My dear folks, I know... the holiday rush is creeping in, the traffic is getting worse every day, and the malls are blockbuster in terms of last-minute shoppers. A high volume of passengers is expected to rush to the airports, bus terminals and seaports at the end days of 2024.

There is a long weekend and back to back holidays. That is why more people are most likely to spend the rest of their days off away from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. One piece of unsolicited advice – try not to lose your calm despite the pressure, the noise, and the events around you and keep your focus on things that are far more important than stressing over things you cannot control.

I know, because as the holidays approach, there seems to be pressure to get all-glam holiday ready and plan a vacation far away and it can be very stressful considering all the things you need to get taken care of while you’re far away (the house, pets, plants, the work substitute, etc). Yes, adulting is real and we need to be responsible before trying to enjoy that bit of rest that we truly deserve.

The holiday pressure and chaos brings me to my reflection last night from the book of the Stoics. The saying goes: “If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” This means that when a man loses focus, he tends to drift away and everything seems to be pointless, every problem seems to be a burden instead of an opportunity, every challenge seems to be a punishment instead of a goal to overcome.

Ideally, our minds tend to see the straight lines but when the mind is disturbed by other things, these lines tend to be circles, random lines going nowhere. The wise philosophers like Seneca teach us to remain calm while accepting changes and to embrace the uncertainties of things we cannot control instead of overthinking and drifting away.

It’s the same with this holiday rush. We cannot control the traffic going to the air or sea ports, but we can adjust our time to get there a few hours earlier than the prescribed two hours to avoid being late.

Speaking of coming home, well, here’s some good news. We have just welcomed home the Filipina OFW Mary Jane Veloso who spent almost 15 years in an Indonesian prison after being convicted of carrying illegal drugs in her suitcase, which she claimed she was not aware of.

It is a new life for her, a new beginning, and a clean slate to start over in the country where she was born and raised. It will be a merry Christmas indeed for her and her family who spent many holidays without her. Of course, we want to emphasize that illegal drugs are always unacceptable.

If ordinary people get punished for whatever connection they may have to illegal drugs, all the more government officials and workers must be drug-free to set a good example for the people.

Speaking of government efforts to combat illegal drugs, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) once again conducted the annual surprise drug testing of all of its regular and contractual employees coinciding with the holiday season. This is to ensure that port employees and duty personnel are alert during this critical time of the year.

According to agency records, no regular PPA employee has ever tested positive for illegal drug use. But in case of a positive test, the PPA will follow a structured legal process wherein the individual will be given due process, counseling, and, depending on the case, immediate termination.

The surprise drug tests were administered to nearly 1,000 employees, including both regular staff and contract-of-service workers. Prior to this, surprise drug tests were conducted on all port employees outside Metro Manila — in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago’s initiatives against illegal drugs since 2016 have been consistent with the agency’s commitment to the government’s anti-drug policy. Since January 2024, the PPA Port Police have seized drug paraphernalia, suspected methamphetamine, and marijuana at the Ports of Lucena, Masbate, Ozamiz, Jordan, and Zamboanga. These illegal drugs passed through the baggage X-ray machines and physical inspections at the ports.

Additionally, K-9 units patrol inside and outside the ports. In 2020, the PPA entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard for the construction of a K9 Academy in Clark, Pampanga. This would ensure a supply of K9 dogs with narcotics and explosive detection capabilities at the ports.

Together, these initiatives exemplify a proactive approach to safeguarding the public and ensuring that every Filipino’s journey this season is both safe and joyful. Have a blessed and meaningful holiday celebration, my dear readers, and always remember, we are all in the same boat transitioning to 2025!