Politicians reveal resolutions

“NEW Year means new life” is the cliché to which most people believe in.

People usually make a list of their New Year’s resolution to achieve their desired life on the first week of the New Year.

Among the people who made a list of their resolutions are political leaders and known personalities in the Cordillera.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan shared to Sun.Star Baguio his resolution, saying, “As a political leader, we should set [the] example to the community [by] doing good deeds for the people to emulate.”

He added that he will focus his 2013 programs on the social aspects of development to combat the different arising social challenges the province faces today.

He earlier mentioned that among the social challenges are increasing rape cases, climate change, poverty alleviation, control of mining, and high crime occurrence.

Ifugao Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. said: “My New Year’s resolutions are not to be absent during important regular sessions of Congress; to talk more about Cordillera autonomy with the Cordillerans and non–Cordillerans; and to lose a few pounds.”

“Work as best as I can as if there’s no 2013 election,” shared Ifugao Governor Eugene Balitang.

From the private sector, Cooperative Bank of Benguet Manager Gerry Lab–oyan shared, “my New Year’s resolution is to contribute and be more relevant to poverty alleviation.”

But the question is how did making New Year’s resolutions started?

On the online article of the international author Gary Ryan Blair titled “The History of New Year’s Resolutions,” he stated “the tradition of the New Year’s Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical god of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.”

He added olden New Years did not actually start on January 1. “It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.”

Through generations, modern Christians then named January 1 as New Year’s celebration. They also begun giving gifts on the New Year’s eve which later transferred into December 25, as Romans claimed it is the birth of Christ.

The Catholics also started forgiving their enemies and asking for forgiveness from the Lord as part of the New Year’s celebration. They also conceptualized the cliché ‘New year, new life.’

More superstitions of other churches, countries, and ethnic groups followed these beliefs of the Romans.