Rebecca Quijano sat on a window seat in the China Airlines Flight 811 from Taipei to Manila on Aug. 21, 1983. Shortly after the plane landed and parked in Gate No. 8 of the Manila international airport, she looked out and saw a passenger wearing a white bush jacket being escorted down the stairs by Philippine Constabulary soldiers. Then shots rang out and the man in white was seen slumped on the tarmac.

Rebecca later became known as the Crying Lady — as it was her loud wailing that was recorded in the news reel that recorded the fateful moment. She disclosed that she had to “alternately maneuver through death threats and bribes” in the fact of highly concerning threats to coerce her to recant her testimony, but such threats only emboldened her to remain steadfast to the truth.

She said her father Hector served as Liberal Party chair in the Bicol region and had been hosting LP leaders in their Tabaco, Albay residence so Ninoy was a familiar face. Pleasantly surprised to find herself riding on the same plane, she took her camera and followed Ninoy as he was being led out. She said all she could do was cry after witnessing the shocking event.

Recalling further, she said she heeded the advice to execute an eyewitness’ affidavit and submit this to the authorities. She testified before the Agrava fact-finding board that she had been pressured to recant her testimony after her father reportedly hang himself in a Camp Crame detention cell, a version she branded as a lie and a cover-up.

According to her: “So it was truly destiny that I saw what I saw. For me, Ninoy was my hero. It was because of him that we have democracy. If he was not killed, our countrymen would not be jolted awake. His sacrifice emboldened the Filipinos.”

Fast forward to the current high-profile impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The prosecution opted to first take up the issue on grave threats made by the Vice President against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The prosecution’s first witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung emerged as a credible and competent witness by demonstrating his technical expertise, professional composure, and ability to survive aggressive cross-examination.

Calilung described his work as a digital forensics expert tasked with preserving, collecting, and authenticating the digital evidence used in the trial. He also established the legal and technical integrity of the digital files, assuring the court that the video evidence was untouched and not generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

Under repetitive questioning, Calilung maintained his composure and stood his ground during an exhaustive, aggressive cross-examination by the defense. Observers and legal counsels lauded his ability to provide clear, fact-based answers rooted in the NBI’s investigation protocols.

Indeed, it is heartwarming to witness the competence of government officials in discharging their duties, as exemplified by the Calilung testimony.

The third person I wish to commend for the readers’ admiration stood out in the wake of the July 16, 1990, a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Luzon. Among the hardest-hit areas was Baguio City, where numerous buildings, including hotels and schools, collapsed.

During the chaotic and terrifying aftermath, Edgardo ‘Ega’ Dizon, who was not a trained rescue professional but an ordinary citizen, risked his own life to rescue trapped victims at the collapsed Hotel Nevada. Using only his bare hands and basic tools, he relentlessly dug through the rubble to save individuals buried in the debris. His selfless actions directly contributed to the survival of trapped victims at a time when professional emergency responders were overwhelmed and unable to immediately reach the site.

Ega Dizon represents the everyday Filipino's spirit of bayanihan and compassion. His story illustrates that moral integrity and immense bravery do not require a uniform or formal training; they simply require the choice to step forward when another human life is in danger. His contribution highlights the acts of unsung heroism that shape local communities and build societal resilience in the face of sudden disasters.

Aside from Rebecca Quijano, John Mark Calilung and Edgardo Dizon, I have come across so many Filipinos in government service who have done and continue to do their duties with dedication and without fanfare, and in a cheerful and uncomplaining manner. They clean our streets, man traffic outposts, conduct typhoon and flood rescue missions. They also deliver mail, drive buses or jeepneys or tricycles that convey people to work or to their homes. They also ride motorcycles and deliver foodstuff and other vital provisions — and this was exemplified during the difficult days of lockdown as an offshoot of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In our schools, there are teachers who dutifully prepare lesson plans and teach our young kids the requisite skills that will prepare them for useful citizenship. We also have yayas and kasambahay who cook our meals and keep our houses clean. And yes, there are soldiers who protect our nation’s boundaries and stand guard in the open seas safeguarding the marine treasures that provide livelihood and sustain the environment at sea.

As we hear mass today and relish the comfort of weekend respite, let us honor these decent and hard-working fellow men and women — as well as the witnesses and truth tellers who are the unsung heroes of our democracy.

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