Thursday, January 08, 2009 Pacete: Hopes, wishes and prayers By Ver F. Pacete As I See It
MAY the light of the New Year lead us to where the wind of life blows best and the water of blessings flow the most. With these, we have our hopes, wishes and prayers for 2009.
We hope that our President will efficiently and judiciously implement programs of government that will lead the Filipinos out of poverty, graft and corruption.
We wish that our Senators will make laws that will benefit our sinking economy, deteriorating peace and order and dwindling environment.
We hope that our Congressmen will spend their pork barrel effectively, stop quarrelling over political matters and discontinue their dreams for a charter change before 2010.
We wish that our Cabinet secretaries, under secretaries, assistant secretaries and other honorable men and women in the Family of the President will not just keep secrets and tell the Filipinos that everything is “under control” but they have to go out of their shells and know the real reason why people in the streets cannot eat.
We hope that our local leaders will not think of early election campaign. They have a long way to go. Programs and projects are still there waiting for their sacred attention and religious commitment. Let us remind them but let us work with them.
We wish that our priests, pastors and lay ministers will not just save the souls through beautiful churches and pompous rituals but save the bodies also by convincing brethren in faith to share their economic wealth and spiritual compassion to those who live beyond poverty.
We hope that the government and the capitalists will also consider the meager salary of the employees and the workers. Those who labor in the vineyard of the state, hacienderos and the business moguls are hoping for salary increase.
We wish that the producers and the cartel that control the flow of business in our country will fear God and will consider not just their own survival but will always bear in mind that “revolution can always start with an empty stomach.”
We hope that the generals and the blessed ones in our Armed Forces of the Philippines (or PNP) will not just think of enriching themselves in office and having beautiful “assistant wives” but will also consider the status of the soldiers and policemen running the show in the battlefields and crime scenes.
We wish that our combatants will not just be shooters (sometimes hitting civilians for lack of knowledge in military engagement) but they should be defenders of freedoms (not just war dogs).
We hope that our laborers and government workers will have renewed spirit and dynamism when they go back to office. They should be motivated by just wages and fringe benefits and the desire to work for the economic and moral survival of our country.
We wish that the teachers, the social workers, civic and religious organizations will always be the educators and moral guardians of the youth. We want to see a drug – free and rape – free society.
We hope that parents will not just be food providers but care givers of their children who always long for tender, loving care. Love is not just loving in thoughts but in words and action.
We hope that our GOs, NGOs and POs will always be there as partners of development of a legitimate government. We hope to see more housing projects, rural electrification programs, school buildings, recreation areas, homes for the aged, youth centers, daycare and feeding centers. More!
We wish that motorists will be more educated and lovers of life so that we can eliminate killer highways and delinquent avenues.
We hope that there will be more rescue workers during floods, typhoons and other calamities. Blood donors, too.
We can only hope and wish for the best. Filipinos have to unite and put their acts together. There is no other choice. God will only help us if we choose to take what God wants for us.
We, therefore pray for 2009, that God’s love will provide us the voice when we can’t speak; the strength when we are weak; the hope when we are down; and the laughter when we are sad.
Fellow Filipino, always remember that God is always at work in you. That’s why you always have to be confident in everything you do. He is not just beside or behind you. But, He is in you.
