As 2008 comes to a close, it's time to recognize those "who's who" and the "newsmakers" in Bohol who had us talking all year long. It's good news for some (like those who finally got their heads on straight) and bad news for others (like those who just can't seem to learn their lessons). Take a trip through the last 12 months and join us as we honor the "who's who" and the "newsmakers" who thrived - and shaked our heads at those who took a nosedive. 2008 saw the high incidents of "suicides" in Bohol. Six incidents, by any mean violent, happened in Bohol in Nov. and claimed the lives of eight persons. Four of the eight fatalities died as suicides in as many cases and in as many places. The rest died - with two each, of drowning and gun shots. By the way, we love "who's who" breakups! It's not that we always wish the worst for Bohol's who's who and newsmakers; it's just that we love good gossip. some breakups can be devastating, while others couldn't make us smile more. We don't like being sad, we know it'll be better for them in the long run! Best Sportsman: Nonito Donaire, the "Filipino Flash". The 26 year-old Talibon born captured our hearts and fueled our spirit as he punched his way into the history books. On February 16, 2008, Donaire received the Philipines Sports Award for 2007 Athlete of the Year, alongside amateur swimmer Miguel Molina. Amongst the list of nominees were Manny Pacquiao, Ronnie Alcano, WEsley So, and Frankie Minoza. On November 2, 2008, he retained his International Boxing FEderation Flyweight world title via a 6th-round (1:31) technical knockout of Moruti Mithalane. Loser of the Year: Rey " Boom Boom" Bautista. We expect much for him after touted as the next Pacman. Though Bautista defended and won on August 30, 2008, Bautista (26 wins, 1 loss with 18 KO's) annihilated Mexican Eden "Anestecista" Marquez vist technical knockout in the 1:08 mark of the 2nd round of 12-rouner "WBO Night of Champions" in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel to retain his WBO Intercontinental super bantam title, he lost on November 22, 2008, Bautista (2602, 19 KOs) was vanquished at the MGM Grand Las Vegas by Heriberto Ruiz ( 40-7-2, 23 KOs)in Round 3 with scored, 80-70, 78-72 and 77-73. Best Ongoing Feud: Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim vs Vice Mayor Toto Veloso, Djingo RAma, Batchoy Alba, Bohol Chronicle. Who could believe that best friends Mayor Dan Lim and BAtchoy Alba and Djingo RAma are worst enemies? The world is still in an uproar over this feud for years utilizing the media to express what they want. Lim retaliated by going on the record with his own program to say that he thought these people (Veloso, Batchoy, Rama and Chronicle) were extermely "uncool". something tells us this feud will continue next year. Worst Blabbermouth: Benjie Oliva never seems to learn his lesson. He hogged the "limelight" of so many controversies as a Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC), how he was "scolded" by Gov. Erico Aumentado when he asked for endorsement and how Rep. Roberto Cajes "reacted" over his "claimed" on youth projects. We're not saying we're not happy for him - we just don't want him about it anymore.

Best Gossip: City hall Cash Advances. We have to admit - we just didn't see it coming. Just when the world couldn't stop talking about the cash advances at the City Hall, and broadcasters dropped the bobmshell the unliquidated cash advances. Byt the time acting city accountant Kurt Bungabong could not reveal who're those having the accounts, we managed to catch our breath - but just barely.

2nd Runner Up: The accusation that the Bohol Standard has no Mayor's permit and is illegitimate to publish municipal ordinances. According to lawyer Aleckoy Lim, "it is grossly malicious as it is without basis."

Best Scandal: City Minority Kagawad Djingo Rama exploded a bombshell in the halls of SP on Nov. 7, 2008 utilizing the 2007 COA REport that calls into question City Mayor Dan Neri Lim and his adminsitration for the multi-million fund mess.

2nd runner up: Benjie Oliva's falsification of public documents. he could face criminal action for fabrication official public documents issuance of a bogus and falisified DILG memorandum circular numbered MC 2007-03 dated January 11,2008 and forgoing a signature of DILG SEcretary Ronaldo Puno. SK sought the non-renewal of Oliva's appointment into the Commission because of "incompetance, dishonesty and disloyalty".

3rd runner up: The blogspot against University of Bohol stirred everyon in late September. meetings were held and efforts were made to remove the hate blog focusing against the Pamarans.

4th runner up: The public clamors for the city accountant and city auditor to reveal the complete list of cash advances by city officials and employees amounting to P6.5 million that remain unliquidated as exposed in the 2007 Commission on Audit Report. This as city acocuntant Kurt Bungabong and city auditor Teresita Irig rejected the request of Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso to release the details of the unliquidated cash advances.

5th runner up : The loos of cooperative funds amounting to more than P2 million. The coop mess also caught the attention of Board Members Josephine Socorro Jumamoy, chair of the committee on cooperatives of the Sangguiniang Panlalawigan. According to the BPRMO admin costs are not really illegal and what happened was merely a procedural flaw.

Slap of the Year : The Supremet Court has affirmed the disqualification of Alburquerque Mayor Jose Ugdoracion who was found holding a "green card" or a certificate indicating his being a permanent resident of the United States. Ugdoracion is ordered unseated from his post as mayor in Associate Justice Eduardo Nachura's 12-page decision.

1st runner up: Mayor Jimmy Torrefranca. He was barred from entering the LTO office due to a dress code that is enforced on all clients as the LTO is its quest for international standard.

Best Turnaround: Mary Lovely Lingones. What a turnaround Lovely Ligones has made: from a shy girl into a beauty queen and model. She won the Miss Tagbilaran 2006 crown but lost in the Miss Bohol Sandugo 2008 despite the rumor she would get the crown. This girl is able to prove and sundry that she can make it in a national limelight as she won the October monthly finals of Miss Fitrum on ABS-CBN's Wowowee.

Worst Issue: Drainage system. Tagbilaran City residents expressed alarm on the impending serious problem of the city's drainage system. Water discharged at the new drainage system includes wastes from the more than 30 establishments and homes which authorities failed to unplug while the project was still in progress. This is adding volume and pollutants to what was originally designed to accommodate rain water to the drainage system along CPG Avenue.

1st runner up: Agora Square: After 14 years of being an eyesore in the city's commercial district, the Agora Market is finally competed into a new City Square. The Agora contract "stinks corruption". Three lawyers pushed for the cancelation of the rehabilitation-operate and transfer (ROT) contract entered into by the consortium of develo9ment and for the city government as it appears disadvantageous to the city government.

2nd runner up: The Small Town Lottery (STL) pushed by 3rd district Rep. Adam Relson Jala. The Church through Bishop Leonardo Medroso is firm on its stand in disallowing the entry of STL in Bohol. Legalizing gambling does not take away its immoral nature and that even with its gallant intentions it still does not lower the fact that it would cause illnesses to these people who resort to gambling as they would only depend on winning their bets and take chances on mere luck.

3rd runner-up: Our cute brothers, the tarsiers become stressed (others are found to have an infection that led to the bleeding) and the P50 entrance fee collected by the LBU Loboc.

4th runner-up: Tagbilaran Cainget Beach coliform issue. Bathers need not to worry because the DOH just recently said that Cainget Beach is coliform-free.

Best Couple: Brigido and Rosemarie Imboy. Wemay not see a lot of photos of Brigido and Rosemarie schmoozing on parties or posing together for souvenir shoots - but maybe that's their secret. Rosemarie removed the "rights" that Brigido can own a cellphone, you know, not to establish to all the girls he loved before. The couple continued to keep their relationship out of the "limelight" as much as possible.

Worst Couple: Cortes Mayor Apolinaria "Jasmin" Balistoy hogged the "limelight" as she broke her silence as a battered wife in a true-to-life story involving domestic violence, verbal abuse and kidnapping. The ogject of Mayor Balistoy's complaint was her hsuband of 15 years. The marriage was blessed with four children. Citing as her last resort to escape from the violent tantrums of her husband Mayor Balistoy filed a case for violence against women in accordance iwth SEction 42 of Republic Act No. 4660 with a given address at Canmanico, Valencia town, the mayor's husband, Jose Balistoy, was supposed to be served a subpoena regarding the case.

Case of the Year: Dumaluan Rape Case. The DOJ dismissed with finality the charges of rape with homicide against former Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan, brother Teofredo and another accused of the rape and murder of Vivian Dumaluan sometime in May 2004.

Worst Tragedy: More than 59 Boholanos were reported missing after the sinking of the Princess of the Stars in September. The captain of the vessel was a Boholano, Florencio Marimon, Sr., who was also found dead.

Best Hit-Maker: Tubigon's Mary Grace Torreon belted REgine Velasquez' versin of "I Don't WAnna Miss A Thing" which won for her the SK Pop Idol award. On the other hand, Jesat Cathy duce, SK Pop Idol 2006 is still singing. Paloma captured foreigners and tourists with her dance and moves. She is the caretaker of Prony, the biggest python in captivity in Albur. Though she performs lip-synch, we love how she projects herself as a snake and her booty calls.

Oldest Miss Bohol Sandugo:Miss Catigbian Joy Marie Maglajos won the most-coveted Miss Bohol Sandugo 2008 crown, she was the oldest among the candidtates who is 23 years old.

Miracle of the Year: A Christ statue ( the Santo Entierro or HOly Internment ) in Panggangan, Calape was found bleeding in March. Some skeptics see the bleeding Christ a flying Science. In Baclayon Church, the image of Padre Pio, an Italian priest miraculously appeared in one of its walls sometime in September.

Splitsville! 2008 definitely takes the cake of many splitsville! A councilor and his wife (who works in the government), the photographer and HR wife shaking marriage, a government employee and a Capitol department head, a lawyer and a plain housewife ( who was blamed for the death of their son), a company owner who found a new love ( the split resulted into family trouble), a doctor and a sickly husband, etc. These once-happy couples called it quits in '08.

Newest Nuptials. We watched lovebirds tie the knot this year. Today is Vida May Tirol's wedding.

In Momoriam. We pay tribute to the who's who - like Mrs. Charing Dejaresco - who passed away this year. She;s the Bohol media matriarch. The Darunday matiriarch Abundia Darunday, former Panglao Mayor Araoarao and Amparo Uy also joined our Creator.

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I don't usually make New Year's resolution though I see New Year as God's gift for me to start anew and become a better me. And for this New Year, here's my prayer: " Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

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Email me at leoudtohan@yahoo.com
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