After the lights come on

Even as the Christmas lights dim and the holiday celebrations come to a close, the warmth of the season still lingers. Families have gathered, meals were shared, and for a brief moment, the country felt lighter. 

Yet as the festivities fade, a hard, persistent truth returns to the forefront of our consciousness — one that Christmas itself invites us not to ignore: the enduring problems of ghost projects and corruption that continue to burden our nation.

Christmas is meant to be a season of hope, generosity and renewal. But ghost projects and other infrastructure programs that exist only on paper while public funds quietly disappear stand in painful contrast to these values. 

They are more than fiscal failures; they are betrayals. Every peso lost to corruption is a classroom unbuilt, a hospital unfinished, a livelihood denied. These practices not only erode institutions; they corrode public trust and dim the promise of collective progress.

The contrast is especially jarring during a season ideally defined by light. Yet this dissonance should not lead us to cynicism. On the contrary, Christmas reminds us that justice and integrity are not abstract ideals — they are moral obligations. 

The end of the holiday should not signal the end of reflection, but the beginning of resolve about finally eradicating corruption.

The goodwill that filled our homes in December should now find its way into public life. But hope for better governance in the years ahead must be paired with action: demanding transparency, questioning where public money goes, and refusing to normalize corruption as an unchangeable reality. 

Community voices matter. When citizens speak together and walk as one, accountability becomes harder to ignore.

Carrying the spirit of Christmas forward also means acting locally and consistently, supporting initiatives that deliver honest service, volunteering time and skills, and advocating for reforms that outlast political cycles. These acts, small on their own, collectively transform frustration into progress and hope.

As we move into the new year, let us hold on to what Christmas teaches us: that light persists even after the glitter and tinsel decorations come down. We can choose to be vigilant without being bitter, hopeful without being naive. 

Accountability does not end with slogans; it is demonstrated through sustained civic engagement.

Christmas may be over, but its call endures. If we truly honor its meaning, we must insist that compassion, integrity, and responsibility guide our public life, long after the glitter has come down and the carols have faded.