Boholanos from around the world have gathered in full strength in the province to savor all the exciting events and festivities prepared by the city and provincial government with an international group of Boholano expats, led by New York-based nurse Betty Veloso-Garcia. This reunion of Boholanos is called Tigum Bol-Anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan(TBTK) and comes only once every three years. This year’s TBTK included an audience with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will fly in Tagbilaran on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 to join “Bohol Day”. The rest of the activities include local and international job fairs, medical missions, mass confirmations, beauty contests, reunions of families, clans and institutions, eco-tours and cultural happenings under the “Sandugo Festival.” This year’s theme, “Green Bohol,” expresses their deep appreciation for the rich natural bounties the province has been blessed amid the threats posed by climate change.
Meanwhile, a nationally known newspaper journalist confessed that as a confirmed city mouse, as she called Tagbilaran, she has been in awe not only of the beauty of the province that has been blessed by nature but also about how, in the last three TBTK, the Boholanos have demonstrated an incredible solidarity as the reunion becomes bigger and bigger. The writer said she cannot think of any other province exhibiting this kind of bonding between local and foreign-based folks.
