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We all have our heroes, right? We see them in history books, on monuments, their faces etched into our pesos. We think of their bravery, their intelligence, their dedication to our country. But what about their quirks? What about the things they did that make us say, “Wait, what?”
I recently stumbled across a story about Graciano Lopez Jaena, a name we all know as a prominent figure in the Philippine Revolution. He was a writer, a speaker, a firebrand for reform. But did you know about his interesting relationship with sardines?
Yup, you read that right: sardines.
According to historian Teodoro Agoncillo, our esteemed propagandist had a bit of a messy eating habit. He’d dig into a can of sardines, no utensils needed, and then, get this – wipe his hands on his coat!
Now, I love sardines as much as the next person, but even I use a fork!
Apparently, his friends in La Liga Filipina, a group pushing for political reforms, were as shocked as I was. They even chipped in to buy him new coats. But guess what? Jaena, bless his heart, pawned those brand new coats and went back to his old, sardine-stained ones!
Shocking? Maybe a little.
Hilarious? Definitely.
But why does it matter?
It’s easy to put our heroes on pedestals, to forget they were human beings with their own oddities and flaws. This story about Jaena doesn’t diminish his contributions to the Philippines. If anything, it makes him more relatable, more human.
It reminds us that even the people we admire had their, let’s say, “unique” habits. It’s a good laugh and a gentle reminder that history is full of surprises – and sometimes, those surprises involve sardines and a slightly messy coat.