Despair has no place in Fire Horse Year

Amid the overall gloom of 2025, opinion makers still hold onto the prospect of a better year, anchored in the primacy of the law that is expected to emerge from the investigation into government corruption.

DAILY TRIBUNE columnist, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina, said that as 2025 draws to a close, he is giving thanks to God, “from whom wisdom, strength, and purpose come.”

The founder and managing partner of DivinaLaw expressed his gratitude for the trust of students “who remind me that the law is not merely learned but lived; of clients who entrust their causes and futures to our counsel; and of colleagues and partners who labor quietly in the pursuit of justice.”

He described 2025 as a year that called for clarity of judgment and fidelity to principle, constant reminders that the law finds its most actual meaning when exercised with conscience, restraint, and a genuine commitment to serving society.

“I welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with faith and resolve. Fire brings vision and courage, the Horse discipline and forward motion — but it is God who directs every step,” he said.

As an educator, Divina said, “I remain committed to forming lawyers of character, as counsel to defending the rule of law with grit, independence, and integrity.”

As an entrepreneur, Divina said he is dedicated to building enterprises that create value not only for profit but also for opportunity, dignity, and a positive social impact.

“May 2026 find us moving forward under His guidance — daring yet grounded, ambitious yet grateful, and always mindful that all we build should be for the common good,” he stressed.

Protests defined 2025

Political analyst Edward Chico said the prevalence of protests in 2025 was a positive for society.

“Protests are a sign of a healthy situation where people are allowed to express themselves. Although from a historical point of view, what was different about the 2025 protests was that they were very fragmented,” he indicated.

He said it was easy to see the different colors of the protests clearly. “And to a certain extent, that’s a sad thing, because protests would be stronger if there were a common denominator,” he added.

He lamented that half to three-fourths of the year was spent on the impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“This was then subsequently replaced by the flood control controversy. You know Filipinos — we are prisoners of the moment. Some studies say we are reactive, reactionary. We don’t always have a deep understanding of the issues; we move quickly from one controversy to another,” according to Chico.

He also cited the arrest of former president Duterte as a significant issue because there was a question of whether the government should have cooperated with the ICC, considering that, in the past, other countries chose not to cooperate and the tribunal could do nothing about it.

“From the Filipino perspective, the protest actions were significant because they indicated that we still care, and that’s a big thing,” he said.

Politics in the Philippines is personality-based, but the fact that people were able to go out, express and articulate their sentiments indicates a healthy democracy. That matters. It means we care. To a certain extent, that’s a gain.

“It’s good that issues like impeachment, Duterte’s arrest, and the flood control controversy are being discussed, because all of these relate to accountability,” he added.

Wishing for a better year

So, to some extent, these are among the highlights for the public. “Of course, where there are gains, there are also losses and things that we wish had happened. But fundamentally, the gain is that we still care,” he said.

He emphasized that it’s dangerous when the public become fence-sitters — when people are unaware, or aware but doing nothing. The fact that we can articulate our sentiments is a good sign.

Chico also cautioned against overreaction since “corruption in the Philippines is cultural. Almost everyone, given the opportunity, tends to be corrupt. Even when getting a license, instead of lining up, people pay fixers. It shows how deep-rooted corruption is.”

That’s why we’re closely watching the flood control controversy. If we could truly jail everyone who is guilty, that would be good. Due process, however, must be respected.

“Otherwise, investigations become weaponized. We need balance, and the rule of law must prevail,” he stressed.

Frustrated taxpayer

Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications, and former DAILY TRIBUNE columnist, Joe R. Zaldarriaga said that even as a senior citizen, he continues to work, pay his taxes, and contribute in his own way to the country he loves.

“Like many Filipinos, I want to welcome the new year with hope for new opportunities, a better Philippines, and a better 2026 for everyone,” he said.

“But over the years, I have learned that hope must be paired with vigilance,” he explained.

“This year pulled back the curtain on a truth we all know is deeply entrenched in our system, yet often overlooked: corruption.”

Except this time, the flood control scandal is the latest face of what corruption has stolen from us as a nation.

“The flood control scandal did not just steal money from the Filipino people — it robbed us of quality infrastructure that could have pushed our country forward, it claimed lives, disrupted livelihoods, left communities vulnerable, derailed progress, and betrayed the public trust,” he indicated.

To Zaldarriaga, vigilance is not about cynicism; it is about protecting a collective hope for a better Philippines.