BACOLOD CITY — How will 2009 fare? I am optimistic it will be better than 2008.

I don’t buy the negative prognostications of the prophets of doom. Every New Year is always better than the Old Year. Civilization always improves.

Nations meet crises after crises. But these become a launching pad for improvement. Progress marches on, no matter how you look at it. The port, Bredco, and SM are monuments of progress. Salute, Sammy Palanca. Bacolod owes you plenty.

This city is better than 10, 20, or 50 years ago. All these years I have seen the growth year after year, after year. It never deteriorated.

The city budget, the population, the volume of business, all these have been growing. We always want to make the new better than the last. Bacolod will be better, more beautiful and more progressive.

My memory is now hazy on a poem in high school, “The Chambered Nautilus,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson which says something like, “Build thee more stately mansion, O my soul,/ As the swift season rolls…let the new be better than the last…”

* * *

Despite the much-feared economic meltdown, this does not strike fear in me. Bacolod and Negros Occidental will go on. All because our provincial officials’ concern is always food security.

The population is growing. They need food. To survive just be sure, you produce food.

I would like to believe we have many people of this mindset, that to survive they must produce, which can be goods or services.

* * *

The New Year will also see the early campaigning of politicians who will surely spend money. This will add to money in circulation.

As early as now, the personalities to run for some posts are already shaping up. The mayorship is believed to be contested by incumbent Mayor Bing Leonardia and the challenger is Congressman Monico Puentevella.

In any election, an incumbent has always the edge. Being a challenger Monico is expected to spend more than his past election and reelection.

To prevent Monico from winning Bing must spend too. Money here will seep down into the grassroots. And this is the cure of the crisis.

* * *

And there are candidates for Congress too. Many names have cropped up, former Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, LTO Manila Boss Cano Tan, Malacañang Deputy Spokesman Anthony Golez, ex-Congressman John Orola, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson, Ike Barredo, Jocelle Batapa Sigue, and many more.

Not all of them will run. But even if only three run for the post, this will mean plenty of money will come into circulation.

The province has six other Congressional districts. Expect them to spend, too.

Congress has earned a negative image. And one of the aims of the Movement for Good Governance is not to reelect incumbent Congressmen. But it’s difficult to beat them. They have plenty of money.

* * *

The President has vowed, too, to concentrate on agriculture. This is a plus sign. We foresee a better Congress this time to legislate better laws. One of them, we hope, is to check corruption, especially in public works.

There should be an open bidding of public works. Who was the winning bidder in the Pahanocoy-Sum-ag road? How much was the cost? Then put up billboards on the cost, the name of the bidder, the length, the date it is finished.

What is that I heard starting Monday, passengers will walk from Manville Subdivision to outside Sum-ag because jeeps lose time and fuel in the traffic snarl? Who are the contractors? Many suspected they are people close to Congressman Puentevella. Newks should come out openly on this.

* * *

Congress should press a law regulating the use of Internet. Dr. Evangeline Johnson, owner of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital and another hospital in Iloilo complained to the NBI of hospital secretary and the other nursing college secretary allegedly using the Internet to malign her.

We believe the NBI can do the job. We want to help Dr. Johnson by getting in touch with our friend, local NBI Boss, Atty. Mamerto Cortez. But, what is necessary is having Congress to enact a law to stop abuses through the Internet.

Businesses and personalities can be destroyed. Libel law must include the Internet. We are confident Dr. Evangeline Johnson will stand up and fight.

* * *

So, the Old Year goes tonight. As Tennyson wrote, “Ring out the old, ring in the new,/ Ring happy bells across the snow;/ The year is going, just let it go,/ Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

Happy New Year to all!

3 Responses to “Looking hopefully to 2009”

• 1
  sumakwell
  January 1st, 2009 17:02

  Your right ! Be optimistic. Optimism is hope for the best and plan for the worst. Trouble is, I don’t see any plan.
• 2
  R Sanches
  January 2nd, 2009 01:51

  It’s not easy to be optimistic when one is on the receiving end of ‘doom and gloom’.
• 3
  Stop blogging, regulate the Internet - Pangandaman, Esleyer, Sadsad · Stellify
  January 15th, 2009 08:48

  [...] Star columnist Primo Esleyer concludes that Congress should move to regulate the Internet because he received word from a hospital owner [...]

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