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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY December 16 - 31 , 2016

By E . Maestro

It is that time of year when we take stock of the old year that is winding down and we take a look at the new year with fresh resolve and a lot of hope . It is a time to make New Year resolutions .

A New Year ’ s resolution is a tradition that many take on , as in making a promise to try to improve one ’ s self or carry out a good deed , starting in the New Year . I believe that New Year resolutions are promises to do better and to be better ; not its opposites . However , it may be that in most cases , resolutions fall by the wayside , overtaken by life ’ s interruptions or by a simple weakening of one ’ s will .

G r a s s r o o t s organizations , like individuals , also mark the start of a new year with their plans and programs , with the added firm resolve to carry out these plans

On November 10 , 2016 , the Muyco family received news that they would never forget .

That morning , Kluzy Muyco , a young husband and father , was killed in a single vehicle accident .

Kluzy along with his wife , Marilyn , and their children Komalym , Kluzy Lyn , Ky Hapym , and Khyz Dhara moved to Drake , Saskatchewan from the Philippines in February 2016 .

Prior to the accident , Kluzy and Marilyn ’ s eldest daughter had moved back to the Phillipines to finish her and maybe even do more . Grassroots o r g a n i z a t i o n s are nothing more than groups of individuals of like minds working together towards common goals ; like individuals , they too have their new year ’ s resolutions , so to speak . These are goals and objectives to move their organizations forward , for instance , to consolidate its membership , expand and strengthen its network , and undertake campaigns or political actions . Year-long programs are the Resolutions of grassroots organizations .

Presidents are probably no exceptions when it comes to making resolutions . Will President Duterte make New Year ’ s resolutions ?

I would like to think so , more so when he has at his command several departments , committees of all sorts , his own Cabinet and advisers , even an Army !

Now , if I had the President ’ s ear , I would take the risk of presenting several New Year ’ s Resolutions for him to consider . Wishful thinking ? Maybe so . Putting myself in Duterte ’ s presidential shoes , I would seriously consider these resolutions . Still wearing his shoes , as President , I can easily resolve that I will :

( 1 ) Free all political prisoners . And honour my statements by making it happen soon ;

( 2 ) Continue with the peace talks between the Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and let its success be one of my legacies as President ;

( 3 ) Exercise restraint when I speak . Resolve to be more thoughtful because words like one ’ s breath cannot be taken back when it ’ s been let out . Rudeness and boorish behavior , when done regularly , becomes tiring , quite frankly ;

( 4 ) Stop all the extrajudicial killings and uphold human rights . Listen to the clamor for justice and human rights from the church , youth , urban poor , the international community , and from families of the victims of alleged drug users and peddlers ;

( 5 ) Stop Oplan Bayanihan which allows the military to continue the militarization and occupation of villages and communities around the country ;

( 6 ) Try to match my actions with my patriotic positioning and rhetoric on national sovereignty and independent foreign policy ( knowing that I have allowed joint US-Phil war exercises and the continuing presence of US troops in the guise of humanitarian aid or disaster relief ) because no one is fooled for long when my

education . Due to expenses , she was unable to fly to Canada to attend her father ’ s funeral .

The Muyco family hopes to make a trip back to the Philippines in January to be with the rest of their family and grieve the loss of Kluzy .

The Mucyo family is already enduring the expenses associated with moving to a new country . The loss of their main income provider has made standard life expenses difficult for them .

A fundraising campaign has been set up to help the family cover funeral expenses , travel costs and provide future financial support to the Muyco family .

The GoFundMe campaign has a goal of $ 10,000 .

People in Drake , Saskatchewan are involved in helping the family return the body of Muyco to the Philippines . Muyco was driving home from his job as a cook at Manitou Beach when his vehicle rolled on a grid road .

Muyco was the main income earner for his family and they cannot afford to lay him to rest at the family ’ s

statements have no teeth ; ( 7 ) Stop threatening to declare martial law ;

( 8 ) Listen to the people who voted for me because they wanted change , change for the better . In the greater scheme of things , it is the people ’ s mass movement for change that is decisive and that will drive the change .

Yes , this is indeed wishful thinking .

Putting aside the President ’ s shoes , what is left is my own particular New Year ’ s resolution . This is to actively work with the movement for change in the Philippines , like the K4C or Kababayan For Change , and know full well that change comes not from one individual but from the many .

Let us not forget the expression that says the reason why there is evil in this world is because good men and women do nothing .

Elementary School and the Village of Drake are also taking donations from the community , which is about 140 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon .

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