My Christmas wish for our country

The beginning of Advent 2025 in the Philippines, 30 November, which coincided with Bonifacio Day, was highlighted by the Trillion Peso March against corruption. Yet instead of ushering in joy and anticipation, this season has been overshadowed by massive corruption issues, the high cost of living, a weakened economy, and political uncertainty.

Christmas in the Christian tradition is meant to be a time of rejoicing — a celebration of the birth of the Messiah, our Savior. In the Philippines, as in many parts of the world, it has always been a season for family gatherings, thanksgiving, and merriment. Sadly, this Christmas season is not what we expected and are used to.

Every year, I write down my Christmas wishes. The usual ones are the eradication of graft and corruption in government; a society governed by the true rule of law; an informed and educated citizenry that is difficult to fool and easy to govern; a people equipped with the competencies and skills needed in a globally competitive economy; and a clean and green environment.

I wish for a citizenry that understands right from wrong, stands up for principles, and does not allow wrongdoing to go unpunished. I wish for a people who fight corruption and ensure that those who steal public funds or misuse their positions are arrested, prosecuted, punished, with their ill-gotten wealth confiscated and returned to the public treasury with penalties and interest.

Sadly, these wishes remain unfulfilled.

The above wishes are for correcting the wrongs in today’s world, which in turn are a result of people straying from God’s teachings. Thus, by returning to God’s teachings we should be able to correct all that is wrong and to reclaim the Christmas season as it is meant to be — the reason our Messiah was born.

Philippine Statistics Authority figures from the 2020 census have 91.5 percent of the population as Christian, with 79 percent belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Thus, theoretically, if all Christians simply lived by Christ’s teachings, our nation would not be plagued by the problems we face today.

This Christmas season I have only one wish and it is that all Christians, especially the leaders of the various sects, would rise up as the original apostles did. That they will preach the Word of Christ anew, encourage obedience to His teachings, and demand that they be followed. Those who have been blessed in life with knowledge and privilege should likewise lead this crusade. It is a duty to God and country.

Many will say that what I wish for is impossible. Indeed, I have of late been saying that our problems are already beyond human solution and require divine intervention. However, it is not enough that we pray. God helps those who help themselves. We must do our part by role modeling, preaching, opposing what is wrong, and helping those in need.

As Deuteronomy 5:32-33 reminds us: “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”