December in the Philippines is the cheeriest month for Filipinos. This is because 90 percent of them consider themselves Christians. And they find the birthday of Jesus Christ on December 25 THE DAY, and along with it THE MONTH as a season of great joy and happy celebrations. Expectedly, the people believe that on the birth month of the Saviour of Mankind, they deserve to celebrate with fun-gatherings especially with their families. And that they suppose there is peace in their neighborhoods, and in their celebrations, manage to have enough cash for special foods like ham, lechon, fruits, drinks and even special venues for such bonding-togethers. The children most especially are given much leeway to receive gifts and may be ‘spoiled’ with cash to be allowed to enjoy with their friends.
BUT on this December 2023, can the poor and marginalized Filipinos among us, numbering almost 50 percent of the more than 112 million population, able to enjoy such fun-filled activities?
It’s a big letdown, unfortunately. The Uniteam leadership, going into its third year of governance, is still grappling with promises of solutions for the myriad national problems facing the country.
What has the Department of Justice accomplished so far? The bailout of former senator Leila De Lima took place only after almost seven years of imprisonment based on trumped-up charges. More then 700 political prisoners are still languishing in jail. How soon will the families of the more than 30,000 victims of EJKs and red-tagging taste the sweet news of the perpetrators or masterminds of the killings being arrested and held to account for their crimes?
What are the department officials mandated to expedite the country’s economic recovery doing to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo? Or at least stop the rise in prices of sibuyas, fish, meat, sugar and other basic household items? How has the leadership given the appropriate assistance to the underpaid farmers, laborers, fishermen, teachers, nurses, and especially the jobless, landless, homeless and those in many marginalized communities nationwide?
Indeed, the economy has to be given primary attention by the leadership. With economic recovery, the many problems may be solved: the current educational crisis (unfortunately held by a department head with twisted priorities); health issues; the drug problem and other peace-and-order issues currently handled by incompetent, or crime-laden, enforcement agencies; a Comelec with questionable integrity and credibility; and the increasingly aggressive China bullying and foreign policy issues.
The people are praying and hoping (against hope?) that the national leadership will be more intelligent, compassionate and professional in its plans and programs for the benefit of the people, instead of being self-serving by thinking of amending the Constitution, which has NOT been implemented in the first place by them as current officials of this “Uniteam” administration. How indeed will we have a cheery Merry Christmas 2023?
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