Welcoming 2026 with hope
As the calendar turns and we step into 2026, hope feels less like a luxury and more like a choice — one we make deliberately, even when the world gives us reasons to hesitate. The past year reminded us that uncertainty is no longer an occasional visitor; it is part of our shared landscape. Yet, history has shown time and again that hope does not emerge from comfort, but from courage.
Hope in 2026 is not blind optimism. It is grounded, practical, and resilient. It is the belief that progress is possible even when it is slow, and that healing can happen even when scars remain visible. It is the quiet confidence that communities can rebuild trust, that institutions can improve, and that individuals — when given the chance — can choose empathy over indifference.
This new year invites us to redefine success. Not merely in economic terms or personal milestones, but in how we care for one another. Hope looks like leaders who listen, citizens who participate, and young people who dare to imagine a future better than the one they inherited. It lives in classrooms where curiosity is nurtured, in workplaces that value dignity, and in neighborhoods where small acts of kindness ripple outward.
Welcoming 2026 with hope also means accepting responsibility. Hope is not passive; it asks something of us. It asks that we speak up when silence is easier, that we extend a hand when turning away feels safer, and that we remain engaged even when change feels exhausting. Hope grows when people decide that the future is worth their effort.
And so, we welcome 2026 with hope for ease in doing business. We acknowledge the great strides that the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) under the helm of Secretary Nes Perez has taken to institute much-needed reform in streamlining bureaucratic government processes and systems to ensure efficiency and dampen corruption. This was quite evident in last year’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Convention 2025.
The ARTA Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Convention 2025 brought together government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and foreign chambers of commerce to advance reforms in making the Philippines more business friendly. Under the theme “LEAD with EODB: Leveraging Efficiency, Accountability, and Digitalization for Ease of Doing Business,” the convention focused on accelerating the shift from launching digital reforms to embedding them in everyday public service delivery, strengthening accountability and transparency, and enhancing inter-agency cooperation to reduce bureaucratic friction. Key discussions and commitments emphasized accountability, efficiency, and the use of digital systems to improve government processes, while collaborations and high-level participation from stakeholders reflected a whole-of-nation push toward a more efficient, transparent, and competitive business environment in the country.
We welcome 2026 with hope for a modernized Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Before the year 2025 ended, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC), of which I am a member, held its 20th Regular Meeting at the PAF Museum in Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, to advance key strategic initiatives supporting the Air Force’s transformation and governance objectives. Presided over by Lt. Gen. Arthur M. Cordura, PAF commanding general, and Ronald S. Goseco, MSGC chairperson, the meeting brought together council members representing government, private sector, civil society, and academia to review progress, share insights, and strengthen collaborative efforts in areas critical to the PAF’s modernization and institutional reforms. Discussions focused on enhancing governance, improving stakeholder engagement, and aligning strategic programs with principles of transparency and accountability as the Air Force continues to pursue its mission in a rapidly changing security environment.
Lastly, we welcome 2026 with hope for increased interest and investments in the mining industry – a hope I truly radiate as the chairman of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. There were several key events towards the end of last year where I discussed this succinctly: GEOCON 2025, Pilipinas Conference, and the Arangkada Investment Forum.
The GEOCON 2025 convention, held by the Geological Society of the Philippines to mark its 80th Oak Jubilee, served as a key scientific gathering for geoscience professionals, industry experts, and government representatives to share research and insights on economic geology, energy, environment, and natural hazards — areas foundational to understanding the country’s mineral resources and sustainable resource management.
Meanwhile, the Pilipinas Conference 2025, a major annual forum on economic security and resilience convened by the Stratbase Institute, provided a high-level platform for policymakers and thought leaders to discuss the Philippines’ investment climate, including responsible mining’s role in economic growth and community benefit as emphasized by Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials during the event.
Complementing these conversations, the Arangkada Philippines Investment Forum 2025 of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines brought together government, private sector, and international investors to explore strategic investment opportunities across key sectors including critical minerals and mining, with sectoral breakout sessions that tackled regulatory frameworks and investment challenges, signaling ongoing efforts to attract sustainable capital into the extractive and allied industries.
As we open this new chapter, may we carry forward the lessons of the past without being weighed down by them. May we choose hope, not because everything is certain but because possibility still exists. In welcoming 2026 with hope, we affirm a simple yet powerful truth: the future is not fixed — it is shaped by what we choose to believe in and what we are willing to work for, together.
A Blessed and Hopeful New Year to all! *
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