In some old religions and cultures, it is believed that a savior is born every few hundred years. Now, whether that is true or not remains to be unknown. What we do know is that in every catastrophic events that plagued the earth, there's always someone who would be willing to step up and take on the role of a hero. A person that the people can look up to and turn when things get out of hand. I know that it is a huge thing to call someone a hero. It gives the expectation that the person would always do good no matter the situation. That is a tough role to fill, but if there's one person I can call a hero, that would be PABLO of SB19.
According to Google, the common characteristics of a hero are determination, courage, selflessness, and integrity. How does this traits relate to PABLO? Here's why.
Determination is not about never giving up. It's about even when you did, you will find the courage to pick up where you left off and keep going. Determination is not knowing when you'll win, but the will to keep fighting despite uncertainty. As the second eldest in five siblings, PABLO grew up with a strong sense of responsibility for his family. He experienced life without his father most of the time, and he knew how hard it was for his mother and younger siblings.
He dreamed of providing them comfort and security in life, and he could've gotten those in the corporate world. A regular 9-hour job, promotions every few years, life would've been simplier, but there was something nagging inside of him. An itch he couldn't scratch. He trained under their old management while still working as a full-time employee in his previous job. Imagine having just a couple hours sleep, mental and physical exhaustion, and the constant worry of what would happen? That's almost paralyzing. Instead of giving up in his dreams, he sacrificed his job and financial stability for something so uncertain. Despite everything that had happened, look at him now.
Courage is not about fighting back, but holding it all in for as long as you could possibly can. It's not about giving your all in something that you know you do best, but in doing things that frightens you the most. It is the act of facing your fears and conquering them, one step at a time. We all know how PABLO gets sometimes. When he gets overwhelmed by emotions and fears, he couldn't help himself. It will definitely show. To me, that's not weakness but strength. In a situation where normal people would've crumble, he exposed his heart and showed that he, too, can be vulnerable.
It's one of the scariest thing to do, to let people in, but PABLO turned his fears and pain into songs. Why does he do that? Because more than success and financial stability, he wanted to tell his story. He wants to inspire people through the songs he make, and he's definitely doing that. But do we have any idea of how much courage it would take for a person to bare his heart and soul the way PABLO does?
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one's looking. It's the strong sense of responsibility. You will not allow yourself to do things for your own benefits, even when you could. When the issue between A'tin and the volleyball fans arose, PABLO could've used it for his or his group's benefits. He already went on X to calm A'tin down. Why not chase a bit of clout, right? He could've initiated a livestream and talk to the fans to address the issue. Instead, he simply posted an inspiring message to call out those who are engaging with the discourse without being harsh.
It would've been easier for him to train himself how to be an idol that people would immediately liked. With his talent and genius mind, he could've quickly gone to places if he did. Life would've probably been a bit easier, but that's not who he is. He showed his true self, acknowledged that not everyone would accept him or like him, and simply tries to inspire people by the things he does.
Selflessness is not when you blindly give away your works so others may profit. It's not when lack the confidence or self-assurance. True selflessness is when you know that you could've kept things for your own benefit, instead, you chose to share them. It's the fact that you could've gotten all the recognition to yourself, but you shared the glory instead. It is the knowing what you're capable of and still keep an open mind to welcome people inside your own world. It is not to control them or use them, but to grow and learn with them. The truth that you will happily become the shadow so others may shine.
Many can share, but not everyone can be selfless. It's not easy for people to step back and let others take the praise for the things they've done themselves. But for PABLO, it's not about who gets the recognition. How his works will touch people's lives matters most to him. Knowing that his music reached someone possibly drowning is much more fulfilling than any awards. He has dreams for himself, but he doesn't allow them to cloud his mind and change his perspective.
So for me, PABLO is definitely a hero. The voice of the voiceless, the saviour of lost souls, and the guide for those who are searching for purpose. He doesn't need to be flashy or the center of attention. His words, laid out with melody is more than enough for the right people to recognize him. He is a kind and gentle soul sent from the heavens above because they know that the world needs a hero like him. Through his works, he continuously inspire people to spread love and kindness so that they, too, may touch other people's lives. If someone would tell me that he may very well be an angel living inside a handsome man's body, I would believe them. Why won't I? He's already an angel to so many people and heaven knows it.