"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"
Maya Angelou, African American Poet
Veronica is a name of a Santa in Bulusan's Kamahalan (Holy Week). She is the female saint who was there in the most difficult times of Jesus' Passion. Santa Veronica is one of my favorite santas.
In Bulusan, a present day Veronica is in our midst. I don't know her a lot and she does not know me either except for the short professional profiles in the web sites of AGAP, Inc, PRESERVE and LinkIn. But the hundreds of photos depicting her involvement in the various activities of AGAP and PRESERVE kept on recurring. Her images at work in the field as I browse the sites were so remarkable and impressive to be taken for granted. Indeed, a hero is always present in our midst. All we have to do is to 'see'.
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| In the original caption for this photo, Veronica says: "Ready for the Ascent". So true. The communities she serves are mostly upland villages of Bulusan town. |
She lives also in the peripheral communities at the foot of Bulusan Volcano. She hails from the village of Sapngan and is presently residing in Barangay Mabuhay in the Poblacion. With options open to professionals like her, she opted to stay in our hometown to devote her professional life in the service of Bulusan's youth as one of the teachers at the Bulusan National High School. A mother of three kids. A mother who loves mother nature.
As if this is not enough. She volunteered to AGAP, Inc and rose to the ranks of VP for Research and Education. Of course, this VP label is just that, a label. What I'm more interested at are these extraordinary works she has done so far in the real field. In the mountains and forest of Bulusan particularly.
The photos as you will see tell a story of a woman with a passion and persistence in her goal for achieving a healthy environment for us and the future Bulusanons. In silence, I can only gaze at the photos in admiration and realize that passion in the environment knows no gender.
She is a woman with an extraordinary big heart.
She deserves to be called a female warrior. An eco warrior in the league of Philip.
A hero, too! A (s)hero!
In the celebration of the International Women's Day this coming March 8, Veronica is my hero!
Happy International Women's Day, Veronica!
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| With Philip G. Bartilet, the indefatigable co eco-warrior during the 2008 Saringaya Awards. |
post script quote:
"Every society needs heroes. And every society has them. The
reason we don't often see them is because we don't bother to look.
"There are two kinds of heroes. Heroes who shine in the face
of great adversity, who perform an amazing feat in a difficult situation. And
heroes who live among us, who do their work unceremoniously, unnoticed by many
of us, but who make a difference in the lives of others.
Heroes are selfless people who perform extraordinary acts.
The mark of heroes is not necessarily the result of their action, but what they
are willing to do for others and for their chosen cause. Even if they fail,
their determination lives on for others to follow. The glory lies not in the
achievement, but in the sacrifice."
― Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Photographs borrowed from PRESERVE and AGAP-Bulusan, Inc sites.
text by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines
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