What's luck got to do with it?

It’s now 2026. The country rang in the new year with the usual fireworks (that killed a young boy) to drive away evil spirits and households rushed to complete the array of round fruits for good luck.Many wore polka dot dresses (dots round like coins) in hopes of making or getting more money.

- RAYMUND W. LO, MD, FPSP

Many resort to consulting seers and feng shui “experts” on what to expect in the new year ahead. Then they buy the feng shui animal of the year (the horse this year) in its many permutations to decorate their houses with.

Although the number of Filipinos who are optimistic for the new year dropped significantly since 2009, probably due to the still unresolved massive corruption, it is still a high 89 percent. What makes us Filipinos so expectant of a good year, when year after year, we still have the same problems: massive poverty, extensive flooding, a deteriorating environment, and inflation?

Guess by nature, Filipinos are an optimistic lot. It is also because we are resilient that we tend to pass off our misfortunes as bearable and await better times. But sorry to burst your bubble. Nothing will change until we move for change. No amount of amulets, prayers, and good luck symbols will change our lot. As the saying goes: “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa (Mercy is with God, but action is with man).”

Our regional neighbors are already much better off than we are, with their economies in high gear and now sprinting far ahead of us in development and social orders. Pretty soon, countries still below us will overtake us at our rate of stagnation.