It is that time again for motherhood statements about lessons of the old year just past and prospects for the new year. In their New Year messages, some praised the Filipinos for rising to the challenges of last year’s tragedies. Others harked on the ever-growing necessity of social transformation. Still, majority used the opportunity as a springboard for their campaign for next year’s national elections. Nevertheless, New Year’s messages from government, non-government and religious institutions and personalities all agree on one thing: it was a year fraught with natural disasters and tragedies, so much that the Filipinos have no other choice but to move on: with grace, steadfast, and full of hope. In her New Year message, which carried no surprises, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo exhorted the Filipinos to offer the nation to the Lord in gratitude for the “graces and blessings" we received, such as the “unprecedented record of economic growth", even as she encouraged everyone to “cast away the things that set us against each other." New year is election year
But New Year statements, apparently, would not be complete if there were no references, subtle or otherwise, to the 2010 polls. Vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda, for example, views the next year’s elections as an opportunity for the people to put a stop to the social and natural calamities that have beset the nation. In an apparent reference to his opponents, presidential bet meanwhile Sen. Richard “Dick" Gordon asked the people to participate in the process of initiating transformation by changing the standards in choosing the country’s leaders, adding that “money, popularity and pedigree are not important." Presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino similarly said in a two-paragraph statement that next year presents a potent opportunity for Filipinos to “restore the kind of democracy that values the interest of the whole nation and not only of the select few". Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas III, Aquino’s running mate, never failed as well to include in his statement his battle cry “Lalaban tayo" (We will not surrender) as he reminded the people of the New Year as one of “community, gratitude and hope". Of particular interest would be the message of presidential bet Sen. Manuel “Manny" Villar Jr., with its references to details seemingly aimed at bolstering his campaign, such as the Tulong Villar relief operations he launched in the aftermath of the two major typhoons and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s joining his Nacionalista Party. Looking beyond the elections
In what appears a response to all the candidates’ statements, the yearend message of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the faithful to look beyond the election time and start the transformation within themselves. “Admittedly and sadly, a number of us have remained myopic by focusing our attention only to the satisfaction of the moment, swayed by the glitter of money and promises of patronage, and do not raise our eyes beyond election time to the resultant situation created by our indiscretion. Those who have allowed, much worse abetted, corruption to thrive in our midst, do not have the right to complain," the CBCP said in its statement. The group likewise warned against the familiar refrains chanted by politicians during election season, like “poverty alleviation", “more jobs", and “upliftment of the masses", adding that political will is most important for improving the people’s economic conditions.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), in its own yearend statement, said it anticipates a new year of hope without Arroyo at the helm. “There is a collective wish to see that Mrs. Arroyo’s dreaded reign of terror will finally come to an end. That is one thing we and millions of Filipinos look forward to with optimism in the coming year," Bayan Secretary General Reyes said, citing the Arroyo administration’s alleged records of corruption and human rights violations. – Report from Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV
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