No disease, please

1. A reprieve from natural disasters in 2012. This year has been particularly devastating, owing to the natural disasters and extreme weather conditions that claimed thousands of lives and property all over the world. For the majority, surviving day-to-day in the Philippines is already a challenge as it is; a deluge of disasters breaks the human spirit even more. May we be spared from more of these in the coming year.

For those who have been affected by the tragedies, may they find the strength and fortitude to quickly rise above these trying times. And may the world never run out of generous and kind hearts who are quick to come to the aid of others.

2. A government rid of clowns. I hear laughter in my head. But can’t an honest, law-abiding citizen dream?

3. As always, I wish for good health and the well-being of my loved ones. There’s nothing like disease and illness to jolt your life into perspective. Losing one of my oldest friends to a stroke this year, and still another friend suffering a stroke that left half her body paralyzed, sent me reeling. We often feel invincible, owing to our relative youth; after all, you don’t die in your 30s or 40s! Or so you think. You take things for granted without thought of what might happen suddenly; you think you always have tomorrow to do the things you need to do.

An acquaintance related how he scrambled to straighten his affairs following a health scare; he and his wife were on a holiday abroad when he discovered an unusually large lump in his throat. They have two young children. Thankfully, his case wasn’t serious, and he’s well now. But not everyone is as lucky. My friend who died left behind four young children, and he was the sole breadwinner. An older friend said his first thought when he had his own health scare was his aging parents, for whom he’s the caregiver.

We all wish for nice things, but in the end, that designer purse, shiny gadget or fancy car mean nothing. Mga bagay lang yan; they’re worthless when you’re dead. —Cheche V. Moral

Support for the arts

—and better Internet

1. Greater government support for the arts—yes, despite the outrage that erupted this year over Mideo Cruz’s so-called “sacrilegious” work that went on view at the taxpayer-supported Cultural Center of the  Philippines. The formation of national character cannot be abdicated solely in favor of the commercial, short-term interests of TV, movies and pop entertainment.

In more enlightened countries, the arts community’s contributions not only to the national spirit but to the GDP—in terms of jobs, earnings, livelihood generated by arts-related activities—are well-recognized. Artistic talent happens to be an inexhaustible resource in Filipinos, but, subject all these years only to grudging, ad hoc treatment from the state, it continues to be underutilized, left to fend for itself. Putting food on the Pinoy table is top priority, of course; but can’t taking care of the soul go hand in hand with taking care of the body?

2. Better Internet services. Seriously, check out the WiFi speeds in the capitals of our Asian neighbors and weep. Smart and Globe continue to wallop each other in the ads in a never-ending game of one-upmanship, but the service they provide the country remains mediocre at best. They have millions of subscribers who have no choice but to grit through slower-than-slow connections, spotty coverage and atrocious customer service.

Despite this, Filipinos have become some of the most tech-savvy people in the world. They deserve much better than what they’re getting now from their so-called service providers.   —Gibbs Cadiz

A chance for the dogs, hope for typhoon victims

1. I wish for a chance for the rescued fighting dogs of Cavite. I hope with all my heart that 2012 will bring them normal, happy lives in loving homes, after all the abuse they have been through. They are all angels, every single one of them. I wish human beings would learn once more to be true stewards of our planet and of all creatures, great and small. It’s a God-given responsibility, and one that we’ve seriously screwed up. While we’re at it, I hope that animal welfare becomes even more of a mainstream national concern this coming year.

2. I wish for constant strength, unfailing hope, and no shortage of help and compassion for the victims of Tropical Storm “Sendong” in the next few months, when the real work of rebuilding lives will begin and donor fatigue may set in.

Meanwhile, I hope the criminals who stripped the forests, raped the mountains, and directly contributed to the flash floods get their comeuppance, sooner than later. Same goes for insensitive, self-absorbed celebrities who make stupid, tactless statements about “moving on” way too prematurely. I really wish you would disappear, lady—now, that would really help make my year.

3. Overall, 2011 was a bad year for me, one of loss and difficult personal transitions. This will forever be the terrible year I lost my dog Banana, and I will never be quite the same again. If not for my friends—my best friend, my yoga sisters, my close colleagues—who buoyed me up like a true family, I would have spent most of 2011 in a despondent haze.

Thus, I hope 2012 brings less pain and upheaval and more happiness and peace, for me and for all I love. And I hope I continue to learn from my baby Kikay’s pragmatic example, so I can look forward again. —Alya B. Honasan

Blessings for Filipino families

Two of my five wishes last year were granted. Hence, despite the gloomy circumstances, Christmas wishes do come true. I’m simply grateful.

This year, I wish for no mundane stuff anymore, but collective blessings—financial, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and psychological—for all Filipino families, rich or poor. I still believe families should be the most important priority in this crazy world.

I also wish for wisdom for all Filipino parents like me to do the right things to take care of their children. No more harsh words, violent moods and physical punishments when they do things we don’t like. We need to raise our children in love and grace, and help them to have the best life possible.

I wish that teachers, too, would help parents  direct the young ones on the right path. The children look up to them to learn about life, as well.

I know this is the most difficult time in our children’s lives. I wish that they would have the courage to stand up to peer pressure, resist the temptation to try drugs, smoking and all other vices that start to creep in at their tender age, and to recklessly make bad decisions in life and eventually love. I know there are big obstacles and pitfalls ahead, but I pray that our children make it through each one with a lesson learned. —Vangie Baga-Reyes

Hoping for Pagasa

It’s a desperate wish, and quite belated, what with the rising death toll of the disaster floods in Mindanao, but I wish that Pagasa would finally come up with up-to-date and accurate weather forecasting. President Aquino revamped the bureau early in his administration, exactly because it had been giving the wrong forecasts; but it’s not presumptuous to say the new leadership has not done a good job, either. In fact, its performance has been nothing short of dismal, even worse.

During Typhoon “Pedring,” it declared two storm signals in a matter of hours. Last Nov. 1, it forecast a rainy day for Metro Manila: it turned out to be bright and sunny. And last week, perhaps forgetting the experience of Butuan and Caraga in Mindanao exactly a year ago when the floods came, it failed again to adequately warn Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte of “Sendong” and the rains it would bring.

Pagasa’s excuse: “Sendong” moved so fast! The typhoon picked up from 19 kph to 30 kph, Pagasa officials said. We’ve known of typhoons that have moved with faster velocity.  “Sinisi pa iyong bagyo!” said an irate online feedback. “Hoy, iyong mga susunod na bagyo, magparehistro po kayo muna sa Pagasa bago kayo pumasok ng Pilipinas at baka masisisi kayo!”

A corollary wish would be for urban planners and city planners in Metro Manila and the provinces to take seriously zoning regulations and proper urban planning. Many of those houses washed out in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan had been constructed along sandbanks and rivers that are environmentally dangerous zones. The disaster in Mindanao was caused by nature as much as official shortsightedness and incompetence.

Hopeless Pagasa, the civil defense establishment (“laging natutulog sa pansitan”), inept local governments, and the greed of developers and businessmen have contributed to the calamity. —Lito Zulueta

Stop blaming the stars —and stay healthy

1. That the world, for just a few more months each year, would stop wreaking havoc on its population. While it is highly unlikely and impossible to be  rid of them, I wish there would be lesser earthquakes, lesser typhoons and hurricanes, lesser flash floods and, yes, lesser fatalities next year. I wish, too, for people to become socially responsible and environmentally conscious so that we can avoid manmade disasters.

2. That people stop putting the blame on some mystical cosmic occurrence for their bad/erratic behavior. Just because you believe in mercury retrograde, or that the ghosts of your ancestors have been released to walk freely on Earth for a few weeks, doesn’t mean you have to act bitchy and be absolved for doing so.

Life does throw you into the most unexpected places and scenarios sometimes, but you always have choices. Quit saying it’s not meant to be, and start taking responsibility for your actions. This country needs more people owning up to their mistakes.

3. That people be healthier. Many of today’s fatal diseases are caused by irresponsible lifestyle choices, such as insisting on drinking the night away when you know your blood pressure is dangerously off the mark, or choosing to order sisig when your cholesterol level is through the roof. Life is too precious to be wasted away. We only get one shot at life.—Anne A. Jambora

Pursue our passions

I wish that everyone would realize that there’s no such thing as being too young or too old to pursue one’s passions and make a difference in the world.

I wish for homes for the homeless, food for the hungry, riches for the poor, love for the lonely, good health for the sick, kindness for the evil.

And I wish that Rachael Yamagata would finally come to Manila, because I’m tired of chasing her around the world.—Pam Pastor

Wishes for an ideal world

So many wishes, so little time.

Any wishlist would have to be composed of thousands of items for it to achieve even a semblance of an ideal world. But in a world of total reality, such litanies are futile, not to say impractical.

So we would have to concentrate on the moment. Here:

We wish the real Santa Claus would step forth to confound his impersonators and prove the skeptics wrong. So that no child would henceforth doubt the authenticity of Christmas. This includes the boy sacada Odoy who lost his seasonal salary to usurious debts and went home to his province with only fare money, a few plastic toys for his siblings and a smile on his face.

We wish the Orphans of the Storm, like the boy Samuel who lost his mother to Tropical Storm “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro, would survive their childhood traumas and go through life to become fine adults. This includes the Children of War and other calamities manmade, natural or supernatural.

Mediocrity rules the world, so we wish people would make a difference by fulfilling their potentials and being true to their calling. If you’re a writer, be a real writer. If you choose to be a filmmaker, farmer or politician, then be as authentic and effective a filmmaker, farmer or politician as you can.

We wish that the Greek ideal of the arete were inculcated in everyone both high and low. So that people would strive for excellence and not be so smug and complacent as to feel that, after accumulating so much riches and stuff, traveling to so many places, gorging and imbibing so much food and wine, bedding so many partners, and getting so many awards, that’s it. On the eve of his execution, Socrates wanted to learn to play the flute. Already in his 80s, Sophocles wrote his final masterpiece.

We wish for general well-being for indigenous peoples, comfort for the marginals, tenderness and warmth for the deprived. Christmas should be for everyone, including those who have no faith.

If only these few wishes could come true, we’d be content all the days of our lives before the planet self-destructs. They may not be humanly achievable, but not impossible by the grace of God. —Constantino C. Tejero

Getting our act together

Wishing away all the so-called “negativity” in the world seems like wishing for peace in the Middle East, but I wish people, especially those in government, would learn to distinguish between legitimate criticism and plain negative talk. There’s a world of difference between the two, and not all unvarnished but well-meaning criticisms are negative.

In the same breadth, people, especially those with blogs and access to social networking sites, should stop carping about the slightest inconveniences as well as minor lapses in P-Noy’s judgment. Give the guy a break, will you? Let’s leave the heckling to hired hacks, shall we?

Wishing for a reprieve from nature’s fury is like whistling in the dark. Whether we care to admit it or not, it’s payback time for all of us, as we collectively reap decades of our insatiable greed and wanton destruction of the environment.

It’s just our luck that in the age of global warming and climate change, our beautiful country happens to be one of the most vulnerable regions on earth. Instead of pointing fingers at each other, we should identify and prepare high-risk provinces to save people in those places from death and destruction.

Just like with “Ondoy,” a good number of people affected by “Sendong” were living along river banks and coastal areas that should have been used as buffers and watersheds. It’s never too late to replant our denuded forests, while we start curbing runaway population.

On a personal note, I’m no longer lusting after fame and fortune. I think the train to stardom and mega deals has left me behind forever. My only prayer is for God to continue to grant me a sound mind and body as I savor both the good and the bad that this life throws at me.

And, oh, extra cash, Lord, to buy myself a pair or two of designer shoes next year. —Alex Y. Vergara

Poodle

1.  To find my poodle a girlfriend (they don’t have to be married to have babies!) so I can finally be a dog grandma.

2.  No more disasters, natural or manmade in 2012!

3.  The iPad 3, iPhone 5—the new wave of Apple products in 2012.