TOMORROW is the last day of the year 2025. Our column is also our last for the same year. And despite all the odds, trials and tribulations we met during the year, we are happy to be able to survive and emerge with bruises, of course, but still all the heads of family members unbowed.
For these, we have a lot to thank our Creator for guiding us, helping us all the way. This is the reason why we decided to quote herein a prayer posted on social media and shared with us by our friends and fellow retirees from Davao Light and Power Co. Here it is:
Dear God, You carried us from January to December this year
Thank You Lord… for your faithfulness, your mercy, your protection, your patience, your guidance,
And your unconditional love;
For every breath, every blessing, every bit of strength that keeps us moving forward.
For the moments that broke us, and the ones that built us. For all that was, all that is, and all that’s still to come – we thank you, God.
Indeed, our life’s journey for the past twelve months of 2025 was strewn with uncertainties that at times appear to weaken our spirit. But we continued to persevere. After all, we know “that which does not dampen our spirit makes us even stronger.”
To the immediate members of our family, relatives, and friends, we wish you all a Happy and Prosperous 2026.
And may our journey in the next twelve months be bereft of more difficult challenges.
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A consumer group is demanding that power distributors stop what it calls the “annual January brownout cycle.” It is also asking the power sector to come up with a strategy instead of what the consumer group calls “a reliability plan” to prevent this perceived “start of the year” outage cycle from happening.
Is this really happening? Yes, if we have to believe the claim of the consumer group Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE). The group alleges that at the turn of the New Year, “there have been seemingly more frequent and widespread power outages.”
From the way the group worded its claim, it appears that the so-called power interruption cycle is not just happening in franchise areas served by electric cooperatives but also in places served by private corporations that are known to be well-capitalized. And without doubt, the group’s claim of widespread outages during the first month of the year may also be happening in Davao City?
Will Davao Light agree to the claim? Assuming it will, what is likely the reason why such a cycle of January outages is happening?
We remember that such a situation of frequent power interruptions happened in the past, not necessarily in January. And as always, it is associated by a good number of consumers with suspicion that the electric distribution company is about to file a petition to increase its rates.
Is PARE also entertaining a similar idea?
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Davao City’s first district Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, the other day, released what he calls “a wide range” of accomplishments for the year 2025. His accomplishments are on his office, having covered a huge number of his constituency for medical assistance, educational support, disaster response, legislative work, and major infrastructure projects.
What else do Davaoeños, especially those from his district, do but thank the Congressman for such achievement?
However, we are certain that they would perhaps be happier had the Congressman provided details of his accomplishments in his legislative accomplishments. Let us not forget that the primary mandate of Congressmen is to introduce proposed legislation that will have a positive impact at the local and national levels.
Will the first district lawmaker of Davao City oblige for the full satisfaction of his constituency? It is our take that by merely saying that he has some accomplishments in “legislative work,” the lawmaker is making it difficult for his people to understand.
