Ecstacy.

Ecstatic.  That's the word that can best describe the feeling and aura Pinoys are feeling and exhibiting these days.  One cannot help but be sucked into it.  It's in the air.

This ecstasy is not fuelled by the so-called "party pill," but by the impending inauguration and coming of the new President of the Republic of the Philippines - Noy Aquino.

Tomorrow, June 30th, is the swearing in of President Aquino.

But why such euphoric feeling?

I've been in Manila just for two months, but already,  I'm totally in the mood, and in one with the more than 14 million "kababayans" who voted for Aquino. 

I remember the time that Noy's father, then Senator Ninoy Aquino, visited U.P. Diliman.  It was before Martial Law; he went there to give a speech.  I don't remember anymore what he talked about.  I presume it had something to do with the excesses of the Marcos administration.

Senator Ninoy Aquino cut a dashing, charismatic figure.  He proved, during that short appearance, his flair for public speaking and his encyclopedic grasp of events and factoids.

Now, his son, Noynoy, who doesn't possess the same brand of charisma as his father, but still emits a compelling personality, will be sworn in tomorrow.  The people who knew and remember his father, could not help but feel nostalgic.

If Martial Law had not been declared and if Ninoy had not been assassinated, he was sure to have been elected as a Philippine president.  Certainly, this nation could have been totally different. 

We were number two to Japan in terms of economy before Martial Law had been declared; now we trail even Vietnam, who'd been just out of the destructive war and Indonesia, who had been just out of the chaotic civil war post-Sukarno and Suharto rules.

Pinoys could not help but be ecstatic.  Here is another leader who could provide change.  It's the feeling of hope.  Pinoys are good at hoping.