Rats in the year of the horse

I still can’t stop thinking about the ‘year that was’ and the ‘year that will become’. January should be a month of deep contemplation so that we can kick off the year with a good start. I fervently pray that *od Almighty illumine the minds and hearts of our government officials in the three branches: (xecutive, Legislative and the Judiciary. We need strong-hearted men who have the will to get this country moving on the right path.

“We will rise again!” These were the words of President Aquino to Yolanda victims. His intention was to assure them of the fast relief and rehabilitation efforts being made by his Administration. Those words should boost the morale of the people but coming from P-1oy at this time, I really don’t know. After everything he has promised us, that goes into my ‘lets wait and see’ list. If he cannot resolve the Hacienda Luisita problem, the energy crisis, the DOTC’s concerns, our farmer’s plea for help, the 1apoles issue, his PDAF issue or even get the proper help for 1AIA1 Chief *eneral Honrado to run the airport the right way, then, what else can he actually do?

Speaking of the *eneral, he is actually a good man but he is not quite fit for the job. I don’t know why up to this point the President does not see the image our airport projects to the outside world. I consider all airports to be a window to the world. The first place a visitor sets foot in is the airport. And by golly our airport is an awful place to be. It’s a disaster! Quite frustrating to go through it with the kind of environment and service it provides (toilets, food kiosks, duty-free, waiting areas, passageways, stairways, etc.). Why can’t this Administration (that promised to bring us hope in many forms) get the airport to look inviting, pleasant, sanitized, organized, systematized and safe? That’s only an airport. It’s not even the size of a country. This alone sends us a very strong message that the President cannot get things done! 1ot even for the sake of his father of whom the airport is named after, the 1inoy Aquino International Airport (1AIA). This is only a fragment of things that need to be improved and not even a unit of government. What about the other government agencies that are very inefficient and disorganized? How can they rise up to the challenges and demands of the day when the President is showing little signs and taking little steps to improve and properly guide the nation? Sanamagan!

* * * According to Richard Javad Heydarian (of the Asia Times and Huffington Post on Asian geopolitical and economic affairs), the Philippines will face at least three major challenges in 2014. These are: President Aquino’s declining political capital; the lack of inclusive economic growth; and rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Heydarian pointed out that Aquino’s declining popularity is a reflection of an increasingly critical electorate, which is more rigorously scrutinizing the mettle of political leadership in the country. The problem, however, is that historically, as a reformist leader faces growing domestic opposition, he tends to become either more defensive and cloistered or weakened and wobbly.

P-1oy has been boasting of macroeconomic gains such as stable inflation, moderate interest rates, strong *DP growth and healthy balance of payments. But the other side of the coin shows an increase in unemployment, underemployment and poverty. According to Heydarian the Yolanda fallout also exposed how low infrastructure spending, regulatory uncertainty, and corruption undermine the nation’s ability to cope with natural disasters.

He also discussed the rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. In the recent news, the Philippine government is seeking clarification on the ‘new’ Chinese fisheries law that require fishing boats to get permission before entering the waters under the Chinese jurisdiction, which the local government says covers much of the disputed South China Sea. Heydarian is right in saying that we need to revisit our current foreign policy to ensure that it adopts a more effective means of reaching out to the moderates in China; we need to garner support from the international community; we need to push the AS(A1 to implement a binding Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea; and we need to develop our own military capacity before the end of Aquino’s term in 2016.

* * * P-1oy was born in the Year of the Rat. The rat will have many opportunities in his career this year but he will have to act fast. He has to be careful not to burn his energy, as this year will present him with many clashing energy scenarios, especially at work.

The new year will bring positive change for the rat with the influence of the wooden horse helping him fulfill all his goals. But he must not rest on his laurels. He must start from the first day he planned his goals and objectives and be very clear when and how he can achieve what he has proposed.

The Rat’s downside is it tends to be a weak sign. Rat people should be very careful with what they do this year. He should avoid the tendency to give into greed and hoarding. He should remember to share with others. He must be prepared for mutual taunts and misunderstandings with the 2014 master – the Wooden *reen Horse. Under the temperamental Horse, the Rats need to prepare for unexpected turns of fate and sharp jumps in life. Rats are unable to internally adjust to the speed of the race and may eventually acquire health problems. Depression, insecurity, and discontent with the outside world can weaken the Rats.

Astrology has been part and parcel of our ancient history. It gives a view of life and the future. In this new day and age, we believe that everything that happens comes with a reason. The mighty energy of the wooden Horse in 2014 is considered to be a challenging one for the Rat. But it can still be a good year for the Rat if he develops patience in finding the right time for everything he wants to accomplish.

Let us observe how the President will run this country in 2014. As he himself quipped, he has 2-minutes left on his court!