TOMORROW BEGINS TODAY. Our future is determined by the actions and decisions we make.

It started with Lehman Brothers declaration of bankruptcy, and everything else followed, like a pile of domino pieces. Actually, one can’t easily conclude the real cause of the global financial crisis that caught western countries unprepared, particularly US, but its drastic effects are certain: stock prices fell, investments decline, many companies went bankrupt, and economies became unstable, and this is on an international scale. We Filipinos should not act like were unaffected. The horror of global financial crisis might take us by surprise.

We have always been updated with the broadcast and print media’s reports on OFWs going home, but not due to Christmas, but because the companies they were employed has turned bankrupt. With this, remittances eventually fell down. Should this mishap continue, we should be having a gloomy year ahead. In addition, water rates will be increasing, and it will entail increase in prices of other commodities as well.

With the coming of another year, many of us busy contemplating on our past year and assess whether our way of living has improved or just turned worse. But much more important than just reviewing our past is to learn from it. We all know that the prices of commodities have tremendously increased this year, and many Filipino families fell below the poverty threshold. But when the prices improved a little, spending also increased. This holiday season is a witness on how Filipinos spend luxuriously without thinking for the coming year. The effect of global financial crisis is s big threat to our country yet we never prepare for it. We should always bear in mind that oil prices will not remain low forever, and oil players will not always be willing to roll prices back.

Supposedly, the government is our indispensable partner in this crisis. But when the government itself is not strong enough to support its citizens, how will its citizens stand? The nation’s growth is impeded with political issues such as Joc Joc Bolante and Fertilizer Fund Scam, Impeachment complaints and corruption problems.
This time we have to do our part.

We should think for tomorrow, do not live only for today. To be prepared with possible outcomes of such, New Year’s resolutions regarding change in attitude is not enough, change is perspective would fill the gap. Our future now is a big question if we fail to look for solutions beginning today. In the coming 2010 elections, should we fail to choose the right leader for our nation, we would be sure that global financial crisis would paralyze us. We have to be smart. We have to be vigilant. Begin assessing those who want be in the position. We shouldn't fail this time. With this, we would not just spare ourselves from lots of political and economic problems, but from criticisms of other countries as well. However, should we fail to choose the right leadership for our nation, we would be sure that the looming global financial crisis would paralyze us.