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Maugan
Buat Mosaid, Ph.D.
Again, the New Year tradition
of predictions and fortune-telling comes to the fore as people expect
some changes for the better in their lives and career. Some express
them in the form of new year resolutions which are mostly stern promises
of leaving bad habits behind with the outgoing year . Others want to
be guided by the more conventional art of knowing the things and events
that are yet to come, i.e. through feng shui, astrology, tarot cards,
etc. (I would still refer to these media of predicting the future as
more of an ‘art’ than scientific as there is yet no means for an
empirical inquiry to prove them through and through). Still others,
the more pious ones, resort to prayers as it is still the best means
to shape up the future the way it should be through Divine intercession.
Equally interesting and
worth mentioning are the thoughts posted by two unassuming intellectuals
who hid their identities under the following: Toyskie: “More
interesting than predictions for 2008 is the list of predictions for
2007 that came true and another list for those that did not. I wonder
which list is longer. Perhaps another little research on feng shui’s
batting average is called for at this time”; and Maxim: “Feng shui, astrology, tarot cards, etc. have become interesting media
for predictions, though I consider them as more of an art than scientific.
As an art it has drawn many enthusiasts and adherents for the intrinsic
means by which it is undertaken and for
the value attached to it. For its unique system, procedures and technique,
the art of prediction or fortune-telling has even develop its own culture
that not too many have mastered. Interestingly, it is appreciated more
for its ‘hits’ than its ‘misses’. So, regardless of which list
is longer, the art will continue to grow in popularity and may even
generate more downstream opportunities.”
On the national scene,
the following are some of the scenarios foretold by the ‘experts’
in the aspect of predicting/fortune-telling:
On the economy:
- The economy
will be stable; good businesses are food, travel agency, electronics,
construction and real estate;
- The year 2008
will be good for those born in the year of the rat, tiger, dragon and
snake;
- It is good
to set out under the sun as it gives so much positive energy for the
year 2008;
On politics:
- There will
be a coup for the Senate leadership;
- Threats for
GMA continue but will finish her term until 2010;
- Women leaders
shall be perceived to be powerful and strong;
- Erap shall
continue to be popular among the masses;
- Noli de Castro
will just do some balancing acts to continue to play second fiddle to
GMA;
- Trillanes will
continue to be restless and remain a problem of the Arroyo administration;
Sex scandal:
- One Senator
will be involved in a sex scandal;
- Homosexual
relationships will be problematic;
Accidents:
- Accidents due
to landslides will be more this year; some few accidents in water and
air transportations will also happen;
- Traffic accidents
due to hotheads will be more in 2008 than past years;
On sports:
- The year 2008
may not be too good for Manny Pacquiao in terms of his boxing career;
- Other Filipino
boxers, including new ones, will continue to have good boxing career
for 2008.
However, on the other
side of the euphora for brighter things to come, is the fact that not
one of the corrupt, oppressors, and tramplers of human rights (and minority
rights) has come to the fore to say their piece for the new year , which
means, that the oppressed has nothing much to expect about in the year
2008. These people, whose fate rests in the hands of the few rich and
powerful, are not in a position to try to shape up the future or improve
their lot.
There is no need to mention
a lot of them but the more prominent ones are: 1) the case of the Sumilao
farmers in Bukidnon, who marched to Manila from mid-October 2007 and
arrived in early December, or more or less two months of hiking to dramatize
their claim to a portion of the 400-hectare farm estate formerly owned
by the prominent Quisumbing family then sold to the more powerful San
Miguel Corporation; and 2) the case of the Bangsamoro people who are
claiming a small portion of Mindanao (once dominated by them) under
an established right for ancestral domain which they can call ‘homeland’.
Their other wish is that this ‘homeland’ shall be govern by an indigenous
system called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) under an established
right to self-determination and self-actualization.
The Bangsamoro people
have more than dramatize their cause in terms of lives lost and properties
damaged when they decided to claim these rights through armed struggle.
Now they are anchoring hopes on peaceful means, i.e. the on-going negotiations
between the GRP and the MILF but nothing seems to be certain yet as
of now.
What is certain is that
the GRP-MILF Talk has bumped into another impasse as the GRP panel allegedly
reneged in its commitment in the peace process by inserting the phrase:
“in accordance with constitutional processes” in its copy of the
draft Memorandum of Agreement. This was vehemently opposed by the MILF
panel. And when the GRP panel failed to cleanse its copy of the MOA,
the MILF panel decided that it is no longer feasible to face the other
party in the negotiating table. This was supposed to be the 15th exploratory talks had it pushed through in Kuala Lumpur last December
15-17, 2007.
Thus said, the oppressed
Bangsamoro people cannot wish for something better in the New Year or
probably in the entire duration of 2008. But the ball is still in the
hands of the GRP panel. If it has the political will to return to the
unadulterated original draft of the MOA, the MILF panel is more than
willing to go back to the negotiating table (Mr. Mohager Iqbal, in
an interview with local station DXMS, Cotabato City; Jan. 3, 2008).
For our part, the lowly
Bangsamoro masses, we can only wish that people high up in government,
who ‘call the shots’, shall be Divinely inspired to see the wisdom
of continuing on with the peace talks. If and when they see the ‘light’,
there is still chance for a happy new year, so to speak.
Any agreement between
the two parties will not directly bring food to the lowly Bangsamoro’s
dining table, but, seeing the talks proceeding through unhampered is
enough reason to be happy for the new year because that would mean that
peace is still certain even if it is not too soon. Peace is a window
to development!
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