It’s No Country For Old Men
Written By: Clarisse P. Marquez
Did I just hear someone say we’re a nation of martyrs? Our national anthem boldly states, “Ang mamatay nang dahil sa ’yo,” idealizing self-sacrifice and purpose as if bloodshed were the ink that wrote our history. But taking these words literally—is it still worth dying for?
Romeo Fontanilla lay lifeless—a cold body, sprawled in an alley in Pasay City. Meanwhile, I was full of life, eagerly anticipating my friend’s call as we planned our trip to another city.
Kian Delos Santos, a minor, was gunned down. He was dragged to the dirt, and forced to get down on his knees before he was shot.
I was dragged to the pit by my own pockets running empty, as I hopped on the plane to another country.
Out in the cold riverside, the body of a 17-year-old covered in blood, was found lifeless. I slouched on the couch, with my Netflix on, ready to grab another bag of chips.
If these ironies can be seen as a line with just two points, I’m just lucky to be on the other end.
There were thousands of victims who have fallen prey to injustice because the old man had no sense of due process. He held the law in his iron fist, and the self-proclaimed success of his war on drugs has mostly targeted the poor as hapless victims. Many of these were killed while in the promising chapter of their youth. It’s a cold-blooded human sacrifice.
Yes, the old man… like the movie No Country For Old Men.
After all, we’ve seen since his reign of terror; he has yet again appeared on television before the Senate hearing, telling the senators, “I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it… I did it for my country.”
For what it’s worth, I know martyrdom has been etched in our Filipino history since time immemorial. Even our national anthem always reminds us “To vanquish the oppressors, we will joyfully offer our lives and die for you.” But this can be traced back to when we were oppressed by our conquerors whose means to resolve conflicts is to wage war and kill.
In this generation, will you joyfully offer your own life to save your country, if there is a better solution? Will you sacrifice someone’s life, in the guise of doing it for your country?
Patriotism and martyrdom have always defined our Filipino roots, but killing does not.
THE BARRISTER 