The Last Man Standing

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
-Joseph Campbell-

Heroes can be anyone, they can be everywhere. It isn’t measured whether you have
superpowers nor how big or small the things you’ve done, being one requires a great responsibility
but of course it comes also with the pleasure of helping others that is indeed irreplaceable and
considered worth a king’s ransom. Simply, being a hero is a sacrifice of oneself for the sake of
each and every person around the globe. How would the world be, without those people who are
always doing something to help others?

Simeon Arboleda Ola, born in Guinobatan, Albay on September 2, 1865, was the man who
has the record in the history as the last general to surrender in the American Forces. The man who
led the Bicolanos to fight for their freedom. A true hero indeed. The story begins on January 1900
wherein the American soldiers invaded the province of Albay. Though, the Bicolanos fought really
hard, the powerful weaponry of the marauders swiftly defeated them, but still, he continued to
fight so that his men will not be discouraged and more men will join his army. With the army of
Colonel Engracio Orence, he fought valiantly in the battle of Binogsacan in Guinobatan, Albay.
His army rested for over a month in July 1901 when he accompanied General Belarmino to Manila.
He resumed his campaign in August by raiding the town of Oas, Albay. On August 12, 1902, he
ambushed the American detachment at Macabugos, Ligao.

Ola became a marked man to the Americans. Although his troops were easily repulsed
during battles, the Americans took him seriously. He is a bright leader; he knows how to make
things possible and real. He used the caves around his territory as headquarters for planning attacks
since American soldiers are not trained to this kind of terrain. As a result, from March to October
1903, the Americans set up the reconcentration system as a means to stop Ola’s activities. Because
of the damage it caused even to the innocent civilians, they turned into negotiations. They sent
Ramon Santos and Major Jesse S. Garwood of the Constabulary as emissaries to negotiate for his
surrender, which he politely refused. Instead, he carried on his battle. On July 15, 1903, he
ambushed the 31st Philippine Scout Garrison under the command of Sergeant Nicolas Napoli in
Joveliar, Albay. In the end, some Filipinos convinced Ola to surrender to have peace in their town.
He became open to the agreement set by Colonel Harry H. Bandholtz, the Assistant Commander
of the Constabulary in Lucena, Tayabas, for his surrender, yet it doesn’t mean that he lost. Simply,
he understood that heroes lead as much by what they choose not to do as by what they choose to
do.

It is indeed that the long battle journey of General Simeon Ola is a clear testimony that
heroes aren’t born, rather they are created. Heroes choose to use “power” in a way that is selfless
and protect others. However, nowadays, there is this concept of pretended heroism. Examples of
this phenomenon include the so-called exploits of terrorists, destroying hundreds of people for the
sake of some idea. This is a vivid example of false, erroneous heroism, since no ghostly goal is
worth a drop of innocent blood spilled. Radically-minded young people engaged in real
hooliganism, next to banditry, and boasting of their actions, can also be attributed to pretended
heroes. Whatever the case is, real heroism is not measured by time, age nor gender, anyone can be
a hero, always aimed at the benefit of others and is committed in the name of a noble goal, having
the ability under any circumstances to preserve honor and dignity, to remain faithful and devoted
to one’s own principles and moral standards.