By:DONALD SEVILLA
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
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2023 started with high hopes and expectations, the usual for any New
Year hoping it will be better than the one before. It saw the aftermath
of an election with people looking forward to better lives and a full
economic recovery from covid.
Yet it was slow to a start with the general population expecting
election promises to be fulfilled and their lives turned around by a new
leadership.
Foremost in people’s minds was putting food on their tables while
wrangling with the daily pressures of the high cost of basic
commodities and the regular oil price hikes that affected badly things
we needed to buy.
The promised P20/kl price of our daily staple seemed beyond reach
and left many frustrated and questioning their electoral choices. It
didn’t help that Israel invaded Gaza adding to the ongoing war in
Ukraine that gravely affected international commerce and trade.
Around the globe, flashpoints emerged with rebels in Myanmar
fighting an all-out war with the reigning military junta and pocket
conflicts in Central Africa adding to more instability in the region.
The Israel-Hamas war was in danger of escalating in the Middle East
with sympathetic Hamas militant supporters resorting to attacking oil
tankers passing through the Persian Gulf in an effort to retaliate at the
Western allies for supporting Israel.
All these do not paint a rosy picture for the global landscape as we
add China’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea and its
claims along its self-determined nine dash line.
Yet luckily for the rest of us, 2023 is about to end without much of a
bang. Thanks to the efforts of countless diplomats working feverishly
behind the scenes to avert a global catastrophe.
But for us in the local scene, not much is there to be euphoric about.
The local leadership has plenty of catching up to do, having wrested
power away from the previous administration on a platform of
promised reforms and promises of a better life.
Promises, promises and more promises need to be fulfilled and
people are desperately waiting. Almost two years have passed and
we haven’t much to see in terms of NEW GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
Several foreign trips later, we have yet to hear of the positive impact it
could bring to our lives and to our local economy.
All told, we have been living in the “promised land” hoping against
hope for things to improve.
For the past year, we have been subjected to beautiful reports of
accomplishments from the capitol and a development agenda, the
effects of which we have not felt at all.
We can go on and on but the buck does not stop here.We do not want
the year to end on a sour note but as it is, this is the bitter reality.
Next year will be a prelude to another election and expect it to be
“promising”. It takes a hard fall for us to learn from our mistakes and
open our eyes.
Yet, resilient as we are, we can always pick up the pieces and start
over. Have we ever learned?
“A BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH. WHAT WASTED
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR!