FOR many, heroism may sound like an antiquated word, synonymous with paper money and monuments. But beyond the revolutionaries of the 19th century and the soldiers of the 20th remain those who have the power to inspire. They are heroes for a new generation. While some may have sacrificed their lives, all of them have spent their lifetime working to effect a profound change in Philippine society.
Perfectly distilling that idea is Bookmark?s line of children?s book called Modern Heroes for the Filipino Youth, a series conceived by company president Amb. Bienvenido Tan Jr.
?The idea is to give proper role models to our youth and to teach English,? Tan says of the series and of Bookmark?s collaboration with the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation on another series called the Great Men and Women of ASIA.
Tan gathered a group of writers and artists at the Manila Polo Club in January 2008, who drew up a list of new role models for the Filipino youth. A panel led by Tan and editorial head Eddie Yabut vetted the manuscripts and later that year, the books started coming out. The most recent title was released in April.
The seven titles so far are: ?A Life with the Poor,? on Sister Mary Christine Tan, RGS, by Didith Tan Rodrigo as illustrated by Mheri-Anne Andes; ?Musician for the Filipino Church,? about Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, by Lin Acacio Flores with illustrations by Jomike Tejido; ?The Reluctant Hero,? on banker Jaime Velayo Ongpin, also by Flores as illustrated by Jerome Jacinto; ?Edjop: A Child of the Storm,? on activist Edgardo Mirasol Jopson, by Ed Maranan as illustrated by Ariel Santillan; ?The Teacher,? on food writer Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz with illustrations by Mheri-Anne Andes; ?The General,? on military man Vicente Podico Lim, by Kitkat R. Torres as illustrated by Jomike Tejido, and ?Ninoy Aquino: A Courageous Homecoming? by Lara Saguisag as illustrated by Quix Maiquez. Tan says Bookmark hopes to eventually roll out 24 titles.
Working on the books themselves proved to be an illuminating experience for the writers. ?Edjop? is the eighth book for Bookmark by the award-winning Ed Maranan. Jopson, the student leader famously described by former President Marcos as ?that son of a grocer? went underground during martial law to pursue his ideals. He died under military custody in 1982 at the age of 34.
Maranan was working on a rock musical about martyred activists Jopson and Evelio Javier when the project came along. ?I guess it was just natural for me to have chosen to write on these two historical figures, having been an activist myself before and during martial law,? he says.
Being part of the First Quarter Storm himself, Maranan felt both nostalgia and loss when he was writing about Jopson. The challenge was clear: ?How to make the story of a moderate activist turned radical an interesting one for today?s children, who are more attuned to cartoon characters and celluloid heroes.?
For Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, writing about Doreen Fernandez whom she personally knew meant ?reliving all that meant much to her, everything she enjoyed and was proud of.? She adds: ?It was retracing the many paths she took and hearing from students and friends and relatives how well-loved and appreciated she was. I felt she was just beside me again, ready to chat and to listen.?
It took Cruz six months to write ?The Teacher,? talking to colleagues and reviewing Fernandez?s books. Fernandez was a dedicated theater and culinary historian who was also a tireless teacher and a food columnist for the Inquirer. She died of pneumonia in 2002.
?She was not on my original list of personal choices,? confides Cruz, ?but someone reminded me I should write about her because I knew her so well.? Researching such a vibrant life was an experience she savored, she adds.
Aside from the books? artistic and literary charms, the Modern Heroes series highlights the value of tireless individuals in fields other than politics or showbiz who might otherwise go unnoticed by uninformed, apathetic students.
?They need to see that there are many teachers like Doreen who challenge, encourage and draw out the best in their students,? Cruz says. ?May students aspire to be in Doreen?s mold.?
Maranan thinks Jopson certainly deserves to be emulated as well. ?I think Edjop is the quintessential role model for the youth,? he explains. ?Had he survived martial law, he could have gone on to become the best Philippine president ever. One could say he possessed the vision of Rizal, the passion of Bonifacio, and the courage of both.?
Bookmark plans to continue the series, putting out more books and presenting more new role models for the young. ?Being able to contribute to the production of appropriate reading materials for our youth gives us satisfaction,? Yabut says. The range of books so far ? on religious individuals, the radical, the martyred and the mentor ? reflects and celebrates the immense diversity of lives worth emulating: new heroes risen among the rest of us. ?
