A majority of Filipinos expect a happy Christmas this year, according to a nationwide survey taken by Social Weather Stations Inc. That’s not just blind optimism. There has been enough good news to make this Christmas merry and Filipinos hopeful about better times in the coming year. All the worst-case scenarios about the indefinite postponement of the general elections in May did not materialize. The country’s foray into fully automated elections was a success, and the man who was elected president on an anti-corruption platform has a clear mandate.
Economic analysts and investors are bullish about the country’s prospects, believing that the new team in charge of government will herald a new way of doing business in the Philippines. More investments mean more jobs. If the pay scales are good enough, it could mean fewer Filipinos needing to find jobs overseas and staying away from loved ones on Christmas.
Love and family togetherness were the most valuable Christmas gifts cited by the respondents in the SWS survey. In a land where millions still live below the poverty line, a family gathering at the Christmas table, no matter how humble the fare, is a treasured blessing.
The family that prays together stays together; many Filipinos still believe in this, and few need to be reminded that Christmas is first of all about Jesus Christ. This should be good news for bishops who fret that modern life is alienating their flock from the Church. On this special day, Filipinos give love, give thanks and praise for their blessings.
