Friday 29 March 2024 00:34:09 PHT

Bared... Bohol's hottest moments of 2010

Tagbilaran, Thursday, 30 December 2010

It was a good year, it was a bad year. It was a happy year, it was a sad year. What a year 2010!

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying that these people and events shaped our history this year. From the country's first automated elections to Miss Bohol Sandugo, see what had us talking this year.

A = Amazing Bohol - The tarsier and Chocolate Hills were included in the new 200 peso bill. Bohol kay ganda!

B = Baba Yap ­ It was a landmark year for the young socialite Baba Yap who was elected number one Tagbilaran City councilor. The "Ba-Jane" relationship was a talk of the town.

C = Couple for better education - Drs. Christopher Bernido and Maria Victoria Carpio-Bernido received the 2010 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The Bernidos were also the recipient of the 3rd Gawad Haydee Yorac in 2009.

D = Dilly dallying of decision - Need to say more? William Gladstone said, "Justice delayed, justice denied."

E = Election 2010 - The most colorful local elections ever in the province. The country's first automated elections declared Edgar Chatto as the new governor of Bohol despite the turbulence of a major split in the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Rep. Edgar Chatto obtained the highest number of votes against actor Cesar Montano and Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera.

  • Rep. Rene Relampagos was the first candidate proclaimed by provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria. Concepcion Lim, the first woman vice governor of Bohol, was the last candidate proclaimed by Atty. Labaria.
  • Dionisio Balite was elected senior provincial board member. Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy was re-elected mayor of Inabanga. His mother Roygie Jumamoy was reelected provincial board member. Albur Mayor Efren Tungol reclaimed his old seat, beating Rene Buates. Mayor Rosemarie Imboy got re-elected in Loay town, while her hubby Brigido Imboy won as board member.
  • The candidacy of mothers and daughters had dazzled the first ever automated polls. Myrna Schreurs didn't win for vice mayor in Garcia Hernandez and her daughter Chandrina Schreurs for councilor. Amalia Reyes-Tirol lost her mayoral bid in Ubay, while her daughter Dr. Mutya Kismet Tirol-Macuno failed to win as provincial board member.
  • Roberto Cajes won as mayor in Trinidad while his wife Judith del Rosario-Cajes lost to Erico Aumentado for representative in the second district of Bohol.
  • Losers were Tita Gallentes, Nila Montero, Pedro Fuertes, Toto Veloso, Jose Veloso, Ma. Fe Lejos, Elsa Tirol and Nilo Sarigumba who failed to secure the mayoral position. Also to our media colleagues: Andy Manatad, Dandan Bantugan, Frony Narisma, Gerry Pabe, Danny Reyes and Dodong Libatona.
  • Toto Veloso filed an electoral protest at the Commission on Elections in Manila versus Mayor Lim after claiming that there were irregularities in the May 10 polls.
  • Carmen councilor Ramonito "Monching" Torrefranca was elected president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Bohol chapter.
  • Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy won with a majority vote to lead the League of Municipalities (LMP)-Bohol chapter.
  • Doxon Asoy was elected SK provincial federation president.

F = Facebook - We love Facebook, don't we? In last May elections, politicians were using Facebook to campaign. Facebook was also used to announce relationships and heartaches.

G = Galleon Andalucia - We have waited for the arrival of galleon Andalucia of Seville, Spain. Andalucia, a replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon, literally rediscovered Bohol after more than 400 hundred years back when Spanish Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi drifted here.

H = Hurrah to our paisanos - They also created "kasikas": Noel Tuazon won the third prize in the Short Story-Cebuano category in the 60th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature contest. His short story "Patas" was adjudged as one of the best three for the regional languages division.

  • The late congressman Simeon Toribio of Carmen, Bohol was included in the Sports Hall of Fame. Toribio gifted the Philippines a medal in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. The Cong. Simeon Toribio Memorial District Hospital was erected in his honor.
  • Blake Mahecha Valles and Felisse Marie Carvajal won Mr and Miss PRISAA Region 7.
  • Raul Gatal who was reported to quit hosting Miss Bohol Sandugo 2010 when a tsismis circulated that he allegedly playing "favoritism" and "bias" towards certain candidates.
  • Lawyer Victoriano Belarmino Tirol, Jr. assumed office as the new president of the University of Bohol.

I = Island City Mall's Screenville Cinema 3D - It unveiled its two 3D Digital Cinemas in time for the world premiere of "Alice in Wonderland." Bringing the Boholanos to an unprecedented height of cinematic adventure, Screenville helped immerse the viewers closer to reality in its 3D Digital Cinemas which are equipped with the latest Dolby CP650 Digital Cinema Processor. Screenville ensures audiences to enjoy a richer, more compelling 3D experience, with realistic color and a sharper, clearer image and surround sound from every seat in the house.

J = Jai-alai - Goodbye swertres, hello Jai-alai. Albur town was the first to "embrace" jai-alai legally. However, the Roman Catholic Church maintains its stand against all forms of gambling, both legal and illegal.

K = Kiss and Tell - Numerous petitions signed by the faculty, deans of college and students were earlier sent to Bohol Island State University (BISU) President Elpedio Magante and CHED Commissioner William Medrano, alleging among others, the use of university facilities in political activities to promote his son's candidacy, Arnelo Olandria, who ran and won as councilor in the May elections. Magante relieved campus director Olandria and took over the administration of the campus.

L = Libel cases - The number of reported libel cases mounted this year involving mediamen. Mayor Rosemarie Imboy filed a libel case against Boy Enerio and dyRD anchors Fred Araneta and Chito Visarra "for not cutting the interview despite Enerios' defamatory statements." Rey Blanco was also charged with libel filed by Pureza Chatto for "unfounded and malicious accusation." Also, lifestyle editor Manuel Ferdinand De Erio and Sunday Post publisher Boy Guingguing have libel cases filed by Jane Censoria Cajes "for writing her love story."

M = Merry birthday parties - Athalia Jezka Karielle "Babam" celebrated her birthday with a Mickey/Minnie Mouse themed party attended by more than 300. Janica Jabines celebrated her debut with a Walt Disney theme. US-based socialite Mikey Gatal also celebrated his "unique" birthday in Bohol.

N = New image - Geff Jabines was attracting a lot of attention this year. From a shy type to a sexy image, the boy next door is making girls - and other creatures – swoon.

O = Ombudsman - This year's the busiest for the Ombudsman. Numerous complaints were filed by Boholanos against their public officials.

  • Broadcasters Jerry Pabe and Gerry Cajes sued Mayor Lim, et al at Ombudsman after the Bohol Light Company Inc. cut the power service at their residential houses after the mayor allegedly withdrew his warranty for Pabe and Cajes "due to conflict of interest."
  • A complaint was filed against National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Director VII Engr. Modesto G. Membreve by the Concerned Citizens of Bohol and the Rest of Region VII.
  • Toto Veloso was charged by Mayor Lim at the Ombudsman for malversation, technical malversation of public funds and falsification for allegedly diverting the amount of P52,500 which was originally intended to defray expenses of a budget programming and planning workshop.
  • SK national president Jane Censoria Cajes was facing a graft complaint for alleged misuse of federation funds amounting to over P90 million. The complaint was filed by her former aides last Oct. 20, 2010 and was reported on national TV. The first complaint against Cajes was filed last April 2010 by the Cebu-based Junior Graftwatch Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman citing issues on transparency, overpricing registration fees, acquisition of expensive vehicle and lavish lifestyle.
  • Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren, et al were facing a complaint of nine counts for violation of R.A. 3019 or the Anti Corrupt and Practices Act and one count for estafa at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas filed by Joseph Rañola.
  • Resort owners on Alona beach area filed a complaint at the Ombudsman Visayas against Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala and engineer Rogelio Bonao.

P = Political war - Two longtime allies Rep. Erico Aumentado and Mayor Roberto Cajes lashed at each other with accusations of corruption and collusion with contractors to clinch local projects. They talked about unexplained wealth, tax evasion and other irregularities. Also, Mayor Dan Lim is not on "good terms" with Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Q = Queens - This year saw the birth of beauty queens. Fer Mary Baliquig was chosen as Miss Tagbilaran 2010 while Amir Sol of Tubigon was named Miss Bohol Sandugo 2010.

R = Rose Soy - Without a doubt, the most-watched woman of the year was Dame Rosario "Rose" Soy. The Bohol's Queen of Tourism was crowned for the fifth time as Rotary Santacruzan Queen 2010 and Circulo Boholano de Cebu Centennial Queen. Dame Rose who is the reigning Mrs. Bohol International and Mrs. Bohol Tourism 2009 has been a great help for having paved the way for the now booming Bohol tourism in her capacity as a travel specialist.

S = Survivor - Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Msgr Bernardito Auza (a native of Talibon town is the first Boholano apostolic nuncio and the 4th Filipino ordained by the Vatican) survived the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Also survived 2010 was Fr. Joseph Skelton Jr. who could not shake off the bad publicity stemming from his conviction in 1988.

T = Transparency - People have called on public officers to provide their services in a more transparent and efficient manner. The SK Reform Coalition-Bohol chapter and the Transparency Network Team (TNT) were formed.

U = Unaffected Bohol - The hostage taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila didn't affect Bohol's tourism. Bohol tourist arrivals are dependent on the Chinese market since they remain to be the biggest group of tourists visiting Bohol.

V = Vacation of Ogie and Regine - Asia's songbird Regine Velasquez celebrated her birthday in Bohol with Ogie Alcasid and family. Regine and Ogie had a successful pre-Valentine concert.

W = Weddings - 2010 was a year that changed everything for Mary Ann Aparece and Dr. Jon Mark Verga. Architect Junibe Froilan Jr and Dra. April Lumuthang finally tied the knot.

X = Xciting album - Boholano musician Romeo Mascariñas released his new album Big Bang under Roro Music. Fr. Fro Lungay was a big help of the album.

Y = You got it guys - 2010 was also the showbiz comeback of Boholana actress and performer Lailette Geulen-Boiser. Almost famous was Jan Alfred "Jerber" Mercado who had cameo appearances on TV and indie films.

Z = Zipline - Danao's Eco-Adventure Tour (EAT) was duplicated by Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park. The tourists were enjoying the evergreen Loboc River through cable car and a zipline only for a very short time. Months later, the owner of the lot used by the local government unit of Loboc to operate a zipline in barangay Gotozon, Loboc town closed the property after claiming to be a victim of "land grabbing."

Word of the Year: Loyalty check, transparency, graft and corruption, Ombudsman, vote buying and financial statements. Some words that were previously classified as "gay lingo" have been added to our daily conversations, including 'estoryahe' and 'hilum baki' which mean "stop talking" or "make sure you are talking to the right person." For Bared, "estoryahe" was the Boholano word of the year because of its ubiquity among the general populace and its unique description of a certain sub-culture.


Email leoudtohan@yahoo.com

Leo P. Udtohan

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