Dangle out the carrots, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Unlike 2010—year of the Tiger, considered to be fast paced and dynamic,
Anno Cuniculus (year of the Rabbit) is almost always characterized as quiet, positive and inspiring.
The Chinese astrology tells us that indeed it looks like “refreshing changes will come after a fast moving and dramatic year of the Tiger “.
Matter of fact, the rabbit, they say is the “happiest sign of the Zodiac “with the coming days favouring “peaceful solutions and diplomacy :.
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A recent survey showed that 93 percent of Filipinos are very optimistic with the New Year, an improvement from their 2009 expectations for 2010 which was pegged at 89 percent .
The Social Weather Station (SWS) which undertook the poll, said nine out of ten Filipinos are very optimistic and hopeful… one because of their new President Noy Aquino and, secondly the new government which promised to combat corruption at all levels .
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THE BIG STORIES OF 2010: The election of Noynoy Aquino is of course the biggest story of the year past, a victory marked by high expectation of changes from his perceived corrupt predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
He bested a field of more than five candidates among them billionaire realtor and senator Manny Villar whom many perceived would give Aquino a hard fight but ended a poor third place.
The surprise of course was former President Joseph “Erap Estrada “jailed and pardoned on plunder charges who garnered enough votes to become as the serious contender to Aquino. Many believed had the elections been between Aquino and Estrada only, it would have been anybody’s guess who would win. It only showed that the former president had still enough charisma and support among the masses.
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THE RIZAL PARK HOSTAGE: Less than two months into the presidency , a big black mark would blur and test the fledgling Aquino presidency as a
bungled hostage drama in August 23,2010 claimed the lives of eight foreign tourists from Hong Kong and Canada. A dismissed police officer commandeered a tourist bus, held them for more than 10 hours with the
action clearly broadcasted in world television and other media. His demand: to be reinstated to the service.
Dismayed and confused with the way negotiations were going and his brother arrested, the police officer suspect turned his weapons on eight victims shooting them in succession .
After hours of struggling, police swarmed the tourist bus and killed the hostage taker. The result: A travel ban issued by Chinese and Hong Kong authorities against the Philippines and strained relations between the two countries.
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JUETENG: Hardly had the dust settled into the Hostage drama mess and with President Aquino’s close henchmen taking some of the blame came a scandal that would rock the new Aquino administration. One of his cabinet members was accused of being involved in the oldest numbers game called “Jueteng “ .
As everyone knows , it was this game that caused the downfall of former president Erap Estrada who was accused of benefiting and taking monthly bribes from the almost P30 billion a year or more illegal gambling game
operating in many parts of the country.
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OTHER BIG STORIES: Other 2010 notable new stories include, the Aquino vs. Supreme court controversy in which the latter threw out the creation of
A Truth Commission to try graft cases involving the past administration. Their reason: it was unconstitutional.
The Katrina Halilli sex video controversy which accused his former boyfriend, Dr.Hayden Kho of spreading the video in the internet and in other
Video outlets. In a stunning decision: Kho was acquitted.
But the biggest acquittal of the year if not of the decade was the Vizconde massacre Supreme court decision setting free Hubert Webb and four others
accused after 15 years of incarceration. The court said it found evidences presented by the prosecution in the case as too weak to warrant
the continued imprisonment of the accused.
While acquitting Webb and others, the court also said it “does not mean that they are innocent “ but in layman’s term explained that the prosecution
failed to prove the guilt of Webb and others “beyond reasonable doubts “. It also questioned the “quality of evidences “ submitted by the prosecution .
The crime occurred in June 30,1991 in the BF Homes subdivision in Paranaque where Estrellita, then 47, Carmela. Then 18 (daughter) and Jennifer, then 9 yrs old (daughter) were brutally killed each sustaining at least 17 to 20 stab wounds in various parts of body and Carmela also raped before being killed.
Lauro Vizconde, husband of Estrellita and father of Carmela and Jennifer, was at that time on a business trip to the United States.
The case dragged for about four years until Webb and others were arrested and convicted of the crime .
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Note: Big stories of 2010 will continue in my next column)