd react to the current crop of Filipino politicians who don't give a hoot about the country. A generation of Pinoys who are so easily swayed by the call of wealth and power no matter what, that is the most painful thing to see - the Filipinos today, especially those in politics are no longer the remains of a Brave People. What they are is a bunch of greedy people who will be willing to destroy one another; destroy the whole nation even; as long as they can maneuver their way to political positions.
And I don't read about them anymore. I am not interested in listening to them. They are no better than the Japanese Occupiers. They can destroy the Pinoy country all they want but they cannot destroy the spirit of the Filipinos.
For so many years I cried and screamed and wrote and wrote about giving our country a chance. All our country needs is a sacrifice from many of our politicians. But no one listened. They instead looked at ways on how to fool the nation, take advantage of the poor's ignorance, ignore their cries for peace, job, security, progress.
The Remains of a Brave Honorable People are gone.
So I no longer read anything about those who are left to occupy our country. I read Filipino books. In these books, I hide my pain. I hide myself in the company of Filipino authors who still value what is honorable, principled, brave, honest and country-first idealism in our country. I still find them.
In the Filipino books.
At a time the Philippines goes through another cycle of ridiculous politics, I find it inspiring to read this book about the Filipino struggle during World War Two.
This book has it all: bravery, honor, pride, fight for principles, intelligence, patience, kindness, friendship, community spirit.
This book has it all: cruelty, murder, death, rape, selfishness, betrayal, famine, disease, inhumane destruction of families, corpses thrown on Manila streets.
And a band of Filipinos who survive their pain through the stories they tell each others. This band hides from the Japanese cruelty inside a house - despite their arguments and quarrels and their adjustments to their own imperfections - as one by one, they narrate: myths and legends, the fight between good and evil, eye-blinking fish, men seeing ghosts, Spanish cruelty and destruction, love taken for granted, friendships lost and regained, wealth turned into poverty.
In between their stories, their reality seeps in - a daughter comes back after being raped, (she preferred to be raped than have a child be raped). A son accused of Makapili(Japanese sympathizer) turns into a patriot. A father looking for a son is captured instead. A father sees his entire family wiped out because of his principles. A mother does not stop hoping for the return of a loved one, as she watches the last meal she could serve consumed.
And a sure death they all fight to defy.
As they are huddled in a warehouse meant to burn them, they fight - men, women, children, old men, old women, rich, poor. Upon realizing they outnumber the last Japanese soldiers that are guarding them, they murder them and free themselves from the impending holocaust.
This book is about ordinary people becoming extra-ordinary heroes. They put our contemporary Filipinos to shame.
This book is about honor, courage, bravery - all names attirbuted to the characters.
And this, my friends, is the panoramic view of this wonderful novel which to me is so appropriate to read by all of us who care about our country.
It's a better read than the stupid news items coming from Manila nowadays. Lets forget the pain the politiicans inflict upon us everyday. Lets read ours stories that carry the thoughts of the remains of a Brave Honorable People.
NEXT TO READ - "But For the Lovers" another war-time novel
