The spirit of solidarity and brotherhood among Filipinos is most felt during natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and typhoons. This was again made apparent when super typhoon "Karding" visited the country, pounding much of Luzon with strong winds and heavy rains, causing floods and landslides especially in the central plains. We note with gratitude the usual, almost mechanical efforts of personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units (LGUs) in mobilizing immediate relief and rescue operations, with the active participation of private citizens and volunteers. They were already in shelters and warehouses repacking food, canned goods, clothes and blankets for the victims even while strong winds were still howling in the distance. Something jolted the nation's communal feeling of gratitude and reverence for its heroes in the wake of the super typhoon "Karding" — the deaths of five volunteer rescuers of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Sunday, Sept. 25. The five young men were on a boat amid rampaging flood waters and on their way to a barangay isolated by the floods when a concrete wall collapsed and hit their watercraft. They were identified as George Agustin, Troy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurreccion, and Narciso Calayag Jr. This tragedy struck a chord in the nation's collective memory, but most moved by this piece of news are officials and residents of the City of Naga in Cebu province because they knew two of the victims — Troy Justin Agustin and Jerson Resurreccion. The two were part of the rescue contingent sent by Bulacan to help Naga, Cebu in the search and retrieval operations after the deadly landslide that hit the city's Barangay Tinaan in September, 2018. The Cebu rescuers admired the two Bulakenos' dedication and patience in the search and retrieval work, aside from their genuine desire to help their kababayan. Experts say that empathy and compassion for others are key variables that define heroic behavior. People who rush in to help others in the face of danger and adversity do so because they genuinely care about the safety and well being of their fellow men. This was displayed by the Bulacan Five who risked their lives, and in fact made the ultimate sacrifice, in the service of other Filipinos. For their heroism, the provincial government of Bulacan, along with the national government, extended all the help they could possibly give to the families of the rescuers. Several private individuals also chipped in. Touching, too, are the resolutions passed unanimously in the House of Representatives and the Senate recognizing the exemplary heroism and ultimate sacrifice our first responders, both dead and living, are facing in every natural calamity that comes our way. President Bongbong Marcos also shared the same sentiment in his message of condolences. To be heroic is to be courageous enough to die for something — something bigger than oneself. True enough, as the President said, the names of the Bulacan 5, true heroes all, will forever live in the hearts and memory of Filipinos.