Last week, a generation had wept. They had wept goodbye as the curtains fell after the last scene in the last movie based on the last book of the Harry Potter series. They had wailed farewell to the fantasies of their childhood riding broomsticks over cities, defeating nose-less faces of Dark Lords, and wielding wands to spark a thousand incantations of Wingardium Leviosa.
But more than the tears, more than the farewell, I saw clearly the impact of Harry Potter on me and those of my age. If some had grown up startled by the opening credits of Star Wars; others had aged reading the ancient text of Lord of the Rings; and some others had been depressed by the last page of any Superhero's epic; then I, simply put, cannot imagine my childhood without Harry Potter.
More than the wands, more than the broomsticks, Harry Potter had taught me one thing that stays beyond the last scene of the last movie of the last book--and that is: courage.
If Harry had the courage to go to an unknown school filled with wizards and witches, I had the courage to go to a new high school (Philippine Science) filled with math wizards and nerd witches. If Harry had the courage to learn new things such as Quidditch (a sport with broomsticks) or Disapparation (instantaneous travel), then I had the courage to learn new things such as cleaning my room (a chore with broomsticks) or cooking (instantaneous dinner). If Harry had the courage to defeat the Dark Lord, then I had the courage to defeat anything and everything (like cynicism) for greater purposes.
How I wish these were things that other children could experience as well. Truthfully, the magic of Harry Potter has only been limited to those who could afford to buy or borrow the thick, relatively expensive books. Truthfully, the magic of just one wonderful book is not even accessible to every Filipino child.
So more than the end of Harry Potter, more than the farewell of an entire generation, I would like to say goodbye to something else--and that is: illiteracy. Every little Juan needs some Harry Potter, some fantasy in their childhood. Every little Juan needs a lesson on bravery, on growing up, on friendship, on never giving up. Every little Juan needs the magic of a book.
And, maybe, as my generation weeps, we are at least cheered up by the fact that, somewhere out there, people will be able to help new generations foster reading to fulfill the dream of every little Juan.
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If you would like to donate your books--maybe even your Harry Potter books--for poor Filipino children with no access to such magical things, please contact me, Arizza Nocum, through arizza.nocum@gmail.com or 09995609435.
But more than the tears, more than the farewell, I saw clearly the impact of Harry Potter on me and those of my age. If some had grown up startled by the opening credits of Star Wars; others had aged reading the ancient text of Lord of the Rings; and some others had been depressed by the last page of any Superhero's epic; then I, simply put, cannot imagine my childhood without Harry Potter.
More than the wands, more than the broomsticks, Harry Potter had taught me one thing that stays beyond the last scene of the last movie of the last book--and that is: courage.
If Harry had the courage to go to an unknown school filled with wizards and witches, I had the courage to go to a new high school (Philippine Science) filled with math wizards and nerd witches. If Harry had the courage to learn new things such as Quidditch (a sport with broomsticks) or Disapparation (instantaneous travel), then I had the courage to learn new things such as cleaning my room (a chore with broomsticks) or cooking (instantaneous dinner). If Harry had the courage to defeat the Dark Lord, then I had the courage to defeat anything and everything (like cynicism) for greater purposes.
How I wish these were things that other children could experience as well. Truthfully, the magic of Harry Potter has only been limited to those who could afford to buy or borrow the thick, relatively expensive books. Truthfully, the magic of just one wonderful book is not even accessible to every Filipino child.
So more than the end of Harry Potter, more than the farewell of an entire generation, I would like to say goodbye to something else--and that is: illiteracy. Every little Juan needs some Harry Potter, some fantasy in their childhood. Every little Juan needs a lesson on bravery, on growing up, on friendship, on never giving up. Every little Juan needs the magic of a book.
And, maybe, as my generation weeps, we are at least cheered up by the fact that, somewhere out there, people will be able to help new generations foster reading to fulfill the dream of every little Juan.
-------------------------------------------
If you would like to donate your books--maybe even your Harry Potter books--for poor Filipino children with no access to such magical things, please contact me, Arizza Nocum, through arizza.nocum@gmail.com or 09995609435.
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