𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻

Text by Mandie Asejo | Graphic by Mary Ruth Orendain | Layout by Angel Chogyomon

Ghosts are often seen as figures of fear and mystery, existing in the shadows of our thoughts. Yet, there is a more haunting specter: to become a ghost in your own land—a forgotten hero whose sacrifices are erased from collective memory. For the countless individuals who poured their blood and sweat into shaping this nation, the thought of being forgotten is a chilling reality.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤….

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗘𝗿𝗮, 𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟴: 𝗔 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳

In the deep forests of the Philippines during the Spanish occupation, a mother mourned her daughter. She was gone, murdered at the hands of colonial oppressors. The woman, consumed by grief and anger, sought justice, not only for her daughter but for her country.

“They crushed her dignity as a woman and when that wasn’t enough, they took her life,” she cried.

This mother’s story represents countless women who, driven by personal loss, became part of the revolution. Their fight was not just for their families but for a nation yearning for freedom. On that fateful night, when Andrés Bonifacio called for Filipinos to tear apart their cedulas as a symbol of defiance, this mother’s resolve solidified.

“I will fight for you, for our country,” she whispered to her daughter’s memory. “May our sacrifices never be forgotten.”

But history did forget her name, as it did with many who fought valiantly but anonymously. Her story, however, lives on as a symbol of the countless mothers who fueled the revolution with their grief and hope for a better future.

𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗿𝗮, 𝟭𝟵𝟭𝟮: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁

The American occupation brought new challenges to the Filipino people, but some individuals never wavered in their fight for independence. Romano Ongpin, a businessman and patriot, was one such figure. Though not born Filipino, Ongpin’s love for the Philippines was undeniable.

As he lay on his deathbed in 1912, his final request was simple: to wear the barong Tagalog, a symbol of his love for the country.

“You are truly a hero of our nation,” whispered a loved one by his side. “Though you were not born a pure Filipino, your love for the freedom of this cherished land makes you a true son of the Philippines.”

Ongpin’s name is one of the few remembered today, but his story reflects the contributions of many other lesser-known patriots who helped arm Filipinos during both the Spanish and American occupations. They, too, deserve a place in the annals of history.

𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗮, 𝟭𝟵𝟰𝟰: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

The Japanese occupation during World War II introduced a new wave of suffering for the Philippines. In the province of Leyte, a quiet schoolteacher named Nieves Fernandez transformed into one of the fiercest guerilla leaders the nation had ever seen.

Miss Fernandez, as she was known by her students, lived a simple life before the war. But when the Japanese invaded and terrorized the people of Leyte, she became a symbol of resistance. Armed with a bolo knife and a determination to protect her people, she led local fighters in the battle against their oppressors.

Under her leadership, the people of Leyte resisted the invaders, and her name became synonymous with hope and defiance. Yet, despite her remarkable courage, her name has largely faded from public memory, overshadowed by more prominent figures.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻

The stories of these individuals—A mother’s story, Romano Ongpin, and Captain Nieves Fernandez—highlight a critical reality: true heroism is often forgotten. The names we learn in textbooks are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a rich tapestry of unsung heroes whose bravery shaped the Philippines but whose legacies remain unrecognized.

These figures remind us that history is not just written by generals and politicians. It is shaped by the ordinary citizens who, in extraordinary times, rise to protect their families, their neighbors, and their country. The ghosts of the past linger not because they haunt us, but because we have not yet given them the remembrance they deserve.

𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

To be forgotten is a fear that haunts many, yet the power to shape a lasting legacy remains in the hands of each individual. Whether through acts of bravery, sacrifice, or unwavering patriotism, these unsung heroes left a mark on the Philippines that will never be entirely erased, even if their names are lost to time.

It Is up to us to remember them—not just the heroes whose names fill our history books, but the countless others whose contributions are just as significant. Their stories live on in the hearts of those who understand that true patriotism is not about recognition but about the lasting impact on the future.

The fear of becoming a forgotten hero is real, but the stories of these unsung figures—Andeng’s grieving mother, Romano Ongpin, and Nieves Fernandez—remind us that true heroism transcends recognition. These forgotten heroes laid the foundation for the freedom we enjoy today. It is through our collective memory that their legacy will continue to live on.