DAY
MANILA, JANUARY 1, 2012
(PHILSTAR) EDITORIAL - The last time levels of hope among
Filipinos hit an all-time high of 95 percent in a survey was in December 2002.
This Christmas season the record was matched, as 95 percent of respondents in
a nationwide survey said they were entering 2012 with hope.
The survey was taken in early December by Social Weather Stations Inc., which
also conducted a similar survey during the Christmas season in 2002.
Even in the worst of times, when nature's fury has claimed lives and
destroyed homes and means of livelihood, hope springs eternal for the typical
Filipino. We laugh even in misery, and we are hopeful that life will be better
particularly at the dawn of a new year.
Those high percentages in the annual yearend surveys taken by SWS on
hopefulness are in keeping with Filipino nature.
Hope levels have dropped since SWS started conducting such surveys in 2000.
The lowest – 81 percent – was recorded in 2004, an election year when political
turbulence signaled uncertainty in many aspects of life. The number recovered by
a few percentage points the next year, and gradually went up, going beyond 90
percent again in December 2010.
Last night, despite repeated warnings by authorities, Filipinos greeted 2012
with dazzling fireworks and powerful firecrackers. The traditional merriment was
meant to drive away bad spirits and attract good luck. Business was also brisk
for vendors who sold round fruits, responding to a demand fueled by the belief
that the fruits could bring good luck in the coming year. Families gathered for
feasts, or simply to celebrate togetherness as they hope for a better year. Even
amid grievous devastation and deep tragedy, there is reason to hope.
A joyous, prosperous New Year to all!
COLUMN OF THE DAY
Wish list for 2012 BABE'S EYE VIEW By Babe
Romualdez (The Philippine Star) Updated January 01, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (0)
We Filipinos are known for our resilience and for being hopeful despite
disappointments and frustrations, perhaps because of our deep faith in Bathala
(as in "bahala na si God"). Whenever the New Year approaches, people take the
passing year in perspective and revive fresh hopes that the coming year will be
much better, no matter the tragedies that may have befallen the country. This
same perspective can be seen through latest polls showing nine out of 10
Filipinos adopting a positive perspective, believing that their lives will see a
marked improvement for the coming year. So here's our "wish list" for 2012,
hoping that these things (not necessarily in a particular order) will help make
life better for many, if not for all of us:
1. For the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona to be conducted
according to due process, and that the proceedings will come to a successful
conclusion and not be used to benefit any particular political agenda but
instead, help correct flaws in the Constitution and strengthen the country's
democratic system.
2. For Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino to keep
coming out with creative but practical initiatives to minimize, if not
eventually eradicate, the worsening traffic in Metro Manila, and for the MMDA to
stand pat on the suspension and cancellation of franchises of bus firms that
violate traffic rules and cause the death of pedestrians.
3. For more Filipinos to shine as an example that we can compete with the
best in the world. Like our favorite senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who is the
first Filipino and the first Asian to be appointed as judge to the International
Criminal Court; beauty queens Shamcey Supsup and Gwendoline Ruais who are proof
that Filipino women possess both beauty and brains; boxing champs Manny Pacquiao
and Nonito Donaire, golfer Juvic Pagunsan, badminton champs Markie and Malvinne
Ann Alcala and other Filipinos dominating sports in the international scene.
4. For the Department of Education to address the perennial problem of
classroom shortages and lack of competent teachers, and attain success in its
K+12 program to help elevate the standard of education in the country. It would
be such a misfortune to waste the talent and intelligence of thousands of
Filipino children only because we do not have enough resources to train them
after all, we have such promising kids like 11-year-old Farrel Eldrian Wu who
bested 191 other students from the US and other countries in the recent World
Mathematics tilt held in Jiuhua, China.
5. For the Climate Change Commission to have more teeth in implementing the
"National Climate Change Action Plan" that would guide local government units in
crafting measures and policies to save lives and prevent the loss of agriculture
and infrastructure. Further, for CCC Vice Chairperson Lucille Sering to make
good on her "promise" to make an example of some erring LGU officials who place
their constituents under harm's way by failing to consult geohazard maps and
other tools provided by government to help reduce disaster risks. As they say,
forewarned is forearmed and so the experience of Sendong should already serve as
a warning to politicians who hesitate in relocating informal settlers in coastal
areas and other places that have already been identified as disaster prone.
6. For PAGASA to be equipped with more Doppler radars and other
technology/gadgets that would help improve their forecasting capabilities. We
already know the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year, and
climate change has made these typhoons more lethal with rainfall becoming more
intense, so the sooner PAGASA is equipped with updated, hi-tech prediction
tools, the better for everyone. Let's not forget, the Philippines has already
been identified as one of the countries at "extreme risk of the impacts of
climate change," and that it is the third most vulnerable country when it comes
to disaster risks and natural hazards in the World Risk Index.
7. For the Philippines to get out of the Category 2 rating downgrade from the
US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) which has cost the country more than P66
billion in lost revenue from tourism and related industries. Hopefully, NAIA
will revert to Category 1 this year after the most recent inspection conducted
by a team from the US Transportation Security Administration which found NAIA
facilities in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
standards. Hopefully, too, NAIA will no longer have the dubious honor of being
the world's worst airport with President Noy himself and DOTC Secretary Mar
Roxas inspecting NAIA and seeing for themselves the decrepit condition of the
comfort rooms and other facilities.
8. For the Bureau of Customs to push through with the plan to dissolve units
implicated in alleged corruption activities, intensify the drive against
smugglers, and make more apprehensions like the P35 million worth of endangered
turtles and corals that they intercepted in Cebu in May 2011. The BoC is
perceived to be the most corrupt government agency in the country and Ruffy
Biazon definitely needs a lot of support to effect the changes that he envisions
in order to clean up the ranks and improve the image of the agency.
9. That there will be more good to defeat the evil around us and for
Filipinos to be law abiding and have more concern for the environment, having
seen the kind of devastation that Ondoy, Pedring and Sendong can do.
10. Last but certainly not the least, that important bills for the future of
this country like the RH bill be given priority by our legislators.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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