Young Roots
The year that we were declared “boss”
By Roselle P. Gale
EVEN as a new year begins, it does not mean that our memories of the past year will be lost forever.
Nights before the entry of 2011, I thought of the events in the closing year which made a mark on me and our country. Here goes…
January 2010.Uhm… Well, I can’t remember a thing but the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
February? Hmm…Valentine’s Day? And oh, yes, on this month the Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for Senator Panfilo Lacson regarding the ‘CORBITO-DACER’ double murder case. But Lacson challenged the arrest order.
March. The election party starts to heat up! Many politicians running in the May 2010 election are seen on T.V. with their movie-like political ads.
April. Just a month before the election and tensions among candidates are rising. The COMELEC is also in a bit of a frenzy preparing for the first automated elections in the country.
May. The first time that I had to wait for more than an hour and be squeezed in a crowd in order to exercise my right to vote. The country takes part in the first computerized polls in the Philippines.
June. P-Noy’s is inaugurated as President at the Quirino grandstand and Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo steps down her throne.
July. P-Noy delivers his first State of the Nations Adress. “Kayo ang boss ko” and the wang-wang are the highlights. He promises to fight graft and corruption.
August. Just a little more than a month after P-Noy’s inauguration, a shocking hostage-taking takes place also at the Quirino grandstand. The incident ended violently with several people dead, including eight of the foreign hostages and the retired policeman who perpetrated the crime.
September. The hostage-taking continues to haunt the country and P-Noy’s presidency.
October. Typhoon “Juan” hits Pangasinan. We are thankful it was not as devastating as “Pepeng” the previous year, but calamities always have an impact on our lives.
November. “Di ako papahuli ng buhay”, says Sen. Panfilo Lacson. Oil price hike! And who can forget the bungled “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” tourism campaign? And Pope’s Benedict XVI’s approval of using condom to fight HIV-AIDS. Also, Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon acts up.
December. Lots of acquittals: Hubert Webb and other Vizconde massacre suspects, Hayden Kho. Sen. Trillanes was also given an amnesty.
As 2011 unfolds, I ask, will we continue to be P-Noy’s “boss”? Will graft and corruption finally begin to end? Did we learn from the tragedies of the past year?
I am keeping my hopes up and will continue to believe that we will all do our part in making the Philippines a better country.
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