The year 2009 wasn’t exactly a good one for the Philippines. If we were to recall this year in the future, it would be a picture of calamities – both natural and manmade.
Who would forget the devastation wrought by typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana) and the other storms that followed in its wake. Residents of Metro Manila and nearby suburbs were left helpless by the fury of nature and by an ineffectual government that did not come to the rescue of its citizens.
As the PNT went to press for this yearend edition, Mount Mayon in the province of Albay is threatening another eruption. Evacuation centres have been set up for residents who could be affected by the volcanic activity. Not much comfort can be had at the political front.
On November 23, some 57 people – mostly women and journalists – were massacred in Maguindanao. The carnage was said to have been perpetrated to prevent a politician belonging to a political clan from challenging the dominant family in the province in the 2010 local elections.
The killing has caught the attention of the international community, prompting calls for an independent investigation. Journalists are up in arms and for good reason. More than 20 media practitioners were killed in the incident, the biggest mass murder of journalists in the world so far.
The jockeying for the 2010 national election is another story. We won’t say here who’s running for what position and with whom. Suffice to say that the alignments of national candidates reveal once again that the practice of politics in the Philippines is one based on convenience and not on principles.But there were inspiring stories as well during the year.
Filipinos worldwide rejoiced as boxing champion Manny Pacquiao secured his seventh title after pummeling the last of a long line of opponents whom he had conquered on the ring. Pacquiao also graced the cover of TIME magazine’s Asia edition, joining the ranks of other international sports superstars.
Efren Peñaflorida, a young teacher from Cavite, was chosen by CNN as its 2009 Hero of the Year. The 28-year-old Penaflorida spends his time outside work teaching poor kids in the slums so they will not be enticed to a life of crime.
What’s in store for 2010? We can only pray it doesn’t get any worse than 2009.
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