THE MONTH OF JULY is the Big One.This  is because  our dearly  beloved ones, kins, relatives and friends will be coming home for the grand reunion of Boholanos.

It is not just for  the immensely popular Tigum Bolanon sa Tibook Kalibutan, but  this year is also bannered as “Visit Bohol 2015.” And everyone has been encouraged to invite friends from other provinces and countries to come. The “balikbayan” program, therefore, is really  worth revisiting as it envisions each Filipino to “Bring Home-a-Friend”.

The hearts of all Boholanos are already in high spirits- anxious to  show that traditional Bol-anon  hospitality  we all are known  for as those family and class reunions abound  and we fondly rekindle  the camaraderie of Boholanos bonding  among paisanos who may  not have seen each other for ages.

We hope that this episode will  be far more merrier and joyous – considering that the days in July are dotted with well -prepared activities which will make each day of their homecoming meaningful. The Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. is extending its print and broadcast reach for these Boholanos to get  regular updates of  the “happenings” this July.

But first things first.  We  owe it to our beloved visitors that we check and put order to our airport and piers which will manifestly create  the first visual  impressions on  our visitors.

Its a sad note, of course,  that the new terminal at the City Port will still be completed only in September and the emergency ramp of the Tagbilaran City Airport is still delayed for two months. How can we mitigate these given drawbacks at least for July?

We cross our fingers (and hope to God)  that there will be no plane  stalled at the runway otherwise we can hear the loudest grumbling from our visitors – heard across the globe- who would not accept serious inconveniences like a cancelled flight because of a small runway which can only accommodate one plane at a time.

Just an idea-  but can the city government or any private establishment   perhaps  provide uniforms to accredited tricycle drivers who will be at the ports of entry during this month of July?  That aside -we  expect that our drivers, tour guides, attendants in restaurants and hotels will put their best foot forward to every visitor and guest.

The most  important thing is, of course, the peace and order condition in the province and the  city. We already heard of  some folks abroad avoiding coming  home as they hear of widespread killings here.   But what is not known to them is that more than 60% of these killings involve drug personalities who are out in a violent turf  war over the drug trade.

In the latest random survey conducted by top-rated weekly program “Radyo Merkado” of dyRD yesterday, 92.5% of the respondents said they don’t mind this slow  elimination by assassination of drug personalities. However, they were quick to say that -it does not, however,  justify that the authorities just allow  the “takers of lives” go  scot-free just because the murders  are drug related.

In the city alone, from January to date, five of the seven killings were “unfinished drug business”.  One was due to land dispute and the other was  a traffic accident. Of the  rampant shooting incidents since January four of the five were drug -based.  The high incidence of killings due to drugs simply shows that drug trafficking is rampant in the city up these recent  days despite the presence of a top drug buster PNP Prov’l Director Dennis Agustin, a remarkable police director with an unprecedented aversion to the drug trade and their players.

But on  the lighter side of things, Bohol will be honored to be the venue of the first performance of the El Gamma  Penumbra, the recent champion of “Asia’s Got Talent”  set on July 27, the day after the colorful Sandugo street dancing which will present the unique mardi gras of dance steps projecting the true spirit of community  friendship.

Agri fair, beauty pageant,  and trade fair are among the activities lined up in gay abandon from the 19th to the  27th of this festive July. Of course, the grand welcome for allbalikbayans and the “Grand Awards Night ” of The Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) will be highlights of this colorful gathering of kindred spirits.

For one major plus-the balikbayans will finally note with their own eyes- the first  concrete step  done on the decades-old dream of a new Bohol International  Airport coming to fruition in Panglao.

All in all , therefore, July will be a month to mark the joy of togetherness, the earnest of being Boholano brothers just separated by physical distance and a common yearning to be near and cuddling those we joyfully call our own.Hala Bira!

For comments: email to dejarescobingo@yahoo.com or bohol-rd@mozcom.com