The year that was

The year that was | Daily Tribune

It is often said that as one grows older, somehow, time flies so much quicker. I still remember during my youth how time would move so inexorably slowly. I would always be so eager and looking forward to the next day and the next, and I couldn’t wait for the pages of life to unfold much faster.

But now, after a lifetime of joys, pain, heartaches, love, family, fellowship and a newfound acceptance that surrenders to whatever life still has to offer, I find myself wishing for the clock to tick slower so that I could savor more fully the life that was, the life that I now have, and the life still to come.

What awaits us tomorrow, we do not know. But as the new year begins, let us also remember the proverb, “He who does not look back where he came from will never get to his destination.” With that in mind, let’s look back at 2024 and take a peek at what might happen in 2025.

Perhaps the most momentous event that will undoubtedly have wide-ranging geopolitical and economic consequences for the world is the largely unexpected victory of Donald Trump as the 87th President of the United States.

As an isolationist president, he will be loath to continue supporting Ukraine in the proxy war between the West and Russia and its axis allies, China and North Korea. The certain victory of Russia in such an event will surely send shivers among the bordering NATO countries, which could very well be the next prey of a confident and aggressive Russia seeking to reclaim the old glory of the USSR.

The widening conflict in the Middle East between the US-sponsored Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas and its allies is another simmering powder keg that could explode into doomsday nuclear-armed scenarios.

Although isolationist, I believe Trump would be hard-pressed not to continue America’s support for Israel, given the traditional strong support of the Jewish community and big business in the US. My guess is that the world’s clamor and US pressure will force Israel to compromise and loosen its hardline demand for a safety zone. Let’s see if Trump’s vaunted deal-making skills will be effective in putting an end to this flashpoint.

A similar confrontation scenario is rapidly evolving in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, particularly with BBM’s tilt back to the US following Duterte’s failed romance with the Red Dragon.

Taiwan, another proxy state of the US in its struggle for military supremacy, will continue to be the unbreakable line in the sand for America to protect its strategic position directly aimed at the soft underbelly of China. I doubt if Trump will change course in 2025.

As for China, I also doubt if it will seek to go beyond its saber-rattling. I believe it is in our country’s best interests to cultivate this newly rekindled romance with Uncle Sam to protect our dignity as a nation. We have no choice.

On the economic front, Trump’s election augurs well for big business in the US but will be disastrous for the rest of the world, which will surely suffer from the tariff trade war that Trump has vowed to intensify. Expect increased costs of production inputs and shortages that will eventually bring back inflation to the fore, preventing any easing of interest rates.

For the Philippines, the political infighting between the Marcoses and the Dutertes is far from over. This disturbing scenario is just the preliminary shadow-boxing theatrics leading up to the 2028 elections. Unfortunately, a side act I foresee will be the certain comedic results of the elections in 2025.

We will see more of the “brilliance” of our current crop of elected officials. Disturbing are talks of possible destabilization plots that are being justified by unmitigated greed and incompetent governance. When will we ever learn as a people?

All told, I see greater instability going into 2025.

But there were a few bright spots for us in 2024. These were in sports. We will always cherish our proud moments as a country with Caloy Yulo’s unprecedented two-gold medal wins in the Paris Olympics. At long last, we also had the heart-thumping boost from the Gilas team, which gifted our country the title of overlord once again in basketball in Asia.

For the Maroon and Archer fanatics, the exciting championship series in the UAAP had everybody on the edge even up to the last minutes of the games, thanks to the heroics of Kevin Quiambao — a rare breed indeed — and Kai Sotto’s maturity as a Gilas mainstay, which augurs well for the future of Philippine basketball.

Until next week… OBF!

For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com.