Under the Yellow Sunshine

It’s a Saturday-feeling Wednesday. It’s a non-working holiday for due to the inauguration of President Elect Noynoy Aquino. I watched the inauguration program televised live on ABS-CBN. There, at the Quirino grandstand is another historical event for the Philippines. Is it, really? Or it’s just another grand festive event celebrated to help divert our attention from the problems, not only of the country, but also of our own and of the rest of the world?

Whatever it is. I am wearing that yellow smiley on my face. I am thankful that even for a while, I was elevated to a state of high hopes and genuine excitement. In Pres. Noynoy’s speech, he promised to work hard to eliminate corruption (as suggested by his campaign slogan “walang mahirap kung walang corrupt”) and significantly decrease red tape. And as usual talked about protection of the OFWs and delivering a better quality of education and employment via provision of more school supplies and creation of more infrastructures. (Will I see more yellow?) All of which, I expected to hear in his speech. But what I appreciated the most in his speech was when he talked about having “no reconciliation without justice”. He claims that whoever has wronged him has been forgiven, but those who have wronged the Filipinos are not forgotten. Applause! I really do hope that justice is served because it has not been for the past years, or if it has been, I felt that it wasn’t served hot. (Part of being just is giving what is due when it is needed the most... If ever, will it still be just to punish GMA for bamboozling her way through her presidency when she already has caused irreversible damage?)

For what its worth, the conviction present in President Noynoy’s speech, makes me look forward to better governance. With the enthusiasm I saw in the people on our TV screen, I await a more active citizenship.

But I’m done waiting… I am tired of waiting. My optimism towards the future is coming to an end. I am letting go of hopefulness as I am replacing it with hard work and dedication. It is not to say I’ve given up, rather it is I saying this is not a fight but a journey to a better life.

It is true what they say “good things come to those who wait” but great things happen to those who initiate. Aren’t you bored and disappointed by waiting and nothing seems to happen? I am. That’s why I’m done waiting. I’d go wake up tomorrow under the yellow sunshine and walk out that street with a smile on my face wearing my aviators because YES the future is bright and I’ve got work to do. :)