‘Hope does not disappoint’
Though I lifted that line from a biblical passage, scientific studies show that indeed, hope always makes sense.
Medically and historically, those with hope see better outcomes—in their lives, their health, their country.
Research affirms that hope “is a measurable psychological trait” that’s associated with lower stress, greater resilience, better health and quality of life.
During perhaps the darkest of times in this millennium—the COVID-19 pandemic—hope was the light that filtered through the tunnel and enabled us to crawl towards the end of it. Despite the unspeakable grief over the loss of lives, hope enabled the world to turn itself around— from medical laboratories to restaurant kitchens, from airlines to malls. Recovery was stunning.
The best of times for some may be the worst for others. Yet in both cases, we hope—for sustained better times for those above water, and for life vests and dry land for those struggling to stay afloat. We hope for the strength to paddle and tread water—after all, hope is a conscious act, not just a wish.
For my second column on hope, I asked personalities from various sectors, led by former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who turns 90 today, what gives them hope for 2026.
Jose de Venecia Jr.
Five-time Speaker, House of Representatives
What gives me hope for 2026 is our enduring capacity for renewal. Our history reminds us that while we are no strangers to division, we are equally familiar with recovery. We have always found ways to pause, recalibrate, and return to dialogue.
I am also encouraged by the very controversies and investigations that now exhaust us. They signal that institutions, though strained, are still being tested rather than erased. A society that continues to argue passionately about right and wrong, about abuse and accountability, has not yet given in to apathy or silence.
My hope for 2026 rests on our ability to see these moments not as endpoints, but as opportunities, provided we insist that truth, fairness, and the rule of law prevail over vengeance and political convenience.
Jane Jimenez-Basas
President/CEO, MediaQuest Holdings and Cignal TV
What gives me hope for 2026 is the certainty of change, because every new year offers the chance to make things better. Hopefully, a country shaped by more discerning citizens and more honest leadership, a MediaQuest that continues to fight and grow and realize its dreams, and, most of all, the hope that my children can look toward a future of opportunities and meaning.
Karen Davila
Broadcast journalist
The Filipino people give me hope. The Filipino youth make me optimistic. After the level of corruption we’ve seen infiltrate our institutions and dampen our collective spirit, it is their unwavering resilience and refusal to stay silent that can signal a turning point for our nation. Righteous anger and indignation can turn into genuine reform if we have the commitment to see it through. I know the Filipino youth want better leaders and they will make sure their voice is heard come 2028. This is my deepest hope.
Ton Concepcion
President, SMEG
My hope for 2026 is that the current political crisis becomes a turning point on our journey toward becoming a first-world nation. We have a beautiful country and a beautiful people. All the ingredients for greatness are already here. What we need now is PATRIOTISM—a deep love of country expressed not just in words, but in action. By choosing excellence every day in the lives we live and the work we do, each individual effort, multiplied by millions, can become an unstoppable force—one that lifts the Filipino people and allows our country to rise to the greatness it deserves.
Bea Zobel Jr.
Philanthropist
What gives me hope for 2026, as a Filipino, is the next generation. They are curious, globally aware, yet still deeply rooted in our values of family, respect, and compassion. They are not afraid to question, to improve, and to imagine better ways forward.
Hope, for me, is knowing that while every generation faces its own challenges, the Filipino spirit, generous, and quietly determined, remains unchanged. That continuity gives me confidence in the years ahead.
Ana De Ocampo
Co-founder and president, Wildflour
As a restaurateur, I see an industry that is slowly learning to value depth over novelty, where good food is not just consumed, but respected as culture, craft, and livelihood. Despite uncertainty, Filipinos continue to gather around and choose connection and shared experience.
And more importantly, as a Filipino, it’s family and community above everything. And that choice matters. It sustains businesses, sure. But more importantly, it sustains identity.
My hope for 2026 is that the desire to keep celebrating what makes life valuable is what stays in the foreground, and that this celebration will carry us through 2026 and beyond.
Jojie Dingcong
A-lister talent manager and brand builder,
JLD Talent Management
The coming year, for me, is a year of “fair” thoughtful cleansing.
It’s going to be a year of challenges and great learning...that hopefully ushers in many strong purposeful wins for all of us Filipinos.
I personally will pursue my Marian devotion and quiet Christian advocacies. Hopefully, this will nurture more peace and calmness and yes, more joys in my life...progressing to my friendships and my community as a whole.
I hope to learn, not to be triggered by unnecessary noises and judgments. For I truly believe, “Heaven knows best.”
The year 2026 is grace...to be alive, to wake up another 365 days, living strong and living with much faith.
Dolly Pangan Specht
Board member, Filipino-American Chambers of Commerce Foundation Inc.
What gives me hope is that people realize and appreciate that friendships can sustain us through distance and time. I’m hopeful that people will reflect on their personal relationships, be grateful for each other, and be willing to be forgiving and generous, so that we can all serve and help each other.
