Hopeful, But…
A random interview with the person-on-the-street about 2004

While 90 percent of Filipinos, according to a survey of the SWS, are hopeful this new year, Bulatlat.com’s random interviews with people on the streets show the same hope, but only if conditions that made their lives miserable in the past years will be altered considerably.

By Felicisimo H. Manalansan
Bulatlat.com

While 90 percent of Filipinos, according to a survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS), are hopeful this new year, Bulatlat.com’s random interviews with people on the streets show the same hope, but only if conditions that made their lives miserable in the past years will be altered considerably.

No one among those interviewed believe the coming elections will change their lives for the better.

"Mas magandang buhay (a better life)," was the general answer among some 10 people asked randomly by Bulatlat.com. the question: "What do you expect this new year?"

Some of those questioned, however, changed their answer when asked whether their answer is what they expect or is what they are wishing for. Half of those interviewed said they expect more of the same ("dati pa rin") although they wished that they could be proven wrong in their expectation.

While this reflects the optimism among Filipinos as revealed in a recent SWS survey, some of those interviewed by Bulatlat.com, however, qualified their answer by saying that life can be better if changes can be instituted with government policies that have made Filipinos’ lives all the more difficult.

"Deregulation should be scrapped along with the PPA and EPIRA," a tricycle driver said, adding that along with these, wages should be increased while prices of basic goods, including gasoline, diesel and cooking gas, as well as electricity and water rates, should be kept low.

He doubts whether such changes can be pursued after the May elections, however, noting that no one among the crop of so-called presidentiables have come out with a definitive stand on such issues.

This even as oil prices are bound to increase again in the coming days while Meralco and Manila Water are set to implement another round of rate increases.

No hope with election

No one among those interviewed said they were optimistic because of the elections this year. Most expressed opinion that elections have not really been a harbinger of hope as they are more concerned on how to improve their lot rather than on who to vote on May.

This is apparent in a similar survey conducted last year by SWS where the latter tallied that more than 90% of Filipinos were likewise hopeful of their prospects for 2003.

Meanwhile, one of those interviewed said he expects a troublesome ("magulo") 2004 with the elections. Citing past election experiences where he said "guns, goons and gold" continued to be the name of the game, he said this year cannot be any different, adding that it could even be worse.

While the almost proverbial resiliency of the Filipino is again cited for not only surviving but remaining hopeful amid adversity and in the face of an uncertain future, they also would prefer, however, that certain changes be made with the way the government has been handling its affairs.

Only then could it give the people more reason to look forward to the New Year with hope and a wishful expectation of "mas magandang buhay" for them and their kin. Bulatlat.com

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