“What lessons from the events of 2013 do you think Filipinos should bring with them into 2014?”

“2013 has been a tough year for many of us and we were beset by personal and national problems. But every new year is nothing if not a year of renewal and grace. We may have made our share of mistakes this year but we can always promise to try and be better versions of ourselves next year—a better friend, student, son, daughter and teacher, not just to people we know but, more importantly, to those we don’t.”

Michelle Paterno, Lecturer, English Department

“The events in the past year—[Typhoon] Yolanda, Zamboanga hostage situation, etc.—[have] shown us the meaning and value of solidarity. The only thing we can do when confronted with violence that threatens to destroy us all is to commit ourselves to the common good.”

Enrico La Viña, Premier, Crusada (IV AB Philo)

“Courage ‘yung natutunan, courage amidst all the calamities. Kaya nga sabi, ‘Bangon, Pilipinas’ (We learned courage, courage amidst all the calamities. That is why we say, ‘Rise, Philippines’).”

Lina Trinidad, staff member, University Archives

“After all the difficulties our country has been through this year, we Filipinos should continue to be resilient towards all the challenges and hardships that are to come in 2014. Resiliency is one of the values that I admire best in our countrymen because it does not only entail positivity and hope; it also entails hard work in trying to [make do] with what we have.”

Arian Mabagos (I BS LfSc)

“Sa tingin ko, nararapat na baunin natin ang aral ng masidhing paghahanda sa anumang pangyayari na masasalubong natin sa darating na taon. Kadalasan, pagkatapos pa ng isang trahedya tayo nakapagtatanto ng ating mga dapat na ginawa bago ang naturang ganap. Sa pamagitan ng masusising preparasyon, maiiwasan natin ang mga malubhang kalalabasan ng mga trahedyang mararanasan ng ating bansa (In my opinion, we must remember the importance of meticulous preparation for any situation that we will encounter in the coming year. Often it is only after a tragedy that we become aware of what we need to do in times of natural disasters. Through proper preparation, we can avoid serious consequences of future natural calamities that our country will be facing).”

VJ Serag (II BS CTM)

“During Typhoon Yolanda, thousands of people died because of the strong gusts of wind and the unexpected storm surge. What is heart-warming is that all kinds of people were able to help even in the most little ways. You don’t need to sponsor a relief operation… It is important to remember that helping is a decision [made] from within.  We are Filipinos, and we are united, strong and resilient. Through the hardships that Filipinos encountered this year, we were still able to show that we can exhibit the core values that Filipinos are known for. Heading into 2014, I hope that despite disasters continuing to devastate our country, these values continue to shine brightly.”

Luis Miguel Tierra (II BS ECE)

 “For 2014, Filipinos must continue to carry in themselves the sense of selflessness they’ve harbored after experiencing the different calamities that struck the nation. Selflessness leads [to] the long road to service, unity and nation-building. Along with that, Filipinos must continue to carry the ideal of hope for their fellowmen. For there is hope for a people after disasters, hope for a nation despite the [cases of] corruption, and hope for an individual [so he may] become more of what we he [aspired to be] the previous year, and become less of a weakness he had perceived himself to be.”

Audrey Antonio (II BS PSY)

“For me, I think one of the things that Filipinos should really take to heart is being able to prepare for a disaster. It isn’t really so much [about] your quickness to respond to a certain calamity. It’s more [about how] prepared [you are] for something that’s bound to happen… It’s quite obvious that we weren’t prepared [for Typhoon Yolanda] despite the President saying [otherwise]. We [weren’t] prepared because the response time was really horrible. The people in the scientific community did not hold back anything with regard to the [typhoon-related] information that [was released]. Even [the] Project NOAH team said two, three days before that Haiyan is [going to] hit with the force of a thousand suns. In my opinion, the government just shrugged it off. The response wasn’t that nice from the side of the government. We should learn to prepare in the long term.”

Michael Jallorina, Assistant Instructor, Physics Department

 “We, as Filipinos, should bring our ability to persevere and unite against forces that threaten our country, whether it be people or Mother Nature.”

Isa Padilla (I BS LfSc)

 “To remain strong and united despite the good and bad things that we have experienced. We should not wallow too much in suffering, instead look forward to a future full of possibilities.”

Dezarie Aragon (III AB SOS)