SAYING GOODBYE TO 2010 - Part II

PART II Wilhelmina S. Orozco But the first half of the year 2009 we were still feeling strong and safe that everything would turn out all right. The leading guard of democracy Cory was still there until she died and on August 5, we saw an outpouring of peoples' love for her. We never imagined that she could command viewers, young and old, rich and poor. Her wake at the Manila Cathedral was the first time a lay person’s corpse had been allowed in. Her funeral parade passing through boulevards and streets was watched by millions by the streets and on television, and reported on radio. Despite being the nemesis of the current administration, Cory was granted military honors by the the military soldiers -- all forces -- land, sea and air, gentlemanly enough in fulfilling their task of according respect to their genuine former commander-in-chief. Cory was the uniting icon of the People Power which brought back democracy - the freedom to speak, write, publish, and hold on to political beliefs, among others after more than a decade of one-man martial law rule. She bravely challenged Marcos in 1985-86, actually from the time her husband was assassinated. She rebuked Marcos’ backward views of women which are now etched in history. For that, Cory is best remembered as the leading light of democracy in the country and the world which saw in her an inspiration to carry out the downfall of many restrictive administrations like Germany which was united and the USSR which was broken up into different states. As the year is ending, tragedy after tragedy is occurring in the high seas -- as if someone is orchestrating these phenomena to divert the minds of the people from the realities of having an inept administration, incapable of loving the people but themselves, stingy in providing genuine programs and reforms that would redound to the people's welfare. The inspiration for patriotic governance provided by our martyrs Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Gregoria de Jesus, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino and Teresa Magbanua has been lost in this era.. Only the 2010 elections keeps us hopeful and being automated, we could expect quicker results (but would they truly reflect the people's will?) and hopefully install peacefully a new committed leadership. However, the question remains, of those approved by the Commission on Elections to run, who among them would have the interests of the people truly in mind and would act according to them? Because as of now, the Comelec is still labeled an extension of the current administration, wary of approving candidacies of those who are poverty-stricken (and according to them cannot conduct a nationwide campaign), and highly identified with the opposition. Nonetheless, the thought of having our democratic process in place, of using the vote to topple a leadership that cannot be truly represent the Filipino people, makes us patient, understanding and hopeful that all will work well. Unfortunately, the weak link here could be the Catholic Church which has a cacophony of voices saying hallelujah to the administration as well as denouncing it. The lack of a united viewpoint makes the Church a questionable ally in the search for genuine political changes in this country. Yet, we the Filipino women and men, all the sexes, young and old, and of all tribes, know that year 2010 will be a decisive year for all of us, personally, collectively, locally and nationally.