Aussie envoy guest at 161st Bohol Day
The original Boholano concept of gathering balikbayans in a weeklong event reels off as the province observes her 161st Foundation Day today, marking its independence from Cebu. Today is declared by Malacanang as a special non-working public holiday.
The Sandugo Festival enters its peak with Day 1 of the “Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan”(TBTK) which is the grand reunion of Boholanos from all over the globe. Although class and family reunions started last week, the homecomers will gather at the various activities lined up this week.
Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell is the keynote speaker during the Bohol Day commemorative program at the Bohol Cultural Center at 9 this morning which will be covered live over dyRD-AM (Worldwide).
Today’s founding day banners the theme “Celebrating Boholano Unity and Progress Around the World” as the spirit of unity and hospitality still reverberates from the recently concluded biennial convention of the Confederation of Boholanos in the United States and Canada (CONBUSAC) held two weeks ago in New Jersey, USA.
Gov. Edgar Chatto who graced the affair will lead today’s Bohol Day celebration which kicks off with a Thanksgiving Mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral at 7:15 this morning.
Earlier at 5 o’clock this morning, a walk and run for the Bohol Countryside Development Program or Purok Power Movement. In 33 municipalities, a simultaneous tree planting activity was held early this morning.
The balikbayans, from abroad and those from the various provinces will given a grand welcome dinner at the Bohol Tropics this evening hosted by the provincial and city governments.
Ambassador Tweddell and Gov. Chatto will lead during the road hand over and inauguration of the PRMF Road in barangay Hinawanan, Loay town at 2:00pm. An hour later will be the launching of the Bohol CDP-PPM pocket forest site in barangay Katipunan, Carmen town.
As part of today’s kick off of TBTK, the 100 exhibitors of various products will be seen at The Block of the Island City Mall for the much awaited Trade Expo.
Tonight will be the first night of the International Fusion Nights at Plaza Rizal.
On Friday night is the Mrs. Bohol International Beauty Pagent 2015 at the Bohol Cultural Center. The candidates areMrs. Aileen Pasagad, Municipality of Bilar; Mrs Fe Dapusala, Tagbilaran City; Mrs Ivy Helbert, New York, USA; Mrs. Ian Sep Suaybaguio, Chocolate Hills Lady Jaycees; Mrs. Lucia Banac, Makilala North Cotabato, Mrs. Ruby Porter, Anda Organization in Manila; Mrs. Sheba Virginia, Filipino Organization of Kuwait, Mrs. Edith Rose Santos, Circulo Boholano de Cebu.
The Bohol Sandugo Music Festival is booked on Saturday evening at the Bohol Cultural Center, Tickets at P50 only and P200 (with free CD of the 10 finalist songs).
The colorful Sandugo street dancing is all set on Sunday from Plaza Rizal to the CPG Sports Complex.
As part of the Sandugo and TBTK activities is the awards night of The Outstanding Boholanos Around The World (TOBAW) at the Bohol Tropics.
The 2015 TOBAW awardees are Dr. Maria Juliet Canete-Ceniza (Agriculture), Prof. Leo Antonio Calceta Abaya (Arts-Film and Visual), Luciano Telmo Pamaong, Jr. (Arts-Fashion Design), Dr. Jose Veloso Abueva (Education), Atty Virgilio Loquellano Mendez (Law), Dr. Nicanor Kamantigue Lopez (Medicine), Edgardo Casiguran Inngking (Military), and Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza (public service).
On the same night is the much publicized El Gamma Penumbra show at the Bohol Wisdom School. El Gamma Penumbra which Asia’s Got Talent champ is a shadow play group. They will perform with the Loboc Children’s Choir. Tickets at P200, P500, P1,000 and P1,500 are still on sale at selected outlets.