by P. B. Robosa
Bea
Imperial Saw: Writing History Here and Now
History is written in
hindsight, but history is created here and now. It is at the most welcome
triumph of one of the daughters of Baao, Bea Imperial Saw that compelled me to
write about her. Like all Filipinos I followed lightly but later on was
transfixed to the TV set as the drama unfolded at the PBB House. Real life is
really as dramatic if not more so than fiction. Characters that you see most of
the time played from a script appear and happen in real life. I write history
to find and show examples of heroism and admirable character so that they may
be taught to the young in the hope that someday these are the kind of people
they grow up to. Bea surprises me because in my lifetime I saw in her the
traits that I only pick from my readings and sometimes make believe that they
are inherent in my heroes. Unlike popular celebrities, Bea did not get to the
hearts of the Filipinos because she was beautiful or one who knew how to sing,
dance and act, but got to it because of her strength, fortitude and childlike
humility all of them played out in front of a national audience. Her reactions
towards the actions and counter-reactions of her anti-theses Wendy and the one
I forgot already, plays out in my head and would be unforgetable through the
years. It's like watching Manny Pacquiao slugging it out, except this time it
was wits, feelings, words and actions instead of fists. It will be of no
surprise that someday, if not one of these days, some writer would label her as
the epitome of what is good, true and beautiful about the Filipina youth and
worthy as a model of character for our troubled times. If Bea doesn't do a Nora
Aunor later in life, again Baao is blessed with a Baaoeno of national stature
to be added to our growing pantheon of worthy Baaoeno personalities. I may not
be there to write about her so I'm taking my chance now.
