SAYONARA by EDILBERTO TIEMPO

The lives of great people and the events that led to

great changes in civilizations around the world are
enshrined in the pages of history. Members of any
society are taught at an early age that the mistakes
of the past should never be repeated while the
victories of old should be celebrated. However
history often creates glossed over images of the
past. Often times, the people mentioned in the
accounts of a nations history become mere
caricatures. Men and women who achieved
greatness or infamy are simplified into heroes and
villains, forgetting that they were once daughters,
son,
wives,
husbands,
or
friends.
World War II is described as one of the darkest
hours of humanity. In the Philippines alone, about
16 million lost their lives. The Fall of Corregidor on
May 6, 1942 marked the total domination of
Imperial Japan of the Philippines and the rest of
Asia and though many of the Allied Forces
surrendered, some Filipinos escaped and
continued fighting as guerillas.
Edilberto Tiempos Sayonara is a short story
describing the capture and eventual execution of
three Filipino guerillas. Tiempo portrays Amando,
Ladisloa, and Pascual as real people having
distinct personalities. In the opening, we see the
three characters commit mistakes, revealing them
as members of the guerilla movement to the
Japanese soldiers.
The Japanese officer suddenly bellowed him,
Tenshun!
Pascual stood at attention, and immediately saw
his mistake.
...
All right, we are guerillas, said Amando.
Pascual and Ladislao looked at him. What in
Satans name did he do that for? In the next instant,
however, Pascual realized his automatic response
to the Attention command was an open betrayal,
too.
The heroes in history do not make trivial slipups or
surrender so easily information to the enemy.
Neither do they spit on the faces of their enemies.
Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines is
placed on a very high pedestal that in some areas
of the country, he is worshipped as a god. Many
Filipinos would have a hard time imagining Jose
Rizal as a human being capable of doing

foolishness. Tiempo, with his story, reminds the

readers that the brave heroes mentioned in history
books who have fought for the countrys freedom
are humans, having their own flaws and fears.
The character of the Japanese corporal also had
the same function. The corporal sharing his story to
Pascual reveals the human face of the enemy.
That rock, the Japanese was mumbling to himself.
It has a different use. So very sorry. Its a sinker. To
pull you down to the sea bottom.
There was no cruelty in the voice, indeed it
sounded like an apology.
The Japanese corporal has some unexpected
connections with the Philippines. His grandfather
was a Christian and his uncle had a wonderful life
in the Philippines before the war broke out. The
corporal was able to detach himself from what was
happening around him and see the war from a
bigger perspective. Although a war can only end
when one side is defeated and other one,
victorious; everyone is a victim.
Do you thing he was happy joining the Japanese
Army?
Maybe not. No. But he has his duty. The corporal
became quiet. You asked me why I am giving you
a chance. My uncle is one reason. The other
reason is my grandfather. That is all.
It appears that if the corporal had met Pascaul
under different circumstances, then they would
have become friends. In the closing, as Pascual
was thrown into the sea, the Japanese corporal
bids his farewell.
Sayonara, the corporal said, as he carefully
dropped the rock with the fall of Pascuals body. It
seemed that the parting word spoken deliberately
within the hearing of all was a defiance flung
against his own kind.
The corporals subtle act of defiance teaches
readers that there are things people cannot control;
nonetheless, people are not completely powerless.
Under extreme circumstance, the men and women
who find ways to practice kindness to others
regardless of their creed, religion, or race have left
a legacy the continues on even though history has
forgotten them.