The Miracle of Dunkirk and the Philippines

There are many survival stories of innocent, young, old, soldiers, leaders, and even those unrecognized heroes way back during World War II. Now, a movie in Netflix entitled “Dunkirk” reminded me of a BBC documentary during the German invasion of France starting in Belgium, led by a brilliant leader but a beast-warrior in his time, Adolf Hitler.

The Miracle of Dunkirk or commonly known as the Dunkirk Evacuation portrays the 300,000 allied British and French troops who were trapped by the Germans on the beach of Dunkirk, France. Their rescue was not done in perfect evacuation plan because Germans by the advent of their first communication technology were able to strike France through their air force. One thing I admire in the story is that many British civilians risked their lives by sailing their yachts and fishing boats across the English Channel to help the trapped soldiers reach Britain. Another civilian also offered them food, water, and clothes and congratulated the survivors.

Now, I imagine our country, the Philippines as we try to survive this pandemic crisis. We are not only trying to survive here but on our own cause we are also dividing our way to victory. We are not only fighting the virus but fighting each other’s beliefs. How and when can we learn solidarity? Do we have to wait for more bloodshed, war, and bombs dropped from the air to help us feel the need to unite? “Ganito ba talaga ang tadhana natin? Kalaban ng kalaban. Kalaban ng kakampi? Nakakapagod.” “Malaking trabaho ang pagkaisa ang bansang watak-watak,” according to Antonio Luna, a Filipino army general who fought in the Philippine-American war.

Like the movie Dunkirk and how many soldiers tried to survive, when can we live like soldiers who can patiently wait for help? Who can we patiently hide from enemies though starve to death, who can patiently respect and follow an order, who can think of other wounded soldiers first than our own self? In other words, when can we learn to patiently wait for the government’s promise of relief goods and amelioration? When can we learn to prioritize other’s needs first than our wants? When can we learn to follow a national order? When can we have self-control? If we don’t know the answer yet maybe like an enhanced quarantine pass, it is because we believe our right to criticize a government is an opportunity for us to live how and what we want to live life. God bless the Philippines!

Edmer John Caballes

Cebu City