Evey Hammond: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget.
V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.
These are lines taken from the movie “V for Vendetta” a remarkable tale of a man with a voracious appetite for justice and revenge. The movie was spell binding and absolutely amazing. I loved the movie not because it was action packed, or for the simple fact that Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman starred in it. I loved the movie because it taught me the simple lesson that it does not take much to change the world...
Actually, all you need is one person to take action...
What does it take to change the world?
Answer: One simple act of ANTHING. An act of kindness, charity, or LOVE.
1. Do things for others (offer assistance etc.)
2. Do things that I do not want to do, that needs to be done. (A chore)
4. Do a mental exercise. (reading / learning)
5. Do a physical exercise. (taking care of my body)
6. Make someone happy everyday.
7. Always think positive thoughts.
Truth be told, I want to change the world.
The other day as I sat in the car I saw this little boy selling Lemonsito in the street. He was selling it for 50 pesos and he stopped by my window pleading for me to buy his wares. I wanted to help him, my heart practically bled just watching him. He looked so young, about 7 or 8 and I wondered, where was his parents? Does he go to school? Did he have anything to eat? My mind raced with so many questions, and the biggest one that echoed in my mind was: what could I do?
Again, my mind echoed the words: What could I do?
Back in College we would park near STC to wait for my brother to be done with his tutorials. I often read a good book while waiting for him. There was this one instance wherein it was raining so hard, I looked up from the book that I was reading and my gaze collided with a pair of sad eyes. It was a girl, she was standing outside our car in the pouring rain. For a moment we just stared at each other, she didn't say anything. She didn't beg at all, she just stood there staring at me while torrents of raindrops fell on her. My Dad handed me some biscuits and I opened the window to offer it to her. She took them wordlessly, she smiled sadly as if saying “Thank you” and walked away. I felt something gnawing at my insides as I watched the girl walk away, drenched and cold. Something stirred inside me, it felt like a deep sadness and empathy.
A couple of months ago my family and I were enjoying our Sunday evening having dinner at Mattias (not sure of the spelling). As we ate, my sister and I couldn't help but notice an old lady standing by the sidelines clutching an armload of things wrapped with newspaper- later on we found out that she was selling slippers. She looked sad and a little lost. She approached people trying to get them to buy slippers from her, but she was ignored. I looked at my sister, and my sister looked at my Mom and somehow I read their minds: “Let's help her”. So, my Mom the total softie that she is called the lady over. She sat with us, seemingly grateful to be able to put down her heavy load. My Mom then amicably engaged the woman into a conversation. What she told us, changed the way I saw the world. She told us that she was living with her grandkids and one of her daughters. She said that she was their only means of support. Their parents (the other kids) as well as her husband had left her years ago, not even bothering to send letters or money. 1979 was the last time she heard from her husband and he only sent her 20 pesos- my heart broke. I thought that was the only sordid part of the tale, it didn't end there. She told us that she tried to take her own life, the dire circumstances that she experienced had broken her spirit and she wanted to be free from it, but as she stood before a car in Fuente Osmeña she realized that she had a daughter and grandkids who needed her- she stepped back. The 5 of us (My parents, my sister, my brother & I) felt humbled and moved to the point of tears by the gentle old Lady's plight, we bought her dinner and we also bought some slippers from her. That night, as we drove home I thought about all the other people here in Cebu as well as the world who were living lives quite similar or perhaps worse than that of the old lady (I believe her name was Corazon?). Again, my heart went out to all of them, and the question popped into my head:
What can I do? I keep asking myself?
What is that idea?
To change the world, we start small. First we start with ourselves, then our family, friends... and then it will just spread out...
We all have the power to change the world, we just don't know how to start...
In the end, I want to be remembered as a person who touched the lives of others...
I already have an idea... I just need to put it into action...
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
Epicurus
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