Among the many positive traits of the Bolanon, none is more unique and endearing than his fabled attachment to his home province. Wherever the Bolanon casts his fate, no matter how long he’s away, he will always find the time to visit and a reason to revisit, timed usually during a fiesta celebration.
This homing instinct has been the subject of many Bolanon jokes, but far from embarrassing the Boholano into changing his ways, they have only reinforced his deep need to come back to his roots.
Tigum Bolanon sa Tibuok Kalibutan taps into this collective Boholano passion through a grand homecoming every three years. Under its current leadership, the TBTK has been celebrated twice and is gunning up for a grander third fete on July 14-26, this year. With the assurance of the province’ governor:Honorable Governor Erico B. Aumentado, you can be assured this will be the best ever in the history of Bohol.
The past two TBTKs under the leadership of chairman Betty Veloso-Garcia have been resounding successes, really coming into its own in 2003 when it gained notice in media and given a boost by the Department of Tourism. As a result, attendance more than doubled from the previous tigum, with Boholano immigrants coming in from as far as Africa and the Scandinavian countries to revel in the festivities.
One of the major components of the TBTK , Garcia had conceived in 2003 was the invitation of the schools and universities to hold a school reunion. Since then, alumni homecoming by Bohol’s institutions of learning are part of the celebration, so timed around to ensure maximum alumni presence.
TBTK ’09 is taking shape to become an even bigger and better tigum, thanks to the inspired leadership of tireless Betty Garcia, who, while steering TBTK, must also juggle a demanding job as a nurse in a New York hospital and mothering her family, to say nothing of her other commitments in various civic projects.
“If TBTK ’09 becomes a bigger success, it would largely be due to the good work put in by so many, like committed Bolanons Liklik Schroeder here in the US as over-all coordinator , Rose Soy who, despite leading busy lives, were only too willing to push TBTK,” BAMMI,Inc. , president Genju Lapez and chairman Bernie Calibo, and all the different country coordinators and most of all the different committees of the major events such as TOBAW ( The Outstanding Boholano Around The World) sponsored by FCB, Miss Bohol International – JCI –Chocolate Hills lady Jaycees, Mrs. Bohol International, Youth Activities by SK’s,etc. says Madame Chair.
What makes this year’s tigum grander in scope is the projected presence of Boholano immigrants from Europe, particularly Germany, which has a fairly big and vibrant Boholano community.
Betty combed two continents last year to sell TBTK and what she discovered only verified what’s been surmised all along: that in many nooks and corners of the world, even in its farthest reaches, there inhabits a homesick Bolanon.
“Most, if not all, of the Boholano expatriates she met in Europe pined for home. They welcomed the TBTK concept and promised to visit this year,” says Betty.
Those homesick paisanos, some of whom had been away for decades, are what will spell the difference in TBTK ’09.
A splash of European color and pageantry comes to this year’s tigum. A contingent from Bonn, Germany is readying an eye popping piece of entertainment to spice the festivities. What exactly it is, Rolf and Rosemarie (Marapao) Bruening, (Rosemarie- President of Boholano Community- Europe) the purveyors of this surprise under wraps, are not elaborating beyond saying that its called_”DREAMS”. Bohol’s VIP’s and officials will be part of this production so please save the date, July 22 at the Verdant Pavilion of the Panglao Island Resort in Bingag, Dauis Bohol.
Aspects of past tigums remain, such as the twin beauty tilts open to visiting balikbayans and locals who have what it takes to wield a scepter and crown. New York nurse Inday Sarabosing Parras, the reigning Mrs. Bohol International will be on hand to relinquish her title to a rightful successor , who will luxuriate in an overnight stay at the ultra exclusive Eskaya Resort as part of their winnings, courtesy of owner Richard and Phoebe Lim while homegrown Loida Tiza Lagonoy, Miss Bohol International ’06, will surrender cape, sash and crown to another Boholana beauty .
TBTK is unique in that its highlight actually takes place on the first day of the festivities which is, tadaaaaaa! a visit in Malacanang, hopefully to clink glasses with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In the 2006 tigum, the balikbayan callers failed to see the president who had to honor a previous commitment somewhere. Nevertheless, the visitors were given a tour of the palace which warmed the hearts of the Bolanons with the knowledge that one of their own – Carlos P. Garcia – had once lived in that great corridor of power by the Pasig. T hanks to Congressman Edgar Chatto , 1st District Representative who made the homecomers felt likeVIP’s. Congressman Jala and congressman Cajes collaborated in all festivities too.
The theme of TBTK ‘09 is Green Bohol in keeping with the global spirit of nature conservancy and awareness of the world’s threatened eco systems. Fittingly, the event will have Honorable Jose Lito Atienza, the secretary of the Department of Environment and natural resources, as honorary chairman and honorary vice chairman is another pride of Bohol- Lani Schoof.
Something new at the TBTK ’09 festivities is an eco tour of Bohol for the environmentally correct and curious that will provide a glimpse of how our province is doing its bit in conserving nature. Many will be impressed.
Also for eco crusaders and the fit and the able, a massive tree planting aimed to rejuvenate Bohol’s soon-to-be arboreally challenged countryside made victim by fast creeping urban sprawl.
Apart from the above, TBTK ’09 remains basically what it is: a perfect personal or family getaway, an occasion to nourish the bonds of families and relations, to reinvigorate, to reawaken wonderful memories and perhaps for some, to stoke their inner Boholano fire deadened by the dailiness of life abroad.
Otherwise, if nothing else, taking in the multiple delights of Bohol’s sun, sea, sand, air and great cordiality is reason enough to go.
So, Bolanons of the world, manguli gajud ‘tang tanan karong July 14-26 for TBTK ’09! Plan and book now.
The global economic meltdown? All the more reason to go. There should be no price tag on the joys to be derived at our big homecoming. The quiet affirmation of our relationsips with families and friends as we gather in boisterous reunions, the way we bask in the safety and warmth of our province and people, the general good time that awaits us, all these are inquantifiable and priceless. For everything else, there is of course, our Mastercards, speaking of which, do take comfort in the fact that the Philippines is one of the few remaining places in the world where you can still get a big bang out of your dollar, euro or yen.
Fretting won’t turn a weakened economy around. So go before it can get any, uh, worse and get happy at the TBTK!
