Christmas and the hope for a better year amid challenges

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December 18, 2025 | 12:00am

As 2025 draws to a close, Christmas arrives like a gentle embrace, bringing with it warmth to weary hearts and whispers of hope to those who need it most. This year has been anything but easy — uncertainty and challenges have cast long shadows over our lives. Yet, in this season, we are reminded that even in the darkest times, light finds a way through.

The past year has tested us in many ways — the flood control issue messed with the Filipino psyche bringing with it a general feeling of distrust and outrage among the public. Allegations of “ghost” projects and substandard flood-control works did not just dominate headlines, they placed public works and governance under a harsh spotlight, fueling cynicism and demands for transparency and reform. This scandal rocked a fundamental trust between citizens and institutions — the shared belief that public funds exist to serve the common good.

Yet, amid the anger and scrutiny, something important emerged - a Filipino society that has had enough and is now demanding better governance.

Hearings, investigations and calls for accountability signaled a shift from mere exasperation into action. Reform ideas such as audits, independent probes and stronger safeguards for public investment are now shaping the national conversation, proving that public vigilance is redefining expectations for governance as we enter 2026.

Economically, global headwinds and domestic shocks converged this year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected growth would slow to 5.1 percent in 2025, while the World Bank echoed the downgrade, citing weaker investment, governance delays and disaster-related disruptions - all of which weighed on confidence. These were not just numbers, they translated into fewer jobs, tighter family budgets and even stalled business plans. In fact, according to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, about half of Filipino families considered themselves poor, a sobering reminder of the gap between macroeconomic indicators and lived reality.

Yet, even in these challenges, there are reasons to hope. Inflation eased and Meralco also recently announced a rate decrease for the month of December, giving households and consumers some breathing room. Policy roadmaps for job creation and skills development are in motion, and major investment signal a pivot toward sustainable growth. These steps may not erase hardship overnight, but they point to a future where resilience and reform can turn the tide. If we stay the course and continue prioritizing transparency, execution and inclusive opportunities, 2026 can be the year we begin to feel the recovery not just in reports, but in everyday lives.

Meanwhile, the country’s vulnerability to disasters was laid bare. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu and back?to?back storms displaced hundreds of thousands, testing our resilience yet again. The World Risk Index 2025 ranked the Philippines as the most disaster?prone nation, underscoring the urgent need for smarter planning and stronger infrastructure. These realities are difficult to face but acknowledging them honors the courage of those who endured and the tireless responders who showed up. These environmental challenges sparked action - communities rallied, volunteers mobilized and local governments began integrating nature-based solutions and climate-resilient designs into recovery plans.

These steps may seem small, but they signal a shift from reacting to disasters to preparing for them, building a future where resilience is not just a response, but a way of life.

And resilience isn’t only about people, it is also about the lives we share our homes with. One bright spot in a heavy year was the rise of animal-inclusive disaster response, a cause close to my heart. When rains swelled rivers and winds tore roofs, groups like PAWS, Biyaya Animal Care and Meralco’s CATopa amplified simple, lifesaving messages: include pets in evacuation plans; if you must flee without them, uncage and unchain so they have a fighting chance to survive. Volunteers delivered food, vet care and temporary shelter; shelters rebuilt after typhoons; and spay/neuter drives resumed once floodwaters receded. These are not merely feel-good stories because they build a culture where empathy widens to all sentient lives and where disaster planning finally recognizes pets as family.

I also carry a soft spot for senior citizen welfare, as a senior citizen myself, and 2025 delivered more than headlines. Lawmakers such as Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes advanced a universal social pension proposal and has passed House panel now awaiting plenary. The bill aims to cover all seniors with a monthly stipend and review amounts regularly. The National Commission of Senior Citizens and Department of Health aligned programs for community care centers and wellness initiatives while LGUs like Manila doubled quarterly cash assistance for registered seniors. In a year of uncertainty, these steps matter because they tell the seniors: you are seen, valued and supported.

These gains remind us that even in a challenging year, progress is possible. We honor 2025’s trials by letting them sharpen our focus. The flood-control scandal taught us to scrutinize budgets and demand accountability. Disasters taught us to prepare better, plan smarter and invest in nature as infrastructure. Economic downgrades taught us that growth must be earned through governance that restores confidence and reforms that unlock jobs with dignity. And our communities taught us, again, that compassion is cultural.

So yes, this Christmas feels different. It is tender, not triumphant. It is hopeful, not heedless. The lights we string are not distractions; they are reminders that there is work to do and warmth to share while doing it. The year ahead will test us again but if we carry forward what 2025 taught us: care for people and animals, respect for seniors, urgency in climate resilience and discipline in execution. Then the light we welcome this season won’t just pierce the dark. It will stay, guiding us through the honest, continuing, shared work of renewal.

Here’s to 2026: a year where reforms are felt, elders are supported, pets are protected, jobs are better and hope is earned, together.

Christmas is not just a celebration. It is a pause, a chance to reflect on what truly matters, to cherish small victories and to renew our faith as we look forward to brighter days ahead. Amid the trials, we discover countless reasons to be grateful and endless opportunities to begin again.