At the outset, the questions being posed here is not directed to Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap alone, lest we may be misinterpreted. It may be directed to the city mayor's advisers, consultants, those higher than them and to the city government in general. Exempted also from answering the questions is Atty. Lord R. Marapao IV who has claimed that he has not received any single centavo from the city government despite being a consultant therein. We pose these questions because in the press releases coming from the office of the city mayor, it pointed out that his administration is marked by transparency and “walay pihig-pihig”.

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Number one, how much did the city government generated from the operation of the city carnival as well as its surrounding eateries using the tents, tables and chairs of the city hall? We noticed that the city carnival stopped its operation last Friday. It is but proper for the city treasurer's office, headed by our kumare, Primitiva J. Ontong as OIC, to publish in the local newspapers how much did it receive from the operation of the city carnival and its surrounding eateries specifying the corresponding official receipts issued therein. In the spirit of transparency, we recommend that a statement of income be published for the information to all and sundry.

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Number two, how much did the Tagbilaran City Square pay to the city government so that it would not be padlocked? Until today, the Tagbilaran City Square, including its occupants, reported to be in total disarray as the city hall did not issue any permit for its operation, continue to operate unabated. According to the banner story of this paper last Sunday, the City Square “blinks” and chose to pay its taxes to the city hall. Our question is how much? City Councilor Alexander Lim and his news writers, in the first place, should know how much did the City Square paid.

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Number three, how much does this so-called “special contractor” of the P12-million city road project pay to the other bidders in order for it to win the project? Engr. Nilo Sarigumba, one of the bidders for the project, has already complained about the transactions involving this road project. Again, for all intents and purposes, the project must be published as well as the award of the project be printed in local newspapers so that the city hall will be freed from any suspicions of graft and corruption. Never mind publishing it on the city's website as it has not been finally completed and constructed until today. In the first place, we have to see this road project of the present dispensation. The road repair being done in the city was undertaken during the previous city hall administration.

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Finally, how much did the barangays in the city received from the city government for the street parade of the Saulog Festival here? By the way, there are three Saulog Festivals in the Philippines, one in Tanjay City, the other is in Zamboanga del Norte and now, in Tagbilaran City. For example, one barangay, whose punong barangay was identified with the city vice-mayor, complained that it received only P100,000 compared to the other barangays, whose punong barangays are the protégées of the city hall, received more. In the spirit of “walay pihig-pihig”, an explanation is in order why there is a difference in the amount being given to each barangay for the street dancing.

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Once again, we go back to the NBA playoffs. As we predicted, the Miami Heat enters into the semi-final round in the Eastern Conference via a 4-0 sweep against the Charlotte Bobcats owned by His Airness, Michael Jordan. We earlier predicted that the Miami-Charlotte series could go into Game 5 with a Miami win by 4-1. But our prediction miscalculated the defending champion's fire power. Time and again, we have to say better luck next year to the Chicago Bulls after losing to the Washington Wizards, 4-1. There are five quarterfinal rounds which will reach Game 7. Unfortunately, the top seeded in the East and the West Conferences are also included in the do-or-die games against the team in the last playoffs berth in their conference. They are (#1) San Antonio-Dallas (#8) and (#1) Indiana-Atlanta Hawks (#8). Finally, our salute to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for his decision to ban Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, from the NBA and fine him $2.5 million for his racist comments which generated reactions from the NBA players including that of US Pres. Barak Obama.

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POSTSCRIPT: The fiesta activities brought us the opportunity to meet our godparents, retired Gen. Joseph G. Sevilla and his wife, Marilou, both of whom looked like they never aged at all. Unfortunately, they raised a problem involving a construction right in front of their residence near the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) here which affected their right of way and that of their neighbors. The construction supposedly belonged to the Angan family, who claimed to have a close relationship with Gov. Hilario Davide II of Cebu. The construction did not display a demolition and building permits. We already contacted Engr. Teodoro Estoque, OIC of the Office of the Building Official in the city who promised us to defer the approval of its application and refer the matter to the committee on city planning headed by Councilor Adam Jala…There's more when we come back.