Unrecognized Successor
Bryan B. Arguilles
What would you do if you have already sacrificed almost all that you have just for your countrymen and receive nothing in return? What would you do if those heroic deeds that you have done that almost kill yourself didn’t gain even just a minute recognition? Isn’t it that you will feel very bad and disappointed? Yes, of course! You will definitely feel very bad and disappointed if those countrymen of yours you have fought hard for didn’t acknowledged all that you have done just for their long-sought freedom. Luckily, General Miguel Malvar didn’t felt this pain for he died with confidence that he have contributed a lot for the freedom of the Philippines, enough for him to be thanked and recognized by his countrymen. But, is that so? I don’t think so.
He died one day of a liver ailment on October 13, 1911 at a young age of 46. He was buried in his hometown in Batangas which has been named in his honor. Yes, I know what you are thinking. You think that I might have been mistaken for I said that he is not that recognized because a town in Batangas called Malvar was named after him. Yes, it’s true. Malvar, Batangas is named in his honor but it’s just the place, it’s just the town. How about his role in the Philippine Revolution and in the Philippine-American War? Try asking an adult in Malvar, Batangas of who they think is Miguel Malvar and I’m pretty sure that the majority of them didn’t know that much about him. Try asking a typical child in that place of the same question and I’m pretty sure that no one would answer a clear and right one. Not as clear as their answer when you ask them about Jose Rizal, our national hero and executed in Bagumbayan, about Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the Katipunan, about Apolinario Mabini, the so-called Dakilang Lumpo, about Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president, and so on. Why is that so? It’s because even in the HEKASI, Social Studies, Araling Panlipunan textbooks, workbooks,...
