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Ah, the twists and turns of Philippine politics. Many people watched with bemusement the events surrounding the filing of candidacy and substitution in the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Supporters of the various personalities involved probably enjoyed the political melodrama as it unfolded. For me, watching on the sidelines brought back some memories of a career in politics.

The string of economic and health data last week will bode well for the incoming year. The surprisingly strong gross domestic product (GDP) figures in the third quarter and falling daily Covid-19 cases are the right mixes for a strong economic recovery.

Recent health and economic indicators make me cautiously optimistic about our recovery. I say cautiously because the pandemic still lingers in many countries including the Philippines, yet optimistic because the lifting of some economic restrictions will allow more Filipinos to earn a living.