Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives Quezon City, Metro Manila HON. ARTHUR C. YAP Representative 3rd District, Bohol
Message First, let me congratulate the organizers of Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) 2015 for a laudable accomplishment of gathering as many Boholanos from different corners of the world as possible. Since 1999, TBTK has sustained the Boholano tradition of coming together. We are thankful to then governor of Bohol and now First District Congressman Rene Lopez Relampagos for igniting that silent longing in every Boholano to be able to have this kind of gathering. On July 24-27, 2015, the Provincial Government of Bohol, City Government of Tagbilaran, Diocese of Tagbilaran, and the Diocese of Talibon will host the reunion of Boholanos, the TBTK 2015 to remember in the years after. I can see that Dr. Neil RB Bonje, the chairman of TBTK 2015, maximized the edge from his base in Chicago, Illinois to unite Boholanos in all corners of the world and drew them to a grand homecoming. This triennial gathering of Boholanos from around the world has been a unifying force and has provided opportunity to trace each other’s roots and enliven the old stories as how they led to the latest building to rise in Bohol and a hypothesis of skyscrapers coming soon. We have counted on the organizations of Boholanos in different areas like the Confederation of Boholanos, United States and Canada, Inc. (CONBUSAC), Bohol Association of Metro Manila, Inc. (BAMMI), Boholano Organizations from other Countries, and Boholano Organizations from Philippine Provinces.
CONBUSAC has also been the push button, in a way, when projects back home need some boost like the animal dispersal program of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian called Passing-on the Gift. From few carabaos, CONBUSAC facilitated passing-on of the offspring made through artificial insemination from one family of farmers to another. CONBUSAC had also been instrumental in the birth of TBTK. I learned that it was during the sixth biennial convention of the group way back in 1999 in Houston, Texas when then governor of Bohol, Rene Relampagos, had the opportunity to invite CONBUSAC members to hold their next biennial Convention in Tagbilaran City, back home. That started the longing to “re-experience Bohol” through a global gathering called Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan. This time around, we have many stories to share about the calamities and how the province has risen from the ruins. Now, Bohol is positioning as a tourism haven of the Philippines. Boholanos from around the world, as they look forward to every TBTK coming in every three years, can bring the stories they heard back home with them. Which one has stricken you the most? Was it the damage from the earthquake or the damage from the typhoons? Or that urge born from those images, to change the course of fate inclined by tragedy. Investing here will answer that. Home is just waiting for you to start the stir. The vast idle lands and the pacing urbanization give the hint for Boholanos abroad to make every TBTK event more meaningful by making it an opportunity to scout for the growth area for investment. After an investment, coming home in future TBTK event will be different then. The beauty of Bohol is there underneath the highlights that stirred the excitement for Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan 2015--the Family Evening, Bohol International Gala, The Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW), Ms. Bohol International, and Mrs. Bohol International—a string of revelry, especially that TBTK coordinates with Sandugo organizers for the streetdancing..
Your partner in progress,
Rep. ARTHUR C. YAP Third District of Bohol