This afternoon, I watched the proclamation of the new Philippine president and vice president on television. Which was no easy task, what with my daughter demanding to watch Hi-5 and her other cartoons at the same time. I had to move to another room to watch it, only to have the princess follow me and insist on viewing her show wherever I was.
It is quite a treat to watch the procedures and pageantry that comes with such an event. One of the few times, in my opinion, that Congress appears as austere and honorable as it should be. Of course, there were several lengthy speeches whose points I felt were already made clear the past month. Yes, the automated elections were not perfect. Yes, there are questions of fraud. Yes, there are a lot of shady characters. But can we get on with the show?
When finally Noynoy and Binay were proclaimed winners, I found myself close to tears. Not that I am an avid Noynoy fan.But because it is the first time in my life that I understand the meaning of having a new government. As an adult I feel the pinch each time I open my wallet and have to stretch my budget to afford all the necessities. As a mother, I feel the tug in my heart each time I realize that I cannot buy everything I believe my daughter should have. As a doctor, I feel the pain each time a patient says she cannot afford a treatment neccessary for her cure. As a wife and daughter, I fear that violence and crime might visit my loved ones anytime. As a commuter, I grind my teeth each time I get held up in traffic, or some incompetent traffic enforcer bungles at intersections. As a Filipino, I ache each time I see a child having to beg for his family's next meal.
It is the dawn of a new day. I place my hope that the new government can lead us out of this drudgery we are in. I do fervently, fervently pray, that our new leaders can turn our country from that where poverty and mediocrity reign, to a nation where those words no longer exist. I want to raise my daughter in a society where I no longer fear that she would go hungry, or that she would be harmed, or that she would not know what peace and security mean.
Dear Mr President, at the risk of sounding like countless others, please turn this country around. We who grew up in the shadows your mother's yellow ribbon, we who marched in Edsa II, we who have grown cynical and doubtful of the true nature of government, implore you to help us weather the storm, and change the tides of our future.
A few days ago I watched my daughter stare at her hands as she learned to cross her fingers. I am doing the same thing. I hope every single Filipino finger is crossed, as we see this new era through.
