What do you hope to accomplish for yourself, family or community this year?

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa CITY: I want to fulfill what I have promised to change. For my family, to have more time for bonding. For the community, to be more environment-friendly.

Vladimir Cayabas, Baguio City: I hope to attain my personal goals through smart planning and consistent effort to bring pride to my family and be part of my community’s success.

Seize new opportunities

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: New years are great. They are like new chapters of our life. They give us opportunities to start life anew, to forget past unpleasantness, to archive mistakes but to still be able to relish great moments of the yesteryears. New years mean new goals and resolutions.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Quite often, windows of opportunity present themselves when least expected. This gives me an adrenalin rush. I need to open just one window at a time, enough for the opportunity to sink in as needed. These are modest goals and easily achievable. And yes, I will be happy with accomplishments done in style and a little finesse in 2009.

Saving for the future

Marlone Ramirez, Dubai: The year 2009 is a time for saving for the future. We can expect tough months ahead, but we still need to set aside some amount for business when we go back to the Philippines. It is not my intention to stay as an OFW for a lifetime in a foreign country. This year, we need to double our efforts to survive and set aside for the future.

Make 2009 a better year

Renee Gatdula, Metro Manila: Let’s put it this way. I do believe that we Filipinos will be much better this year. With all the trials we have had to go through over the years, we must have already learned from our mistakes in life. We Filipinos love our family so much that we will try to do our best to make each day a better one for our family.

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: I believe that 2009 will be a better year because the majority of the people will be learning from the mistakes of the past. Bearing in mind that the Lord is good, He will always reward those who work hard and seek His guidance. However, life will only become better for those who honestly strive to improve themselves, to those who are generous, those who are kind, and those who promote peace. Life will become worse for those who sow hatred, dissension, hate, envy and dishonesty. In short, one is responsible for how his life will become this year.

Business goals

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Just to survive the brutal effect of the global recession is already an accomplishment for me, as a businessman surviving is already a feat this year.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Retool my people so they can become more effective and efficient in the business we are in, then share returns with them.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Magsipag lalo, to add more capital for my barbecue stall to earn additional income. I need to earn more because my son is still in school. This is my focus now. For my community, I’ll continue to be law-abiding, to clean my frontage, to be in good terms with neighbors. With regard to our rent business, I have no plans yet except to keep my old tenants, just for the maintenance of the building. I left the whole of the second floor and part of the first floor unoccupied because I’m tired of dealing with abusive tenants. If it would be rented out again, I don’t want to manage it.

Personal mission

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I have embarked on a personal mission that encompasses the first and third areas mentioned in this question. On the first, I shall be able to accomplish half of my formal study as a student in my quest for heightened spirituality, which will help me do my apostolate in education and teaching in the community. I will cap that study with the second phase of my formal education, part of which will start in the first semester of 2009. In the meantime, I have sought the help of individual and organizational benefactors to help me bring joy to the crippled in the community by providing them with either wheelchairs or prostheses as needed. I, myself, am a victim of an accident 38 years ago and I limp due to a collapsed right hip joint. On top of this, I have been a silent benefactor of the marginalized in our community through the congregations of religious sisters who do multifaceted work in their assigned mission areas in many locations. This year, I will expand this activity by sourcing the necessary help from friends in many sectors. It will be a busy 2009.

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: First, I hope to be able to provide better for my family this year. Second, I also hope to establish myself in my new company this year. Third, I hope to likewise continue writing, teaching, and praying for others for whatever good they can do. When I served in government for close to 30 years, my family and I sacrificed and made do with whatever a government salary could afford. My foray into the private sector is largely for my family. This second career is dedicated to making up for all the years that my family had to endure while I served in the public sector. Life in the private sector is not in a straitjacket, unlike when I was in the military. One can pursue more things which are in line with one’s true interests. Mine happens to be writing and teaching. These are advocacies that I find helpful toward advancing the interests of humankind concerning universal truths that affect them. Last but not least, there is other-promotion as well as self-redemption in regularly praying to God for thanks, forgiveness, and deliverance from all the sufferings inflicted by man against himself. If I am able to accomplish these in 2009, the new year would not have been in vain.

Choosing the right path

Joana Rizza Bagano, Benguet: There are many things that are yet undone for the community. Let leaders know what there is to finish. As for me, I’m graduating from high school so I might as well decide what college to enter and course to take. I hope I make the right decision!

Strengthen family ties

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: That all my prayers be answered, that my family staytogether despite the distance, and that my community may flourish with people helping one another.

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: To be consistently steadfast in my faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ that He’ll grant me renewed vigor and vitality physical endowments that should sustain my accomplishing things I would be tasked to do with gusto and fervor. For my family, I plan to enforce a continuing discernment or enlightenment relevant to household or even trivial matters, for the members to be open-minded, thus, narrowing, if not closing, the communication gap that commonly exists in a home. For the entire community, I intend for my family and I to be proactive in interacting with one another, all in pursuit of a common goal: To face the coming problems squarely and to solve them without delay.  

Provide for the family

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: To be able to pay the outstanding balance for the land we are occupying, build a house strong enough to withstand the strength of a super typhoon, and to prepare myself.

Darwin Fonte, Isabela: Buy a house and lot and get a chance to travel outside the country.

Felmar Rowell Singco, Northern Samar: I would like to improve and be more diligent in my duties and responsibilities towards my family, so that I will be able to provide for them better than I did last year. I also hope that I will be able to contribute something for the country that can decrease corruption and alleviate the sufferings of my fellowmen.

Actively participate in nation-building

Felix Ramento, Manila: As an ordinary government retiree and ex-OFW, I wish to see all my six kids raise their own families and participate in nation-building. I would consider this a personal accomplishment that I hope to nurture in this year.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: I hope I would be able to accomplish something of value to my family and community in these uncertain times of a global recession.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: That I’ll be able, for the last time, to work with a janitorial servicing company and help provide jobs for my fellow community residents.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: For myself, to always strive for good health and better career opportunities, donate to charity, plant at least 12 trees, make more time for exercise and be an advocate of gender equality and cooperatives. For my family, to have more bonding activities, help my sons do better in school, save and invest more in our cooperative, and pray together. I also want to ensure good health for all of us. For my community, to participate more actively in community activities and projects, pay the right taxes on time, obey traffic rules and regulations, and do my share in helping the poor.

Move on with life

Elpidio Que, Vigan: I have to be as diligent as an ox again in sourcing for means for my children and myself to survive 2009. I will stay awake regarding my rights because, as books and sages say, the law and the Divine Providence help not those who slumber on their rights. I’ll go on seeking for justice for my violated civil and human rights, even if I am like an ant going against a rogue elephant. I know that the God will help me in His mysterious ways. If I die in the process, so be it, provided that the ongoing evil will be duly unmasked and justice to come to the Filipino people.

To carry on

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: I’m now a “taga-Tanauan,” a spectator. To sustain myself daily and enjoy retirement after long years of government service is an accomplishment already.

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: There’s not much I think I could hope to do for myself this year except perhaps to maintain my lifestyle. For family, I’ll probably extend financial assistance for school needs. For country, what else but to do the civic duty of paying taxes to the public treasury, except perhaps and giving about the same or a larger amount to charity.

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: To put the past year behind me and move on with my life.

Love one another

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Every child of God, including myself, is hoping that we love one another, including the unlovable among us. If that is accomplished, whatever problem that will come to us will just be considered as a spice of life.

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: I just want to forgive and forget the wrong done to me. I will continue with the family rosary before bedtime for world peace, the salvation of souls and, believe it or not, the complete recovery of Cory Aquino. I will continue donating as much as I am able, in kind or cash, for fire and typhoon victims. I will be more loving and caring towards my husband, son and siblings. And I will now force myself to use my Slimmers World lifetime card because I have gained more weight in less than a year.

A WISH FOR 2009

Cesar Umali, Quezon City: My wish is that the Philippines, by the grace of God, would be headed by a righteous leader so that our nation can be resurrected from darkness to the light led by the Holy Spirit, from the Bible, the Word of God. For the New Year, let us begin to read the word of God for at least two minutes a day. If we want wisdom or guidance, the Word of God is the best source. There are treasures hidden in the pages of the Bible, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can find inspiration, doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, leading to perfection and good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

PDEA VS. DOJ

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: The way our judicial people handled the latest drug cases, coupled with the dismissal of several huge drug cases, we dread the day our poor country will be ruled by druglords.

M. Sarmiento, Metro Manila: Maj. Marcelino is one of a dying breed of officers and gentlemen in our country. We should commend him and his family. He has done a very good job.

J. Eduardo, Baguio City: Just when I thought there were no honest men here, Major Marcelino proved me wrong.

REACTIONS

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: To Sara S. de Guzman: Most of us have short memories and we keep repeating the same mistakes. Change in the system and change in ourselves will make things work.

Felix Ramento, Manila: Ikaw naman, Mr. Esposo. Nakakanerbiyos ka, puro ka na lang  upheaval. Ewan ko kung tinatakot mo lang si  GMA o atat na atat ka nang magkagulo.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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