Year 2006 has been a tumultuous year, environmentally and politically. From the Ginsaugan landslide that happened early this year to the Mayon Volcano mudslide late this year, the violent Earth has shown the ugly side of the ever changing environment dictated by the natural laws of the universe.

        Politically, the closing year is one of the bloodiest with political killings in Bicol and other parts of the country happening almost every month. It is also the wiliest with varying political maneuverings to push Charter Change while the powers-that-be doubletalk to hide their true intentions.

        If it’s a consolation at all, the super typhoons that killed hundreds of persons and destroyed billions of pesos worth of properties and crops have ushered a relatively peaceful Christmas celebration not experienced for years---no holiday-related incident and no big bangs.

        More so, as observed by Fr. Louie Occiano of the Archdiocese of Caceres, the people’s spirituality have been reinforced with more churchgoers attending Christmas midnight mass, comparable to the celebration of the regional religious fiesta of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. Fr. Occiano even noted that the super typhoon that hit Bicol has for a moment unified various Christians to come together and pray for God’s mercy and protection that broke denominational and sectarian barriers.

        In trying times, when forces beyond control and comprehension come about, people tend to seek and depend on supernatural force of God for a respite by giving more of their time to spirituality and setting aside sectarian differences.

        While the super typhoons and other calamities unified people’s spirituality, nothing could be said that they do the same to mend political mindsets and differences. Ironically, the post-typhoon situation has even widened the political divide of politicians like a newspaper account in Catanduanes wherein political affiliation deprived one faction of the much-needed relief assistance at the expense of innocent calamity victims.

        Beyond the conspicuous side of politics are the more devious and deceitful motives. Its ugly head hides underneath the humanitarian cover of relief operations that actually build up and reinforce political interests of private and public entities who are wont to dig their feet into the political and economic realms for greater dominance and power.

        In a situation where calamity-stricken people are stripped of their humanity and dignity, it is disgusting to discover false humanitarianism that leads them into falling for debt of gratitude from wolves in sheepskin.

        As the year closes and the new one ushers in the most remarkable images that leave indelible mark are events that have changed lives and landscapes around us.

        Some have gained and some have lost in the string of events that happened for the past 12 months and culminated in the tragedy at the foot of Mayon Volcano. But not all had been bad even in the worst of situation.

        In the volcanic mudslide that happened in Busay, Daraga, Albay the display of heroism of PO2 Julhasan Arasain and Ethelwaldo Mandane were worth emulating and remembering. They exemplified the goodness in man’s heart that is deeply embedded in every one of us.

        Like the evil that must be cast deep into the abyss, the bad and worst things of the year 2006 must be cast, too. The heroisms of Arasain and Mandane are the kind of things that must be nurtured to start the New Year for the Bicolano to be inspired to rise up and move forward.