The year 2011 was not very kind to us.
The first year of the new decade began peacefully enough, only to hit us in the end with one of the worst disasters in decades.
Typhoon Sendong ravaged Northern Mindanao on Friday night. More than a thousand have already been reported dead, tens remain missing, and homes have been flattened or totally swept away.
Rescue and relief efforts are still ongoing, and will continue up to the new year, when the almost-overwhelming task of rebuilding lives and homes gets underway.
But as Filipinos, we do have an unwavering belief that every new year
brings hope for a new and better life. And as we pray for guidance to God, Allah, the deities, nature, our ancestors, and whatever else be our choice of succor, we take a look back at the numbers that shaped the country in 2011.
BASIC FACTS. The population of the world, according to CIA's The World Factbook: 6,928,198,253 (July 2011 estimate).
The population of the Philippines, according to CIA's The World
Factbook: 101,833,938 (July 2011 estimate).
The percent of Filipinos who consider themselves poor, according to
SWS's September 2011 Survey: 52%. This is an increase from the 48% of
September 2010.
The percent of Filipinos who consider themselves to have gone hungry
this year, according to SWS's September 2011 Survey: 21.5%. This is an
increase from the 15.9% of September 2010.
The economy grew to a mere 3.2% this year, compared to last year's
7.3%, according to data from the National Statistical Coordination
Board (NSCB).
The inflation rate has risen. According to data from the NSCB, the
inflation rate for November 2011 is 4.8%, compared to only 3.7% in
November 2010.
The richest Pinoys in the country in 2011, according to Forbes Magazine:
1. Henry Sy (SM) - Net Worth: $7.2 billion
2. Lucio Tan (Asia Brewery, Tanduay Holdings) - $2.8 billion
3. John Gokongwei, Jr. (Sun Cellular, Cebu Pacific) - $2.4 billion
4. Andrew Tan (Megaworld, McDonald's) - $2 billion
5. David Consunji (DMCI) - $1.9 billion
6. Jaime Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corp.) - $1.7 billion
7. Enrique Razon, Jr. (ICTSI) - $1.6 billion
8. Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. (San Miguel) - $1.4 billion
9. Roberto Ongpin (Philex Mining Corp.) - $1.3 billion
10. George Ty (Metrobank) - $1.1 billion
NEWS AND POLITICS. President Noynoy Aquino's latest trust rating,
according to Pulse Asia: 72%.
Alleged "pabaon" received by 2011 outgoing chief of the Armed Forces
of The Philippines (AFO), as bared in a Senate hearing: P50 million.
Angelo Reyes committed suicide weeks after.
Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson was sentenced to 1 year and 6
months imprisonment in Hong Kong for possession of illegal drugs.
The House of Representatives voted 212-46 to impeach then Ombudsman
Merceditas Gutierrez.
