It was my first time to shoot inside the American memorial cemetery and I’ve never been to a more peaceful place within the jungle of Metro Manila. Everything about it was done in extremely strict yet tranquil symmetry - from the way the grass were trimmed, to the way the crosses were flawlessly arranged. It was the perfect place to rest for all eternity. I was never a big fan of the Americans, but I liked what they did with this one.
What ensnared my attention was all the names that were written on the pillars of the memorial, referring to the Filipinos. I never had a more disseminating figure of how many lives were lost. A list so vast, that it made the person almost - if not anonymous instead of recognized. All of this loss in order to give us the freedom we enjoy so much right now. We enjoy it so much that we take it for granted (just admit it).
It made me think. What if I was one of those who sacrificed for what’s going on right now with our country? Would I be fulfilled? Would it have been worth it? Nah… I’d be very, very disappointed. To have a country taken over by heartless, selfish and egomaniacal pricks?? No wonder hardly anybody would die for this country today.
