The grand homecoming of Boholanos next month is posing a challenge to the joint organizing groups to make every Sandugo event a resounding success while this year’s episode is carried under the banner of the “Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibook Kalibutan” (TBTK).
This was the identical statement issued by Gov. Edgar Chatto, City Mayor John Gessnell Yap and Sandugo Foundation Chairman Lucas Nunag during last Thursday’s “Meet The Press” of the Bohol Tri Media Association (BTMA) headed by Peter Dejaresco of the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. held at the Bohol Tropics.
Gov. Chatto assured every Boholano and visitors about  the warmth and the fun side of the activities lined up to sustain the festive mood during the entire duration of July known as the “Sandugo Festival” month. The festival kicks off this Wednesday with the holding of the 49th City Charter Day at the Bohol Cultural Center. Mayor Yap will deliver his second “State of the City Address” to mark the city’s charter day celebration.
In fact, the governor said the province is tapping all means to reach out the invitation to the Boholanos all over the world.
“We want this year’s TBTK not just a gathering of balikbayans abroad, but also of Boholanos who are now residing in different parts of the country,” Gov. Chatto stressed. He cited the recently launched radio program “Balik Bohol” of station dyRD which features presidents of various Boholano associations in the country, aside from those from abroad.
The Boholano hospitality trait is something that can seal real bonding during the Sandugo event,” he stressed.
For his part, Mayor Yap said the city will now be proud to welcome the homecomers with the much improved city roads which during the last TBTK generated mounting criticisms due to the poor road condition in the city. In fact, the balikbayans jokingly said TBTK means “tigum bol-anon busloton tanang kalsada” (reunion of Boholanos in a city with road potholes). This was during the incumbency of former Mayor Dan Lim who literally neglected the maintenance of the city roads.
The city mayor likewise assured the peace and order condition in the city as he qualified that the recent murder cases were perpetrated by and victimized only those involved in the drug trade.
“There was no mistaken identity nor an innocent bystander who got killed in the city,” the mayor said as he categorically claimed the “city is to remain peaceful.”
Sandugo Foundation Chair Nunag said preparations for the various events are on high gear particularly the Sandugo street dancing on July 26. The day after the mardi  gras, the El Gamma Penumbra will hold their first public performance after winning in the Asia Got Talent. They will perform together with the world acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir at the Bohol Wisdom School. Tickets are P200, P500, P1,000 and P1,500.
Other lined up activities: Agri Fair (July 13-17), Trade Expo (July 22-27), International Food Fusion (July 22-26), the Bohol Pop Music Festival (July 26), , Awards Night of The Outstanding Boholanos Around the World-TOBAW (July 27) while a grand TBTK welcome dinner will open the homecoming.
An art exhibit opens this July until September.
Last Thursday’s “Meet the Press” had local and national media in attendance, covered live over dyRD-AM and replayed on dyTR-AM, dyZD-AM and Bohol Community Cable TV (BCCTV). More Manila media are coming to cover the Sandugo events next month.