61 Christmases over the years
Sixty-one Christmases is a span of 7 decades and are the Christmases I can remember. The idea is to relate and retell these Christmases against the backdrop of the social, political and economic conditions of those times, and see if we have progressed and learned lessons from them.
In the 1950's, less than 10 years from the end of WWII, people were still recovering from the war, rebuilding lives and homes. The economy was recovering but most of the people were poor. But with a population of just over 30 million, people were able to live off the land and grateful coming from the near-starvation conditions during the war. The Philippines was now an independent democracy and elections were held. Unfortunately, elections in 1951 and 1953 were marred by violence and terrorism which did not contribute to social and political stability, so the economy barely grew. Christmas celebrations were modest and austere but people were happy to be alive.
From 1961 to 1970, there was political peace as Magsaysay defeated Quirino. American aid for rebuilding started arriving so that the economy or GDP grew at 4.5 percent average annually. Manufacturing companies were established partly funded by Japanese reparations payments and employment was generated. People had money and were optimistic, so Christmas in those years were merrier and domestic consumption was growing. I studied in Manila during high school and college and would come home to a wonderful Christmas every year.
From 1971 to 1980, Marcos was president. In his early years the economy grew at six percent due to increasing government budget and higher domestic investment. In his second term, GDP growth slowed down as corruption escalated. The economy started to be dominated by relatives and cronies, decreasing domestic and foreign investments. Then, martial law was declared. Social unrest escalated, the communist insurgency bloomed, and capital flight was massive. The peso-dollar exchange rate devalued by 200 percent and inflation was at its highest. By the beginning of 1980, the economy was at a standstill. Christmas was bleak as people, except for the favored few, had no money and no spirit to celebrate.
The early 1980's was a further deterioration of the economy with the country defaulting on its foreign loans, and foreign exchange for vital imports had to be rationed. There was more social and political unrest as warrantless arrests increased and political persecution continued. Those who could afford to left the country. Christmases then were probably the bleakest and most austere. Then in 1986 Marcos was deposed by a People Power revolution and Cory Aquino, the widow of assassinated senator Aquino became president. As she became the darling of the democratic world, the economy took a sharp upward turn fueled by foreign aid and investments. From a 7.3 percent decline in GDP in 1984 and 1985, the economy grew by 4 percent per year from 1987 to 1992. Christmas in those years were celebratory and optimistic, even with the series of coups by Enrile and Honasan.
The 1990's was a continuation of moderate economic growth at 4 percent to 5 percent marked by liberalization and deregulation during Ramos presidency. Estrada succeeded Ramos but was impeached, and Arroyo took over a meandering economy which she propelled higher with her solid understanding of economics marred only by corruption scandals. Then Noynoy Aquino became president in 2010 and presided over an economic growth rate of over 6 percent for 6 years. Christmases in these years were better and happier. People are hopeful that the coming Christmases in the Duterte years will even be happier and merrier.
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