At the stroke of midnight , 2006 will be part of history. It will be a brand new year that we will all have to go through together and live with for the next 365 days. Most people however cannot seem to tell the difference between the old one and the new. Except for the fact that they feel older, life gets harder and the burden is heavier, there is little to distinguish one from the other. It is true that firecrackers are exploded and fireworks are lit supposedly to exorcise the ghosts of the old one but there seems to be little proof that this ritual has accomplished anything. Every year we will all have our shares of ups and downs and there is little connection between the firecrackers and what happens to us.

A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations indicated that more people are optimistic this year compared to the previous year. That is good news indeed. So good that Malacanang quickly claimed partial credit for it. Optimism is a conscious decision to think positively for the future. It does not necessarily depend on external factors but more on the resolve of the parties making the decision. Conditions and so-called realities play a role during the deliberations but they mean little in the final reckoning. Except for Malacanang and all those who are raking it at the expense of the people, there is little to show that life is better these days. On the contrary, you hear people complaining everywhere you about how difficult it is just to make both ends meet. The economy is bad, again except for those whose pockets have been lined up at the people's expense.

So where did the optimism come from?

It is difficult to explain. It is never easy to explain something abstract and invisible to the human eye. It is something that does not need proof but which we know to be a fact anyway. Perhaps, people have realized that their cynicism has deprived them of the joy that they long for. Perhaps, they just woke up one day to discover that they need to snap out of their desperation and get things done instead. Whatever the reason may be, the point is that the optimism is a good sign for our country. It means that people are no longer numbed to their sufferings and have resolved to do something about it instead.    When people care, when they start to feel their senses, when they rediscover their feelings, that is a good sign. It means that we can count on a nation of no longer indifferent to its problems but determined to end its history of frustrations. This is what we have been waiting for for a long time. Happy New Year!