Hope

Six months into the Aquino administration and 93% of the population is hopeful. This, even while the gains of the P-Noy presidency has yet to trickle down to the lowest rung of the economic ladder. Mang Pandoy is not richer today as he was a year ago. The only difference now, is the reason for hope.

We, as a nation, are hopeful that we've done the hard bit.  We now have a president who was actually elected into office. A president who eats hotdogs in lieu of million peso dinners. We now have an administration that bungles (at times) trying to do the right thing. No great shakes really, but definitely a welcome reprieve from the expertise by which the previous raped the nation.

But hope, strictly speaking, is not real. It is nothing more than a feeling that better things will come. Hope is a delicate flower that will wilt in the harsh glare of reality -- if that reality means no gains would ever come.

And we are not asking for the moon. We are realists. It is enough, for now, that this president didn't need the magic of Garci to get elected. It is enough, for now, that no new scandalous government contract is up for senate inquiry. It is enough, for now, that no manicuristas nor aerobics instructors are being assigned plush government positions. It is enough, for now, that this administration does not feel the need to flood the airwaves with TV ads on how good it is in serving the nation. Anyone else noticed that? The P-Noy administration has yet to release one TV ad congratulating themselves on how good they are. If only for that, I am hopeful.

But more than that, I am hoping that P-Noy's administration would deliver soon in tangible terms. That gains would trickle down to the lowest rung of the economic ladder. I, like the rest of  us all are, am waiting... and hoping.