What could be considered as a side trip turned out to be a 5-day exchange of brotherhood, fraternity and friendship. Such was the experience of the Galleon Andalucia and her crew when they set foot at the Tubigon shores. The Spanish crew of the wooden vessel made some friendship with the locals and visitors alike and felt themselves at home in Tubigon and sunk themselves in the local culture as if blending in was just an instinct for them. A town which has been considered as only a passage way in Northern Bohol transcended to a major tourist destination in just a matter of five days. Tubigon was fortunate to be chosen by the Galleon Andalucia as one of her favored ports of call.

This event was aimed to chronicle the five-day stay of Galleon Andalucia and crew in the beautiful town of Tubigon. It was a fine sunny day when they arrived in Tubigon welcomed by a festive mood and revelry depicting a bountiful harvest of the farming town. Tubigon's prolific cultural group the Lungsuranon Performing Arts Ensemble (LUPAE) and drum and bugle corps from various schools in Tubigon set the tone and mood of the welcome reception, together with LGU officials headed by Mayor William Jao, employees and well wishers. A short welcome program followed next highlighting the presentation of a bounty basket to the expedition's captain, Manolo Murube. Shortly thereafter, the crew were treated to an arrival lunch and a welcome gala dinner was hosted by the Tubigon LGU officials and department heads with the prolific Lungsoranon Performing Arts staging a full cultural show and the WRJ Band providing jazzy and modern music.

On the second day, the public viewing of the galleon started with thousands of sightseers coming from the municipality , visitors from nearby towns and passing commuters from Cebu. While the exhibit went on, the rest of the crew were treated to the unique Tubignon hospitality by touring them to different historic and beauty spots in Tubigon like the St. Isidore Parish Church, Tubigon Loomweaving Center, Dumog Islet and a lot more. The public viewing went on the third and fourth day drawing thousands of crowds even under the threat of occasional rainfall. On the evening of the 30 th was another night of a great celebration and merrymaking since the town mayor,, Engr. Jao celebrated his birthday on the occasion of the despidida party for the Andalucia crew. Again, music and dancing filled the Matabao Beach Resort, located in a barangay in Tubigon, as Gov. Edgar Chatto joined in to say his farewell to the crew. The last day was truly an emotional day as the Tubignons joined the send-off of the galleon as she set her sails to her next port of destination, Maasin, Leyte. By: Raymond Delgado, MPIO Designate