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Hello. Did you survive the New Year festivities with all digits in
tact as well?
Well, congratulations! It’s always good luck
to start the year with all body parts undamaged.
That’s one of the things that get me excited
at the beginning of every year. But what also works me up most is a
fresh round of predictions for the coming 12 months.
Here are my own:
1. A major scandal will rock government
2. Questions on the leadership of President
Arroyo will continue
3. There will be fresh attempts to topple
government
4. Somebody of national notoriety will pass away
5. A calamity will leave the nation in mourning
6. A Filipino will make his mark in the world
7. An actor will display interest in politics
8. A major scandal involving two personalities
will entertain the nation for weeks on end
9. The price of oil will shoot up
10. The economy will grow
Alright, alright, so these predictions are not
derived from a serious reading of the stars or consultations with
the spirits.
But I am confident these predictions will
transpire anyway. In fact, there wasn’t a year that any of the
items in the list hadn’t come about.
Even item no. 10.
The economy actually grows every year. The
question there is if the economic development is felt by all and not
simply enjoyed by an elite few.
The past years we Pinoys have been bombarded
with everything on that list. Some of the items listed were even
thrown at us repeatedly the last 12 months.
But we are still among the happiest people in
Asia. In fact, the most recent polls undertaken by the Social
Weather Stations and Pulse Asia indicate that an incredible number
of Filipinos look forward to the coming year with optimism—91
percent and 84 percent, respectively,
It never ceases to amaze how we Pinoys can be so
optimistic.
But much has been said about the Filipino
strength of spirit, our endurance, our tenacity.
We have been hardened by our history. Those same
trials have given us the collective capacity not to shudder at the
thought of the next tribulation.
Singer/songwriter Kinky Friedman had said that
the worst preparation in life is a happy childhood.
We didn’t have a too happy childhood as a
nation. And that’s how we are able to weather everything we are
experiencing now with a smile on our faces and high hopes for
tomorrow.
And it’s a good thing that we are so
resilient. Because is there is no indication that a silver lining
will be visible any time soon.
But that silver lining will come. Eventually.
That’s prediction no. 11.
k k k
Congratulations to Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao
on his new assignment as Deputy Regional Director for Administration
to Region 6 in Western Visayas .
Congratulations because he has survived dealing
with the Crame-based journalists who, undoubtedly, are among the
country’s toughest and nosiest (that’s a genuine compliment).
It is admirable that he’s maintained a level
of aloofness despite his proximity to journalists. He has displayed
respect to journalists and to journalism with that.
Taking Pagdilao’s place as PNP spokesman is
Senior Supt. Nicanor Bartolome. Bartolome was previously assigned
with the Tarlac Police Provincial Office where he served as Director
for over 24 months. Congratulations and good luck to him as well.
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It’s heart-warming to receive New Year wishes
from friends and family.
Let me also wish the Filipino nation the best of
health and good fortune in the next 12 months and the years to come.
We’ve been through a lot as a nation and we
can take much more. Ours is a hard-working, eternally optimistic and
resilient lot. Hopefully, our leaders will do us good by performing
well and thinking of the country ahead of any other consideration.
Happy New Year to all!
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