As Filipinos celebrate Christmas
CHRISTMAS SHOULD REMIND US TO REMAIN HOPEFUL AND FAITHFUL, BUT WITH ACTION

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today said that as Filipinos celebrate Christmas we should be reminded of its spirit which is to remain hopeful and optimistic of the coming year but he cautioned us to face the 2009 with "with action".

"As we celebrate Christmas today, we should be reminded of its truest spirit which is to remain hopeful and faithful despite the odds we are facing as we expect to feel the brunt of the Global Financial Crisis next year. Faith, however, without action is meaningless and this means that we must look into our future with renewed spirit of nationalism and cooperation in order to hurdle the crisis," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "Ultimately, the length and effect of the crisis depends on all of us. We must look towards the future, not just with faith, but with action."

Angara reminded that if not handled correctly, the financial crisis we see today will become tomorrow's human crisis. The cascading series of crises, each building upon the other, bears potentially devastating results for all. History tells us that deep depressions deliver unhealthy cleansings of excess and foment social and political catastrophe. He also added that in order to surmount the crisis preparations must be done today and it is the duty of the government to alert the citizenry.

He also announced that for its part, the Senate will utilize a two-pronged strategy: first, we focus our country's limited resources to job creation and investments in human capital; and second, we stress the importance of coordinated spending among agencies.

For FY 2009, the country is targeting its spending on basic infrastructure, education and health, housing and the environment. The government is also strongly complementing these activities with a vigorous R&D and training program.

"In the end, I believe in the Filipino's resilience, creativity and toughness amid the financial crisis which pinches every citizen of our country. And these are enough reasons for us to get our acts together and strive for a better and brighter Philippines," added Angara.

According to Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey about four in every five (78 percent) will face 2009 "with hope. Pulse Asia concluded that "[d]espite the many problems that Filipinos continue to face on a daily basis, big majorities (77 percent to 88 percent) in the Philippines as a whole and across all geographic areas and socio-economic classes are facing the year ahead with hope".