I recently saw a video of a Filipino-American kid being interviewed by an American about the best Filipino food. The kid who could be maybe seven or eight years old quickly said adobo. “That’s our national dish,” he said and then added “you should go to the Philippines” to get the best stuff.

The American interviewer was surprised with the answer. It was rather a costly challenge. But the kid was sure of his answer and challenge.

We could be sure Filipinos in America can cook adobo, and there are restaurants and food trucks selling them alongside our other standards like lumpia and pancit. But what the kid implied was that the best could be found right here in the Philippines, perhaps remembering an unforgettable visit to the country that he had equated with adobo.

There are many other videos and posts featuring Filipinos championing their country, albeit nobody asked them to or that it was actually optional.

Prior to winning in the last SEA Games, tennis superstar Alex Eala had been seen proudly waving the flag figuratively and literally in competitions that in fact don’t care about the nationality of competitors. These are competitions that weren’t like the Olympics where flags and anthems of the winners are honored. She also revealed in a recent interview that she makes an effort to learn the Filipino language to better connect with her own people. Today, thanks to Alex, the region’s tennis epicenter is the Philippines, and she likes it that way.

EJ Obiena has repeatedly brought honor to the country by way of pole vault. More than that, he has tried to bring some of the world’s best to the country.

Carlos Edriel Yulo also continues to inspire not just about gymnastics, but also about independence, self determination, and self respect.

Elsewhere, film director Jun Robles Lana wrote a three-paragraph post about the excessive and inaccessible prices of movie tickets: “Today, a family of four would need at least ₱1,500 just to enter the theater, not including transportation or even a single bag of popcorn.”

“Cinema has shifted from a shared national culture to a middle-class privilege,” he said.

“Until we admit that cinema has become a luxury that the ‘₱500 noche buena’ family cannot afford, we are simply watching the slow, expensive sunset of Philippine cinema,” he warned.

Amen to that. A thousand amens to affordable, accessible movie ticket prices.

We may not be ready to accept or admit it but the past year’s most courageous and most impactful protest did not happen at Luneta or EDSA whose leaders refuse to come together but won’t admit it. Not even in those led by powerful religions. We have to thank and salute the black-clad “young stunnas” of Mendiola for reminding us of the power of righteous anger. Those youths most come from families with nothing to lose but everything to gain in a future without corruption.

To the Filipino-American kid promoter of adobo and country, the Filipino athletes, the film director, and the young stunnas of Mendiola, we must add the young and old “karaniwang tao” who silently keep this country moving. From the riders to the market vendors, the sales ladies to the cashiers, the factory workers to the overseas Filipino workers. To me and many others, they are today’s bearers of hope and aspiration. They are unlike today’s politicians who only bring disappointment, shame, and perpetual division to the nation.

As we usher in the new year, many say a lot about finding hope and inspiration. The news is that we could find them in the most unusual places and persons. If you look back to 2025 and further back, there’s no shortage of hope and inspiration. We have even managed to pleasantly surprise our own selves. We need more, and who knows what we could aim for and accomplish this 2026.

On that note, allow me to thank you, dear readers, as I mark my 12th year today as a Manila Bulletin columnist, and to express gratitude to Manila Bulletin President Emil Yap III and editors for their trust, patience and support. Here’s to more years of opinion-writing and championing hope.