The Christmas party of the Bohol Simply Aging, Inc. (BOSAI) was held yesterday at the Bikini Beach in Panglao town. Impeng Gulle, BOSAI president, wanted to have the yuletide gathering to be austere and simple. A holy mass started officiated by Fr. James Darunday followed by a lunch through BYOP of its members and a lechon sponsored by retired P/Supt. Linde Bantugan. Fr. Kiking Magdoza also joined the lunch. A meeting was then held and then the exchange gift. No extravagance whatsoever. It was a plain and simple gathering of members for this yuletide season.

* * * * *

The BOSAI members were just thinking: what if we did not survive the 7.2 magnitude last Oct. 15 and the killer typhoon Yolanda last November? That is one good opportunity to be happy in that gathering as our roll is still complete. Although we marked the yuletide season in the way we wanted it to be after the twin calamities which hit us this year. It was the ultimate reason for us to greet each other with a Merry Christmas. So we sang the songs that we like to sing and be thankful for everything.

* * * * *

But people could not really do without a simple gathering during Christmas. Because having a Christmas party has become a taboo this year due to the twin calamities that we had, public and private offices simply called it as a Christmas reunion, joint lunch or supper. No more programs, speeches and Christmas extravaganza. The expenses for Christmas parties are being set aside for relief operations. But we know some government offices to hold Christmas parties in the local up to the regional level. They simply call it as a meeting or gathering. But everything for a real Christmas party is all there. There were games, dance contest and everything. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

* * * * *

Today the brownouts are already gone and Sec. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla of the Department of Energy has all the reason to stay put in the Cabinet. He promised earlier to resign if the power is not restored on or before the Christmas day and Pres. Pnoy has even made that assurance too. But the problem that we have to face right now is how to contend with the power rate hike after the holiday season. It has been an accepted fact that the power rate will have to increase and it looks like that we have to shoulder the expenses incurred by Yolanda. Never mind if there is an over supply now of generator sets in the local market. Power consumers should better weigh things over as power shortage is expected in the Visayas come 2016 because of our dependency to the geothermal plant in Leyte. A power summit is in order as soon as possible.

* * * * *

We passed by the Bohol Wisdom School daily last week and found out that our mole was correct. The traffic congestion in the area has already been neutralized during peak hours from 6 to 7 o'clock in the morning and 5 to 6 o'clock in the evening, Monday to Friday. Other said it could perhaps be due to the adjustment of classes of the school. We will monitor that place next month. But our neighbor in this corner, Pareng Romy Teruel, raised the concern over the traffic congestion in J.A. Clarin Street going to the ICM especially around 5 o'clock in the afternoon. This is one area where all the vehicles have to collide in that hour of the day for vehicles going to Corella, from the Bohol Wisdom School and going to the ICM passing through J.A. Clarin Street from the downtown area. We also notice the traffic congestion being brought about by the Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School in downtown area during peak hours. The Bohol Island State University (BISU) has made two (2) gates along CPG Avenue. This part of CPG Avenue from the Holy Spirit School up to corner going to the University of Bohol is now where the traffic congestion is a problem during peak hours.

* * * * *

POSTSCRIPT: The Christmas season is about to give the family a time to bond with each other. So for this Christmas day, we shall give a break to mark the nativity of Christ together with our family as we also prepare for a better and prosperous 2014, the Year of the Horse.…There's more when we return.