Bohol Institute of Technology-International College perform of the street during the Sandugo 2014 in Tagbilaran City.(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Tagbilaran City — This year’s Sandugo Festival in Bohol not only commemorated the blood compact between two important historic figures, it also showed that Boholanos have risen from the damage of last year’s 7.2-magnitude earthquake.
Bibeth Tongco, 40, said the festival unites Boholanos and magnifies the people’s resilience.
“Bisan naagian mi og linog kaniadto, wa gihapon mi napugngan nga maglipay-lipay,” she said. (The earthquake last year cannot prevent us from merrymaking.)
She said her hometown, Antequera in western Bohol, suffered heavy damage. Several schools, the municipal hall, and even the beautiful Mag-aso falls were destroyed.
“Hinay-hinay man among pagbangon pero nakabangon na gyud mi karon. Daghan man gud ang nagtinabangay,” said Tongco. (Our recovery maybe slow, but we are sure we can get back on our feet. We helped one another.)
Along with thousands of others, she stood by the streets of Tagbilaran City yesterday afternoon to witness the parade of contingents joining the street dancing competition.
Tongco, who watches every year, said she noticed that there are more people in this year’s parade.
Around 8,000 people occupying bleachers and standing on the open fields watched the performances of 12 dancing contingents at the city’s grand stand, unfazed by the overcast sky and light rain.
One spectator said it was the first time he saw that many people during the festival’s culmination.
With the theme “Kasadya, Kahiusa, Kalampusan,” the competition highlights the resilience and unity of Boholanos in the midst of calamities as seen in the dance performances.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said that the organizing committee, composed of the provincial government, the city government of Tagbilaran, and the Provincial Tourism Council, intends to make the event bigger next year.
“Unlike this year where we only prepared for less than two months, we have one whole year ahead of us for Sandugo 2015,” said Chatto.
Provincial Tourism Council Chairman and Sandugo 2014 Executive Director Lucas Nunag said that they plan to create an event that is more distinctly Bohol.
“With advanced planning, and perhaps better conceptualization, we are confident to make a bigger presentation,” he said.
Nunag said this will draw more tourists next year especially because the event coincides with the tri-annual event called “Tigum Bolanon Tibuuk Kalibutan,” a reunion of Boholanos from all over the world.
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