A common resolution for 2012

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Once more with feeling: A very happy and prosperous New Year to everyone!

We begin the year 2012 with great hopes and aspirations, as well as the spirit of thanksgiving for what our city, our province, and our region have been spared in the last few days of 2011. While, we, too, had experienced some of Nature’s fury in the past year, they were never to the extent that our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao, and some in our very own island, had gone through.

Even as we continue to help, to the best we can, our affected brothers in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and in parts of Negros Oriental, let us ourselves resolve to never be complacent about what could happen in the split of a second, with the abnormalities that we are now seeing in the environment.

Many of us have adopted resolutions for the New Year, as we have done in every new year that has passed. This time, though, let our resolve not only be for our own advantage and benefit. Let them be for the good of everyone, as we heed the suggestions of some of our officials that we ourselves must learn survival skills and not rely only on trained officials or personnel to take care of us and our families.

This we can do by starting some form of training in safety measures even among the young, so that they, too, will know what to do when disaster strikes. So often we have heard of tragic incidents that could have been avoided had the victims possessed even the most basic knowledge of survival techniques.

Let this be our common resolution for this New Year. The earth is no longer the same as we had known it decades ago. So the more prepared we are, the better our chances of dealing with its tantrums, and ensuring the safety – and survival – of both our loved ones and ourselves.

Let’s think of this as we look forward to a truly happy and safe New Year.*