New year, new hope, new soul

The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul. – G. K. Chesterton

The coming of the year 2007 is expected to be a better, more prosperous and peaceful year. The Social Weather Station (SWS) survey reported that 91 percent of Filipino adults would welcome the New Year with hope rather than fear. Indeed, it is inherent to our culture to be able to look ahead in the future with confidence in spite of our desperate circumstances. We as a people, generally prefer to look at the brighter side of life, to make do and be happy with what we have, undaunted by poverty and difficulties. Those whose lives were recently devastated by calamities, look forward to rehabilitation with renewed hope. We have miraculously survived many and repeated crises as individuals. It is our strong faith in God that keeps us believing that tomorrow would be a better day for us.

In the past, our forefathers did not only suffer from destructions caused by natural disasters but destructions from war. They struggled not only against poverty and illnesses but, as a people under different regimes, fought for life, recognition and liberty. History attests that they never lost hope. They won the freedom that we enjoy right now.

On January 12, 1942, the Japanese entered and occupied the City of Manila. This was few days after the US forces left Manila and it was declared an open city to salvage it from further destruction from the bombings of Japan but still, it was not spared.

We can just imagine the kind of Christmas they had, full of anxious anticipation and fear of destruction and death. Instead of the noise created by firecrackers and "boga’s", shouting, cries and gunshots filled the air as the year 1942 entered. Instead of fireworks display, bombings illuminated the dark sky giving them glimpses of what they lost and what could still be saved. World War II was the worst experience our grandparents and grand grandparents ever had. Yet, they held on to their faith and believed that it is never hopeless. They were united in their goals and actions. They all fought for the same cause. And they fought, suffered and died for our generations to have better lives than theirs.

This 2007, let us look back to our past and continue to learn and relearn from their experiences, their failures and their successes. As we look forward to this new year, let us remember that it will be our children who will benefit or perish from the consequences of whatever decisions and actions we make today.

Let us leave behind all our grudges, all our evil thoughts and selfish motives. Let us be united in our goals and our actions. Let us support each other from the personal level to our families, our communities, our government. Let us no longer identify ourselves with the opposition nor the administration. Let us stop being critical but be more supportive. Let us be open to positive change and focus on their potential benefits for a greater number of Filipinos, knowing that it is in changing for the better that we can progress. For example, much has been said for and against Charter change. Let us all objectively study the benefits of that big leap in our government and set aside politics.

Our economy is doing very well. Inflation rate has been continuously dropping. Our peso is continuously strengthening against the dollar. New enterprises are proliferating generating jobs and more income. Globally, more and more, countries seek better products and services available everywhere. Our export and import industry are favored and we are also able to compete on a level playing field. The Central Bank confidently boasts of all the positive economic indicators on their building façade, illuminated by Christmas lights, giving hope to everyone.

All that happens originate with what each individual "self" does. It is only in recognizing a mistake that we can change it. The reason why New Year’s resolutions have now become a cliché and left broken is because we never admit to a mistake. In being able to admit our mistakes, being accountable for them and having the grace to change for the better, we become renewed persons with a new soul.

Let us begin the new year by counting our blessings and saying thanks for everything. Let us share what we can to those who have none. Let us cherish every little manifestation that we continue to exist, we are loved and being taken care of by our family, by our employers, by our government, by the God we believe in. Become "new souls" and count it all joy!