Chapter 16 (2/2)
”No hospital! There is no sickness that heals in Pelaez!” Mang Ernesto's voice is loud ”You're a hero, not God”
”I wasn't a hero to the one I loved!”
”What do you think being a hero is? Those people in coinary people? Making things that don't happen happen? Never dying and never losing?” Mang Ernesobws and takes a deep breath before continuing what he has to say ”Just stop what you're doing if you aren't happy with it You won't get rich doing what you do You won't even be able to pay electric bills hat you're doing You will never get the chance to love nor be loved You will save strangers, and hurt your fa sed by overwhel power Whether you wear a e you They will never thank you for your service, you will just keep on repeating yourself” The old h every corner of the roo steps, but his mind is not in it ”No hero can ever save Pelaez because the biggest enemy of Pelaez is itself”
”I can no longer turn my back to the people”
”How tragic the nation that needs so for extraordinary creatures to save themselves”
”They lack the ability”
”You are not a hero for the things you can do You are a hero for the things you did” Mang Ernesto turns at the bright ; his long shadow lay on the floor ”The people are not lacking in power We are the excess An illusion A reason to use for their own deficiencies The very naave you is a desperate cry for anyone at all to help them!”
”Are you also the eneelio stands up and faces his father, with closed fists and gritting teeth
”Are you their ally?”
”Do you not like what I a?”
”Do you?!” The old man's breath is rapid and the veins in his neck and face are showing ”It is your duty to help the people because you can and you want to help But never forget that you can never change the world nor save all the people You are not the first one to try…nor will you be the last…you are not the solution But that is not an excuse for you to lose hope nor to stop giving it” The old elio just threw beside the trashcan and wiped the dirt off with his palo of yourself asto his child who now has his head down and sitting on the bed once more ”Become the hero of your own life”
Rogelio had nothing to say when he accepted the hel Ernesto turns to leave the room after he places his hand on the shoulder of his son
”If I aat his own reflection on the helmet ”Then who am I?”
Mang Ernesto sees Aling Has for a while now outside the door He looks back at his son ”You just help people…you don't need a name,” he then continued to exit the roonificant other’s outreached hand
Translation Notes:
1 – A cultural amusement park that portrays a miniature Philippines
2 – Not to be confused as a derogatory terros Island, a province found in the Visayas of the Philippines You could read ros_Island