WITH only a few days left before 2012 officially ends, Asian Journal would like to look back into the most significant events that have ensued in this Year of the Dragon.
2012 may not have been a perfect year, but there are countless lessons to be gleaned from it.
In the United States, the November presidential elections became the centerpiece this year — Pres. Barack Obama was able to secure a second term.
While Mitt Romney’s loss was a blow to the Republican party, the elections, in general, has raised the bar when it comes to political awareness for the voting public — be it on economic and foreign policies or social issues, as immigration reform and same-sex marriage.
However, regardless of the electoral outcome, the country still faces a dreary New Year’s Eve, as the fiscal cliff continues to loom, with still no resolution from the government, at hand.
Hurricane Sandy became another thorn on Pres. Obama’s side this year, wreaking havoc and destruction in New York and New Jersey weeks before the presidential elections.
The hurricane affected more than 60 million people in the Eastern seaboard, when it met with two other powerful winter storm systems, creating a disastrous storm and damaging billions of dollars worth of property.
Many Filipinos were affected by the storm – some lost power for days, others had their homes flooded and a number lost their homes altogether. It was because of this need to help that other Filipino community leaders gathered together in the spirit of “bayanihan” to help those in need.
On the brighter side, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (an administrative policy which was implemented by Pres. Obama on June 15 of this year) has given the undocumented reprieve from deportation proceedings, enabling them to work legally in the US, albeit with still no path to citizenship.
Filipino-Americans also experienced several milestones and firsts this year.
The Pew Research Center released a report which highlighted the “rise of Asian Americans,” revealing that Asian Americans have surpassed Hispanics in the number of new immigrants to the US, potentially changing the socio-political dynamics of the nation in years to come.
The study further showed that Filipino-Americans are currently the second largest Asian group in the country, next to Chinese-Americans. Now numbering 3.4 million, Filipinos in America account for 19.7 percent of the Asian group and are considered as “more well-off” compared to other Asian Americans and the entire US population in general.
Figures in the study showed that that Filipino-Americans may truly become a significant power block in country, with their high quality of education, strong ethics and positive value system.
In November, Filipino-Americans were able to secure more than a dozen seats during the elections as well.
Rob Bonta won a seat for the State Assembly District 18, becoming the first Fil-Am in the California State Assembly.
Robert C. Scott, the first American of Filipino descent to serve in Congress, was re-elected to an eleventh term.
In December, Lorna Schofield became the first Fil-Am to serve as an Article III federal judge.
In sports, First Fil-Am head coach in the NBA Erik Spoelstra earned a championship victory for his team, Miami Heat.
For Filipino boxing superstar and Sarangani Manny Pacquiao though, 2012 was a year he would rather forget.
The pugilist suffered two shocking defeats this year (first, from Timothy Bradley; the second from his nemesis, Juan Miguel Marquez.)
The Philippines also had its share of ups and downs this year.
The territorial dispute over the Spratlys Islands has been an ongoing issue that is still much talked about in Asia and the world. 2012 became a particularly eventful year for the Philippine government, given several tense encounters with China on the islands.
The country also experienced catastrophic typhoons this year, with Pablo (international name Bopha) on the top of the list, with a death toll that would likely hit 1,500 — making it the second deadliest typhoon since the country started keeping records and compelling Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III to declare the nation under a “state of national calamity.”
Meanwhile, the wrath of Habagat (monsoon rains) also took its toll in Central Luzon, claiming 95 lives and destroying 8,428 homes.
On the upside, several bills were passed this year, including the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, The Sin Tax Bill and The Freedom of Information Bill.
However, the Philippine government faced the ire of the people with the passage of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which has been put on 120-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) by the Supreme Court in October. Oral arguments on the case will be held on January 15, 2013.
San Pedro Calungsod became the second Filipino saint on October 21 as well.
While 2012 was a mixed bag of good and bad, may it fuel our courage, resilience and hope even further. Here’s to a better, brighter 2013.
Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!
(AJPress)