The old observation that celebrations for Christmas usually begin in September in the Philippines no longer holds true in the post-pandemic “new normal.”
It’s already past All Saints’ Day, and yet most Filipinos seem to be stuck in a mood of doom and gloom.
And it’s not just because of the recent earthquakes and typhoons that battered Visayas and Mindanao.
The real cause of this grim atmosphere? The bleak truth that corruption has become blatantly part of our society and politics – and it affects all of us directly.
We are already seeing the devastating effects of wanton greed in the steep rise of prices of basic goods and commodities; in the weakening power of our currency, in the clouds of doubt hanging over our businesses and the sliding credibility of our country in the international stage.
And the worst part? Up to now, no one has been charged yet – and it appears that the political factions lording it over the country are now fighting for self-survival through an “orchestrated litany of lies.”
That our politicians are now fighting for the lifeboats while ordinary Filipinos are trapped inside a sinking ship is more than just a cause for public ire to rise up again.
The series of protest actions scheduled for this month is already an indication that the public is not just fed up, but are boiling with anger over the (deliberate?) inaction over the allegations of massive theft of our public funds.
We are indeed facing a bleak and joyless Christmas, folks.
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