ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 01 Jan) -- Christmas and New Year's Day revelries passed peacefully, but for many Pinoys the celebration were not as exciting and happy as it was, say, five years ago. They blamed poverty for the sad yuletide season.
"We have not much food on the table. Mother only cooked noodles, a little fried chicken and some fruits. And these were nothing compared to the previous years my family celebrated yuletide season. Now, life is difficullt as to what it was, say, five years ago," said Marites Fernandez, a 32-year old mother of four.
Her kids said they only watched the fireworks in the sky and had late supper together and slept.
"Everything is so expensvie, so we have to buy things we needed most, but the important here is the spirit that keeps us going through the tough times. And the traditional Filipino values are important to us," she said.
But despite the difficult times, many said they still managed to stay happy with their family and optimistic about the future.
"We have not much food on the table. Mother only cooked noodles, a little fried chicken and some fruits. And these were nothing compared to the previous years my family celebrated yuletide season. Now, life is difficullt as to what it was, say, five years ago," said Marites Fernandez, a 32-year old mother of four.
Her kids said they only watched the fireworks in the sky and had late supper together and slept.
"Everything is so expensvie, so we have to buy things we needed most, but the important here is the spirit that keeps us going through the tough times. And the traditional Filipino values are important to us," she said.
But despite the difficult times, many said they still managed to stay happy with their family and optimistic about the future.
"The prospect of a bright future is what many people hope for. Of course, we should be optimistic. That is what life is all about," a 56-year old villager, Benito Callos, said.
Callos and his family were together in the church on the eve of New Year's Day. "Look around you and you can see the smile on the faces of these people, isn't life wonderful? We pray because we believed in God, right? And the same thing goes for the rest of these people. Think about Africa and ask yourself, am I lucky in the Philippines?"
Callos and his family were together in the church on the eve of New Year's Day. "Look around you and you can see the smile on the faces of these people, isn't life wonderful? We pray because we believed in God, right? And the same thing goes for the rest of these people. Think about Africa and ask yourself, am I lucky in the Philippines?"
The New Year's Day revelry in Zamboanga lasted less than an hour. After 12 midnight, fireworks that lit up the dark sky ceased, although, sporadic explosions from small firecrackers can still be heard.
Colored lights that adored many houses were turned off, and before the cock crows the next day, many streets were empty.
The next day, many people face the same problems: how to pay their huge debts or where to get money to pay the electric and water bills.
"Debts here, debts there, oh it's piling up. Life is really tough," said a coffee trader Carme Santos.
Jose Elago, a Catholic preacher, said many people turn to prayers for their problems, while others blamed the government for the high cost of basic commodities.
"Despite these difficult times, people continue to seek spiritual guidance. The churches last night were full, and they prayed hard for good life ahead in 2006. Others blamed President Gloria Arroyo for their woes."
"But why blame the government, the President, or anybody for your woes, while the rest are working hard. President Arroyo has done an excellent job in 2005, and the economy is doing good," the preacher said.
He said the government provided more jobs and gave opportunities to many people.
The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) said a total of 1.99 million jobs were generated from January to September last year.
And the government's goal of creating up to 10 million jobs by 2010 is on track with 2 million jobs created in just 9 months.
Most of these jobs were through government intervention in various ways in the different selected programs, such as agribusiness land development, and the funding of the micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as housing, and public construction.
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