MANY Pangasinenses will most likely remember, with much sadness, this year as the year of super Typhoon Cosme — that more than the beginning of a global financial crisis which is expected to get worse in the coming year. The country having been in an economic crisis over the last five years despite repeated pronouncements of the Arroyo administration of statistical data on the contrary, the people have already long been feeling a financial crunch.

But as in calamities past, we have once again shown our resilience and resolve in the worst of times. Majority of the people have picked up from the rubble that Cosme and other ensuing typhoons left behind with help from both the government and the private sector, and despite the heartlessness of some in power who had the gall to take advantage of tragic events.

As we bid this year adieu and welcome, understandably with some fear and reluctance, the new one, we need to tap those traits, our strengths, that have seen us through. At the same time, we have to nurture our capacity to demand better both from ourselves and our public servants whom we have entrusted with our vote.

Within the national scene, Pangasinenses must make sure that their voices are added to those who are vehemently shouting against a Charter change at this time. We want the elections in 2010 as constitutionally scheduled. After that, then let us, by all means, talk about Cha-cha.

At the provincial level, we have to keep up our vigilance for many unresolved crimes and press the police authorities to actually get to the root of this criminality. Running after one syndicate is a good start, but it should not end there. One policy that should help in abetting criminality is the strict enforcement of a gun ban that Governor Amado Espino Jr. ordered at the beginning of the year. Corollary to that, it is not too late to take back and turn over to the police the shotguns - which could very well be loose firearms as well - that have been distributed to the barangay kapitans all over the province.