The price of freedom

As we celebrate our Independence Day today we can’t do so without a long look at the sacrifices made by so many to achieve it. That’s the true spirit of independence or “kalayaan” and you can be sure that the liberties you are enjoying now came a high cost for those you’ve never even met. Truly I don’t know if the youth or even the older generations still understand the cost of freedom. In our history the cost of our independence was paid in blood.

I know that we take our freedom for granted in so many ways today. The same freedom of speech we have we abuse when we raise our voices in anger at one another and make slanderous claims. The same freedom we have to peaceful protest has lost its meaning when every single week there is a protest about one thing or another. Let’s face it, in so many ways, we’ve forgotten what that freedom or “independence” truly means in our every day lives and squander it.

Now I’ll admit that most of the time it is unintentional. We are just so used to having the freedom that we have now that we don’t stop to think how different our lives would have been if we were born 119 years ago. How one wrong word could have landed us in jail or how having an opinion could put you in front of the firing squad. It seems so much time has passed that we have forgotten what it must have been like to not have liberties and all the sacrifices so many made so that we could enjoy our freedom today.

History buffs have been reminding us for years, and especially in this last year alone, that those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. And that seems to be truer now than ever before. While some kids can give you a rough idea of what we celebrate today most cannot. Most can’t even remember Martial Law era of the 1980s let alone the bloody battles over 100 years ago. They were born into the world they live in now and behave as though that is the way it has always been.

I can’t blame them. Perhaps we have all gotten complacent when it comes to the freedom we enjoy in our every day life. When things don’t go our way we go online and rant about them. We videotape every altercation and put people on trial in the court of public opinion. We elect officials haphazardly and when they fail to live up to our expectations we immediately think of ways to impeach them. We take to the streets without reverence and we think that we are fighting the same way our forefathers did. Honestly, I think most of us can’t even comprehend what that must have been like.

Would you march out of our comfortable homes with the same fervor if you knew you would have to pay the ultimate price? Would your rants on social media be as loud if the punishment was the same? I don’t know. Maybe for some of us they would be but not for the majority who would soon realize that the cost of the actions would need to be paid in blood and sometimes not even by them but by those they love.

I think remembering what our freedom truly cost is something extremely important as we celebrate our Independence Day. It’s even more poignant now than ever before because as we are celebrating here in Manila and around the world, battalions of our soldiers have put their lives on the line in Marawi fighting once again for freedom against terror and oppression. Despite the many conflicting opinions about Marawi one thing remains sure – these men and women are putting their own lives on the line and deserve our respect and admiration.

In fact the cost of sacrifice once again came to light with the viral story of Army Private First Class Dhan Ryan Bayot. His incredible courage in the face of adversity is something that should inspire us all. This young solider was part of the 51st Infantry Battalion team stationed at Barangay Lilod in Marawi serving as additional security for a local government official stationed above their detachment.

Their battalion was attacked with, if reports prove true, the help of the security men of the local executive who were sympathetic with Maute terrorists. The assault was well planned and overwhelming and even though the battalion radioed for reinforcements none could get through because the way was heavily blocked and guarded by hostiles.

After hours of fighting and with most of his comrades dead, Private Bayot knew the inevitable was near. He radioed his commanding officer and instead of pleading for help or expressing anger and anguish at their situation simply requested “Bombahin na lang niyo and location ko, Sir! (Just bomb my location, Sir!).” He knew the end was near for him and he wanted to take down as many enemies as he could. He faced death without fear and chose instead courage and the hopes of making the enemies pay an equally high price. That is a hero and that is the price they are willing to pay.

On May 28 the soldier’s remains and those of his comrades were finally retrieved. And serve as just one of many reminders that there are just as many brave men and women putting their lives on the line for us today, as there were hundreds of years ago. The men and women who serve our country deserve our respect and admiration whatever our political leanings may be. And today, more than any other, we need to give thanks for the freedom that their sacrifices bought and vow not to take it for granted.

Now, more than ever, we must be the watchmen/women of our own history and make sure that every generation remembers it and reveres it. Happy 119th Araw ng Kalayaan, Philippines and may we all endeavor to be better and do better every day.