A news report says that former President Fidel V. Ramos is coming to Dagupan City to meet with Mayor Benjamin S.Lim and lead a tribute to Filipino freedom fighters on January 13.

     Line up of activities in connection with this tribute includes a seminar for history teachers at the University of Luzon about the accounts of World War II and a roving exhibit by the Philippine Veterans Bank, dedicated to the veterans of World War II at the Edades Hall, Dagupan City Museum.

     This event is highly commended. It is but fitting that we give tribute to our fellow Filipinos who gave their lives in the fight for our country’s freedom. And it is likewise more fitting to initiate awareness about World War II among us who only know the facts from history books.

     World War II is now a faint episode in the minds of many Filipinos today. If we try to calculate the time, we can surmise that even former President Ramos was but a small child when this war broke out. Although history books are readily available to enlighten us about this very significant occurrence, to hear about it from the very lips of those who had face to face experience of this bygone past is indeed more interesting and motivating. But alas, those who had, are now either in late 70s or 80s, and life is quickly fading from them.

     As we see it, the youth of today are fast losing contact with the events in our history as a nation. Any high school student who is asked about World War II will certainly show more adeptness with Harry Potter’s adventures and misadventures than knowledgeability about Philippine history. If nothing is done to check this situation, the day may come when our past will be buried forever among the remains of our heroes of yesteryears.

     A nation’s future is basically shaped by its past. Yet how can we see our future when we do not know our past? The lessons from our own history have strong bearing on our today and tomorrow. Therefore we must make it a point that our history is not locked in oblivion, rather we should unearth and spread it for everyone to know, recognize and learn from.

(Note: this is my third blog for today… mmmm…. must be the excitement over the newfound niche….lol)