A Reason Why I Love to Read

"The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead. And it's as if a hand has come out, and taken yours."

- Hector (The History Boys, 2006)

go McDo Iligan. wahaha

After 58 years of being a city, Iligan finally has a McDonald's.  One progress at a time.

Padayun sa paglambo Iligan!  Hahaha

of the Dark Knight and Juan Luna

"The hero Gotham needs, not the hero it deserves" was the description for Harvey Dent.  The people saw him as their hope and savior, even if he was the hero who became the villain in the end.  His image of a hero, a good man, and an incorruptible person had to be maintained for the people not to lose hope.  Harvey Dent was the exact description of the hero that Gotham wanted.

This brings to my mind the person of Juan Luna.  I attended a talk done by Ambeth Ocampo, and as usual, he said stuff that history books never mention.  One discovery I made was that Juan Luna murdered his wife and mother-in-law.  His act was premeditated.  It was not an act of passion.  He deliberately killed them.

Ocampo said that facts like these are never mentioned because they tarnish the reputation of the hero.  Heroes are people that everyone looks up to.  Everyone wants to emulate the heroes.  People might lose hope if they know their heroes are not that heroic after all (off topic: Ocampo showed a picture of Rizal, Luna, and others smoking pot... wahaha).

Maybe there is no perfect hero.  The heroes in the Philippines may only be versions of Harvey Dent.  Or maybe our heroes are exactly what the Philippines deserve, and we just distort their image according to what we need.  Mga bayaning third world.

of the Dark Knight and Juan Luna

"The hero Gotham needs, not the hero it deserves" was the description for Harvey Dent.  The people saw him as their hope and savior, even if he was the hero who became the villain in the end.  His image of a hero, a good man, and an incorruptible person had to be maintained for the people not to lose hope.  Harvey Dent was the exact description of the hero that Gotham wanted.

This brings to my mind the person of Juan Luna.  I attended a talk done by Ambeth Ocampo, and as usual, he said stuff that history books never mention.  One discovery I made was that Juan Luna murdered his wife and mother-in-law.  His act was premeditated.  It was not an act of passion.  He deliberately killed them.

Ocampo said that facts like these are never mentioned because they tarnish the reputation of the hero.  Heroes are people that everyone looks up to.  Everyone wants to emulate the heroes.  People might lose hope if they know their heroes are not that heroic after all (off topic: Ocampo showed a picture of Rizal, Luna, and others smoking pot... wahaha).

Maybe there is no perfect hero.  The heroes in the Philippines may only be versions of Harvey Dent.  Or maybe our heroes are exactly what the Philippines deserve, and we just distort their image according to what we need.  Mga bayaning third world.