HONOR: Jose Abad Santos

       The Story  of Abad Santos is a huge inspiration to many people because of what he has done for our country. The supreme court of the Philippines fifth chief justice was Jose Abad Santos y Basco. During World War 1, from March 1942 until his execution, he held the positions of acting president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and acting commander in chief of the Philippines Armed Forces. His early education was received at the town of his birth. The Philippine Government transferred him to the United States in 1904. He attended Santa Clara College in San Jose, California. Abad Santos was married to Amanda Teopaco daughter of Pedro Teopaco member of the malolos congress and has five children.

         When Abad Santos went to Naga, a village south of Cebu City, after he heard the news of bataan's defeat. He intended to go from Toledo, a part town on cebu's west coast to Negros after discovering that the japanese soldiers had arrived in the islands, but the japanese had barred this path. He went to Cebu with his son pepito, but they were captured by the japanese. Abad Santos saw how cruel the japanese were to the Filipinos. The generals talked to Abad Santos about joining the japanese but Santos did not hesitate to reject it, he said he would never do it. After two day's confinement of japanese camp, Abad Santos was called in front of kawaguchi and was informed about the order of his execution, Before he was shot to death, he was able to talk to his son pepito. Among his last parting words to his son were "Do not cry, pepito, show to these people that you are brave". 

       Abad Santos proved that he is ready to risk his life just for his beloved country. He is one of those heroes who don't need any weapons to be called an honorable citizen of the country. This is the proof that we have a commitment and right for peace. He chose to die rather than exchange his country of birth, he is the example of honest citizens who sincerely love the country. He is brave because he give up his family just for the sake of the Filipino's. There is one message that really struck me about his death is that you don't need a lot of weapons to say that you are a hero but a hero is an honor only for people who are honest and willing to sacrifice their lives just for the sake of their country. That's why Jose Abad Santos deserves to be called a hero.