High Hopes for Year of the Rat

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 fascinating 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:

1. The economy will be stable; good businesses are food, travel agency, electronics, construction and real estate;
2. The year 2008 will be good for those born in the year of the rat, tiger, dragon and snake;
3. It is good to set out under the sun as it gives so much positive energy for the year 2008;

On politics:

1. There will be a coup for the Senate leadership;
2. Threats for GMA continue but will finish her term until 2010;
3. Women leaders shall be perceived to be powerful and strong;
4. Erap shall continue to be popular among the masses;
5. Noli de Castro will just do some balancing acts to continue to play second fiddle to GMA;
6. Trillanes will continue to be restless and remain a problem of the Arroyo administration;

Sex scandal:

1. One Senator will be involved in a sex scandal;
2. Homosexual relationships will be problematic;

Accidents:

1. Accidents due to landslides will be more this year; some few accidents in water and air transportations will also happen;
2. Traffic accidents due to hotheads will be more in 2008 than past years;

On sports:

1. The year 2008 may not be too good for Manny Pacquiao in terms of his boxing career;
2. 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 violators 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 but 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.

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 does not come too soon.

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Comments
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Maxim, thru email: 01/01/2008; 8:48pm

I do not know when will the GRP stops 'babying' the MILF. Now that the talks has bumped into another impasse Secretary Ermita is istill upbeat at offering a federal state or transforming the present ARMM to a federal state. Did he forget that the same offer was made by the government to the MILF in 2005 and was rejected?

Knowing the propensity of the GRP Panel at using the constitution as convenient shield when confronted with 'unconstitutional' proposals from the MILF, there is more reason to reject a federal state which is non-existent in the constitution.

When will Malacanang begin to appreciate that the Bangsamoro dream is claim for a 'homeland' based on an established right to ancestral domain, and claim for self-rule based on an established right to self-determination?

The offer, it seems, is just another one of a sinister plan to insist on something that the MILF will certainly reject, to make it appear that it is the MILF that is hard to please, albeit, goverment's offer to settle peace.

We reiterate that the clamor of the Bangsamoro is not difficult to understand, rather, it is the goverment's discernible circus acts that is complicating the peace process.