Bigger, grander ‘Sandugo sa Bohol’ 2024

By Elvira C. Bongosia

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — This year’s Sandugo sa Bohol promises to be bigger and grander with 160 activities scheduled to happen over the next three months starting June 15 and culminating on Aug. 31.

“Under the directive of Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte, this year’s festivities have expanded to eight from last year’s six streams to encourage participation in the festival that seeks to define what it means for every Boholano,” said Sandugo sa Bohol 2024 co-chairperson for streams and supervising administrative officer of the Provincial Government of Bohol, Metodio Maraguinot Jr.

During the Kapihan sa PIA, Maraguinot said the lineup of activities this year have been clustered into Pasiuna with the provincial government organizing the Sandugo Ball on the evening before the Street Dancing Competition.

This is expected to become a traditional gathering of partners, including the Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines as a showcase of friendship.

The “Bantawan,” or the festival ground, which will be staged at the Old Tagbilaran Airport, is the largest stream.

The “Tabo” will feature exhibits and fairs through the Bohol Economic Development and Placement Office, while “Tigi,” for sports and games, will be spearheaded by the Provincial Youth Development Office.

“There will be 32 sports and gaming events spread across the municipalities,” said Maraguinot.

The “Tapok,” which will be mainly for the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan, will be spearheaded by the Provincial Human Resource Management and Development Office.

Meanwhile, the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office will take the helm for “Baras” highlighting the conduct of the Geotrail appreciation activity in recognition of the province being the first and only UNESCO Global Geopark in the Philippines.

The Medical Outreach Unit of the Governor’s Office and the Provincial Health Office will facilitate the “Atiman” or outreach activities such as dental care and tree growing.

The Center for Culture and the Arts will spearhead “Bibo” comprising major activities such as the Street Dancing Competition, Miss Bohol 2024, as well as music and visual arts activities.

Maraguinot said the more active participation of private partners or Event Organizing Partners is another noteworthy development for this year’s festival, especially in terms of spending for Sandugo.

He said that in the case of “Tigi,” which has 32 events, the cost of staging the events will reach P32M, but the provincial government is only spending P7.9M.

Sandugo sa Bohol 2024 was officially launched on March 25 in Loay town following Resolution No.4 series of 2005 issued by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines that recognizes that the blood compact between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna happened in Loay.

This forms part of the Strategic Change Agenda under the Aumentado-Balite administration that emphasizes the complementation and synchronization of public and private initiatives to achieve collective impact with the objective of holistic, inclusive, transformative and institutional growth for each generation.

The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Bohol that commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

During the Kapihan sa PIA, Sandugo sa Bohol 2024 co-chair for streams and supervising administrative officer of Bohol provincial government, Metodio Maraguinot Jr. (right), said this year’s Sandugo sa Bohol festivities have expanded to eight from last year’s six streams to encourage participation in the festival that seeks to define what it means for every Boholano. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)