All of us have our own set of problems. They maybe related to money, work, marriage, love or a myriad of other struggles. As we go through life, there are more thorns than roses that we meet along the way. To survive in this harsh environment, one has to have a resolute determination to persevere and prevail. We see survivors in our midst but oftentimes we fail to recognize them nor appreciate what they are. One great survivor is Division Superintendent Cerie Bolos, who has withered at least 3 provincial governors and several stormy years as head of the DepEd in Bohol . Bohol governor Erico Aumentado is a master in surviving political challenges, and has stayed undefeated for several long years in public service. And finally, -we have in City Mayor Dan Lim a consummate survivor, who despite several political setbacks now holds sway at the city hall. Likewise, DOTC Asst. Secretary Joe Torralba who will be Lirn's formidable opponent come May 14. Torralba, is a known survivor whose hold at city hall ended only when his last term expired. Expect therefore, a battle royale of survivors when two determined protagonists match up for the mayorship in the coming polls. Whoever survives should be known henceforth as the Ultimate Survivor.

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We wish to congratulate Bohol 's new judges whose appointments were recently released by Malacañang. These new judges are almost all quite young, and they have many years of challenging work ahead of them. Kudos to Judge Bing Migrino - Mende, Akong Bautista, San Biliran and Laebeth Varquez, among others. We shall name all of them in our next column. At the same time, we also sympathize with our friends who failed to get appointed. It is quite painful to be nominated, only to be frustrated in the end. But as the saying goes win some, lose some. Maybe, just maybe, other opportunities will come not necessarily in the judiciary for our unlucky friends.

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By the way, we don't know if the so - called 45-day ban is applicable to all public works projects during the election period. But if we are right, then the contractor or subcontractor working on our city streets has to do something fast. As it is, its still a chaotic city road out there with a lot of no entries, and no parking signs. And the wide open manholes, which are all over the city, should be now covered as it poses constant danger to both pedestrian and motorist

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Gospel quote: "To everything there is a reason, a time for every purpose under the heavens." Ecclesiastes 3"1