Bring out the best wine in from the oak barrels. Display the best preserved goblets from the antique cabinets. There is a reason to celebrate.

After months of acrimonious debates and endless recriminations, the political players in Panglao have - at long last - transformed child's play into adult governance. They can sense the end is near for whoever prolongs the agony in the garden. Like World Cup champion Italy, the government of Panglao kicked football to the sea and is now talking business - like adults.

The Age of Reason has prevailed in Panglao. At least on the potable water-sourcing issue.

The imbroglio stemmed from the passage of the Sangguniang Bayan to tap the more reliable and already available water from the tested Bohol Water Utilities Inc. (BWUI) through a legislative resolution. Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan, on the other hand, wanted a cooperative (supported by a few resort owners) to provide the water facilities. Both recognize though, the intrinsic value of water - as in life - to resort management and operations.

In one of his finest moments, Mayor Dumaluan displayed statesmanlike character in setting aside his initial preference in favor of the public good. It is never too late in the day to rise to our finest hour. After all public governance is a job that is never done till one's term ends.

The display of unity between the mayor and vice mayor Pedro Fuertes (who chairs the legislative body) augurs well for a forward-looking, objective-laden and principled governance of the fabled island of Panglao. The Lord and Mother Nature has given us the best there is through Panglao - let us return the favor by giving it also our best shot.

Governor Erico Aumentado, Representative Edgar Chatto and the Bohol Tourism Council are one in praising the new-found unified strength displayed by the Panglao legislators and the executives.

We are aware that the Chronicle was scathing in its editorial last week - exasperated by the antics from both ends of the political strata. We had to use choice words to bring home that challenge for all parties to realize that at the end of the day, after considering our blind spots and biases - we still have only one nation to serve, one people to govern.

Let this then be the start of new beginnings. Shalom.

A NEW AGE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE?

Just when Mayor Dan Lim's iron hand put the figurative cuffs on Mr. Drug Menace in the city, yet another monster rears its ugly head.

Youth violence seems to hug the headlines these days in this city that has known peace in most days since time immemorial. It is disappointing, to say the least, where National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal's "hope of the fatherland" is straying into uncomfortable zones these days.

A student was an unfortunate fatality during an initiation activity of a fraternity of CVSCAFT. Earlier there was a preceding shooting incident that involved a fraternity in the wounding of an innocent vendor. We are talking of lives here, no simple matter.

Like in many cases elsewhere in the country - we have laws that are sometimes more observed in the breach. The ordinances on the banning of selling liquor past 10 p.m. and the curfew ban on minors are just two of the grossly violated laws in the city. To start with, sari-sari stores selling liquor beyond the allowed time also become unwitting venues to down the drinks - oftentimes one drink too many for the very active, virile and adventurous kids.

This is the lethal combination that often makes crime far easier to commit. Alcohol creates a warped mind that sometimes makes the best of us lose perspective and go gung ho on almost everything. The result is always some form of tragedy for both the victim and perpetrator alike.

Mayor Dan need not do a Clark Kent and don his Superman vest and do this business of cleaning up this mess alone. We are a community and we are responsible for the choices that we make. And one of those choices is whether we want to get involved in solving fraternity and gang rumbles and mayhem.

The barangay which is the most micro-level of governance should get into the act and start policing their own locales for violators of the liquor ban and curfew on minors.

The tanods should talk to the family heads in their domain about the role of parents in carrying the whip to put his household to toe the line of the laws of the land.

The men of the cloth should involve the youth in wholesome activities and provide counseling for the wayward and strengthen the resolve of parents on the value of house rules and discipline. The police should sharpen its intelligence network and widen its dragnet to flush out the hidden "bad elements" that spoil the good boys and girls in our communities.

Now those who cannot help in this crusade, just step aside and no kryptonites please, if Mayor Dan decides to be also a Man of Steel on this one - after conquering the drug monster.

Let's be united on this one. The next kid you save could be your own.