The bluish resplendent Tagbilaran City Bay is a visual delight.

That could as well be in the past tense - if this list of environmental violators of 37 firms, per Task Force Adlaon, are not forced to disconnect their man-made canals, throwing their personal and industrial waste into the brand new City Drainage System, installed by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC). That abominable waste will of course cascade into the beautiful Tagbilaran Bay and destroy its character forever.

That the Provincial Capitol has been pinpointed in the "hate list" is a sad commentary that our lawmakers can indeed be lawbreakers themselves.

We do not know if it is environmental ignorance (but that excuses no one) or capitalist greed not to invest in septic tanks and water treatment mechanisms, but illegally connecting to the city drainage system is a conscienceless act that denies there are other people besides these violators who like to live in a clean city fronted by a septically hygienic and aesthetically pleasing blue seawaters in the city bay area.

Millions of pesos are poured by the PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) into the beautification of the City Port, being the gateway to Bohol, the most preferred tourist destination in the nation today, including the P6-million air-conditioned Tourist Assistance building, the only one of its kind in the country. And for what?

It is ironic that while tourism will be Bohol's banner industry, we shot ourselves in the foot again by turning the well-appreciated drainage system into an instrument of environmental destruction. It behooves both city and provincial LGUs to be at the forefront of the campaign to install a water treatment facility before we dump this dirty liquid into the crystal blue waters of Tagbilaran City Bay.

Let the social philosophers debate whether it is a private business concern or a public responsibility of governments to set up that cleansing facility. But that debate must end soon. We published all violators in last Sunday's issue of the Chronicle, you know who you are and what you have done. Act - don't justify or equivocate.

Because, it is barely a few weeks when the contractor puts the final seal on the P100-million drainage system and unless the malodorous situation is remedied, we could have an environmental problem in our hands.

Tourists and balikbayans are unanimous in their praise about the bay being as clear as a private swimming pool. The whole panorama of sparkling blue seawaters engulfing the city and nearby towns is a fitting aura of refreshing serenity of this God-blessed tourist island-province.

Just to cite an example. The Bohol Tropics, just across the port area, with its well appointed cottages and colorful buntings compliment handsomely the beautiful bay area. From a distance, the Tagbilaran City Port resembles even those used by international cruise ships abroad for docking. Let's not mess it up, gentlemen, please.

We are reminded of Frank Sinatra's popular ditty about "leaving one's heart in San Francisco, the city by the bay…" and so on.

In reference to Tagbilaran City and its famous bay, we are tempted to sing the same lyrics. But if we let things be, allow us to be frank (pun intended), that ain't gonna happen here. Such a pity.

EXCUSE US, RICHARD GOMEZ

It is hard to stop someone who thinks that he is Adonis - not to also think that he is likewise God's greatest gift to the Filipinos.

You must have heard the news, the actor Richard Gomez, thinks that because he is popular and good looking, he can now make laws (as senator) for the country of 88 million Filipinos. For plain gall and puking arrogance, nothing beats that for this week.

Without excusing their mental vacuum and sickening sloth, at least Senator Lito Lapid was once Pampanga Governor; Senator Bong Revilla was once Cavite Governor and Jinggoy Estrada was once San Juan mayor like his dad, Erap, a deposed president accused of plunder and corruption. Who is Richard Gomez?

Our hunk-actor wanted to take that route by floating the idea of running for governor of Bulacan, a place he hardly visits or probably cares about. But when the informal surveys showed that most, even the Great Unwashed who watch Tagalog films, was not going to vote him governor, he runs with his long mane on top, to Tanay and asked Erap (a fellow actor) for his blessing to run for senator.

President Estrada politely told the gigolo-actor to think things over. But guys like Richard Gomez, who are full of themselves, do not listen to good advice.

All we know of him is his mediocrity in acting skills and even lower ratings for singing skills which he imposes on a bored audience on a Sunday noontime show. All we know is his double-entendered hosting manners who like his buddy Joey Marquez, is a disgrace to television hosting.

Gomez once took the platform to berate His Eminence Cardinal Sin for being a political friar while he aspired to be a party list representative but never got off the ground. He once smacked Jinggoy Estrada's head in a televised basketball game and had a violent fisticuff with actor Robin Padilla inside Malacañang in the days of Cory Aquino. His history for violence and temper is legendary.

His fencing game buddies dislike him and the target shooting association expelled him for his arrogant behavior.

Today he flashes his trophy in the beautiful and talented Lucy Torres as a TV dance host probably in preparation for the political campaign. All we know was Gomez once had Sharon Cuneta who had the good sense to marry Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Dawn Zulueta who married a Lagdameo, of the old rich.

We do not know what virus afflicts showbiz people these days that they want to enter politics. Is it when movie offers become few and far between that they shift careers where they can make money on the sly like most politicians do?

The Opposition needs to make the senate the last bastion of democracy to offset the rampaging predisposition of the Executive to railroad things.

But if that slate has to include the likes of a Richard Gomez, excuse us, but let us just declare the Senate abolished. We have enough jesters to add another one.