Some overseas Boholanos, like Mrs. Liklik Gallares – Shroeder and Eve Calceta, long time residents in Northern California’s Bay Area, the Sumodobila family now based in Houston,Texas and Mrs. Rosemary Marapao-Bruening, a Nurse in Germany with husband, Rulf. are now in Bohol at this early. Representing the early birds or first batch of Boholano balikbayans who are returning home for the big event, scheduled this July 14-26,2009 – the 4th TBTK Global Homecoming. The Bruenings, spearheading a big delegation of the Boholanos In Europe, will present a gala -dinner titled: Dream, at the Verdan Pavillion of Panglao Island Nature Resort on July 22, a Wednesday.
For spouses Ric Borja and Anita Taghap as well as their four children: Mike,Rian,Milvian, and Myla, tagging along four grandkids, the Borja family will be homeward bound this Sunday. Taking that Korean Airline flight from the JFK International Airport in New York, all the way to the domestic airport in Tagbilaran.. Looking forward to their 2nd TBTK participation and meeting with the local folks. Mrs. Borja, who is the incumbent President of the Bohol Circle Eastern USA, said that about 25 members of their group will be arriving in Bohol to be part of the medical mission they will conduct in Dampas,Tagbilaran and in Bilar town, respectively, for two days. Bohol Circle Eastern,USA will also donate a check amounting $1,300.00, for the construction of one housing- unit, to the Gawad-Kalinga Housing project in Totolan,Dauis Bohol
In the US alone, per telephone survey, planeloads of Boholanos will be going home this July for the 12 day TBTK gathering. According to Alger Ibarra residing in the Bay Area, about fifty delegates and their families from the Boholanos in Northern California answered the call to be part of the TBTK revelry.
In a related development, Bobong Olario said that about 75 -100 members of the Tagbilaran Association of Southern California, headed by Dr. Anita Cal-Jackson as President, have already applied for paid-time off(PT0) from their workplaces, to be able to fly home next month. Mr. Olario, who is coordinating the TBTK International Derby promotion to be held on July 18, a Saturday, at the Baclayon Cockpit Arena, made mention that so far, about 80 cockfight aficionados at home, in the Philippines and abroad, have already signed up for the International Derby.
As liaison to his brother, Ret. Gen. Abet Olario, who is the newly elected President of the Holy Name University Alumni Association, Mr. Olario said that a TBTK Balikbayan Basketball Team is formed to play an exhibition game against the HNU/DWC Alumni Team, bannered by former varsity players of the school. As preliminary game of the main event, pitting movie stars headed by Boholano actor, Cesar Montano versus the Bohol Chronicle/DYRD team, the top commercial team in Tagbilaran.
The Circulo Boholano in Illinois, under President Lilia Cumba, will also be fielding forty delegates to the TBTK gathering in Bohol. While about fifteen members from the Sandugo Eastern,USA, headed by President Bobong Dejaresco, will too pack up their bags and once again savor the sweetness of home sweet home. Latest e-mail report from Sylvia Fortich, PRO of the Tagbilaran Asso. of Southern California, Inc., there are 15-20 of them who will be attending the TBTK and be home in Bohol next month.
Adding heightened excitement to the Global homecoming of Boholanos, according to
TBTK Chairperson Mrs. Betty Veloso-Garcia, are the scheduled Class Reunions and Homecomings of schools, colleges, and universities, whose sons and daughters represent the Filipino diaspora, Overseas Contract Workers, Overseas Filipino Workers, as well as the Kaliwat ni Dagohoy and Sikatuna in foreign lands. Mrs. Garcia, a Nurse working in a New York hospital, for one, is an alumna of our local schools as Holy Spirit School in Elementary, Divine Word College in High School, Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing, where Betty obtained her Registered Nurse Associate Degree, and the University of Bohol, where she holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, respectively. All these schools are opening their gates wide open to a grand-homecoming, to jibe with the TBTK July calendar. What more, family gatherings, clan reunions and town fiestas become one moment in time affair. When long-lost friends and relatives renew ties and acquaintances. Reliving the good old days, the happy memories that once were shared back home in familiar places and tranquil surroundings.
Even the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will meet the arriving Boholano balibayans in her official residence at the Malacanang Palace, on day one, July 14, a Tuesday, at the nation’s capital of Manila. The theme of the 4th TBTK Global Homecoming which is about Environment Awareness, Conservation and Protection, is given support by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) under Secretary Lito Atienza. Sec. Atienza, will lead all Boholanos in a Tree Planting drive province-wide, scheduled on July 25, a Saturday. So also the Department of Tourism, under Sec. Ace Durano, is endorsing the TBTK as a model in our tourism campaign for other provincial communities to follow.
