As I write this, the intermittent sound of exploding labintadors predominate the twilight, setting the stage for the welcome celebration of the New Year that is to come. Its Anton’s first New Year’s watch and his Daddy Lo is busy setting up the sparklers (read: fountain and roman candles) in front of the clubhouse for him and the neighborhood kids to watch at 6:30pm.
Aaahh, what a year 2008 has been. The first semester was highlighted by the spiraling of oil prices which correspondingly spiked prices of goods. The months then following June 2008 saw yet another local maritime disaster with the sinking of a Sulpicio-owned passenger ferry. Offshore, in the 3rd quarter, we incredulously watched in disbelief as America’s financial system, due to risky subprime mortgages, started buckling down on both knees, in the brink of collapse, with the demise of several financial giants and the government bailout of AIG, bringing with it Europe and parts of Asia. Stock traders worldwide is in unison that the on-going financial crises is worse that the Great Depression of the 30’s. Though the Philippines has been, for the most part, spared by the financial storm, local business watchers predict that the country will feel the full impact of the global economic downturn in 2009. A significant number of our OFWs are already being sent back home and a number of workers in the production line have already been laid off (read: further escalation in local unemployment rate). Those who have jobs should thank their lucky stars they still have a job to look forward to in a sagging domestic economy in 2009. That includes me.
2008 also marks a milestone in American politics with Barack Obama elected as the country’s first Black president and George W. Bush, being the first American president to be thrown a shoe at by an Iraqi journalist during a farewell speech. I am looking forward to the Obama presidency in 2009 and the CHANGE that he promised to give America.
Personally, apart from the brouhaha that happened this month at work, my life essentially remained in status quo. TB continues to be my special friend, my Buddy of a Lifetime (BoaL). I continue to be jealous of his girlfriend regardless of whatever issues he says he has with her. Right now, they are in some pleasure road trip where they are sharing their own brand of fireworks, eeew, yuk!!!. :-(
I have a feeling however, that I will finally meet The One this coming year as my mind is starting to see into the face of an imaginary someone, something that I had difficulty visualizing before. :-)
And so, as the clock ticks an hour closer to midnight, we slowly bid adieu to the events that shaped 2008 and look forward with cautious optimism at 2009.
Aaahh, what a year 2008 has been. The first semester was highlighted by the spiraling of oil prices which correspondingly spiked prices of goods. The months then following June 2008 saw yet another local maritime disaster with the sinking of a Sulpicio-owned passenger ferry. Offshore, in the 3rd quarter, we incredulously watched in disbelief as America’s financial system, due to risky subprime mortgages, started buckling down on both knees, in the brink of collapse, with the demise of several financial giants and the government bailout of AIG, bringing with it Europe and parts of Asia. Stock traders worldwide is in unison that the on-going financial crises is worse that the Great Depression of the 30’s. Though the Philippines has been, for the most part, spared by the financial storm, local business watchers predict that the country will feel the full impact of the global economic downturn in 2009. A significant number of our OFWs are already being sent back home and a number of workers in the production line have already been laid off (read: further escalation in local unemployment rate). Those who have jobs should thank their lucky stars they still have a job to look forward to in a sagging domestic economy in 2009. That includes me.
2008 also marks a milestone in American politics with Barack Obama elected as the country’s first Black president and George W. Bush, being the first American president to be thrown a shoe at by an Iraqi journalist during a farewell speech. I am looking forward to the Obama presidency in 2009 and the CHANGE that he promised to give America.
Personally, apart from the brouhaha that happened this month at work, my life essentially remained in status quo. TB continues to be my special friend, my Buddy of a Lifetime (BoaL). I continue to be jealous of his girlfriend regardless of whatever issues he says he has with her. Right now, they are in some pleasure road trip where they are sharing their own brand of fireworks, eeew, yuk!!!. :-(
I have a feeling however, that I will finally meet The One this coming year as my mind is starting to see into the face of an imaginary someone, something that I had difficulty visualizing before. :-)
And so, as the clock ticks an hour closer to midnight, we slowly bid adieu to the events that shaped 2008 and look forward with cautious optimism at 2009.