One Tama Blog

I recall a 1967 march used by one of our high school teachers as material for English instruction: “Stouthearted Men.” The song was over 30 years old by then, and I could understand how students aged 14 considered its sound out of fashion. I felt the same way too. It didn’t sound the same as popular music of the late ’90s. It didn’t even sound as current as the “oldies” our parents liked.

Ironically, some 11 years wiser, grappling with what we consider to be our country’s most current concerns, I find the song the most time-relevant over any other. Perhaps not for its sound, but for its message: “You who have dreams, if you act they will come true. To turn your dreams to a fact, it’s up to you… Start me with ten who are stout-hearted men, And I’ll soon give you ten thousand more.”

These words keep repeating in my mind whenever we get the chance to share One Tama with people who care to listen. Contrary to what most would expect however, I am inspired by these words not because I see myself to be among the ten stout-hearted men. I am inspired because every time I meet people who care; every time I discover their passion for country and countrymen, I feel renewed wanting to be part of the ten thousand more.

This, perhaps, is what One Tama is about. It is not about one good leader. Nor just ten good men. Nor even just ten thousand. It is about Filipinos inspiring fellow Filipinos into nation-building through positive, shared action.

We invite you, therefore, who read this. Start doing One Tama today. Be a man or woman among stout-hearted men and women, and soon, there will be ten thousand more. For, “Hearts can inspire, other hearts with their fire…the strong obey when a strong man shows them the way.”

We also invite you to take part in the One Tama Action for August: Share a Story, Inspire Many. We will be accepting stories about your everyday heroes until 20 August 2009, through duyannggiting@yahoo.com. The 10 most inspiring stories will be published on our web site, and the submitter will be given a token of appreciation care of Starbucks Coffee. By sharing stories of everyday heroism, we make it possible for others to be heroes themselves. Click here for details.

One Tama. Actions speak loudest when shared.

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STOUT-HEARTED MEN
(Sigmund Romberg / Frank Mandel /
Laurence Schwab / Oscar Hammerstein II)

You who have dreams, if you act they will come true.
To turn your dreams to a fact, it’s up to you.
If you have the soul and the spirit,
Never fear it, you’ll see it thru,
Hearts can inspire, other hearts with their fire,
For the strong obey when a strong man shows them the way.

Give me some men who are stout-hearted men,
Who will fight, for the right they adore,
Start me with ten who are stout-hearted men,
And I’ll soon give you ten thousand more.
Shoulder to shoulder and bolder and bolder,
They grow as they go to the fore.
Then there’s nothing in the world can halt or mar a plan,
When stout-hearted men can stick together man to man.

Give me some men who are stout-hearted men,
Who will fight, for the right they adore,
Start me with ten who are stout-hearted men,
And I’ll soon give you ten thousand more.
Shoulder to shoulder and bolder and bolder,
They grow as they go to the fore.
Then there’s nothing in the world can halt or mar a plan,
When stout-hearted men can stick together man to man.