The Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) is a history of a people whose longing for each other reduces the world to an island-province in every three years. Scattered across the globe, Boholanos do always yearn for home again, like spring-fresh reappearing leaves after each autumn and fall. So how has this “always” since found constancy in a triennial grand once called TBTK? The idea of a global reunion, grandest homecoming of Boholanos was conceived when then governor and now First District Rep. Rene Relampagos graced the convention of the Confederation of Boholanos in the USA and Canada (CONBUSAC) in Texas, USA in 1997.

Gov. Edgar Chatto was then the vice governor. Relampagos invited CONBUSAC to hold its next biennial assembly, which was to happen in 1999, in Bohol. The group holds convention in every two years. It was at the same time suggested to hold in Bohol the organization’s succeeding every other convention. Obviously because CONBUSAC strictly involves Boholano organizations in the US and Canada, many member groups preferred their gatherings traditionally within the two countries. Unwittingly, and a blessing in disguise, this had reinforced the TBTK concept. The CONBUSAC used to call its biennial conventions “Tigum Bol-anon,” to which the phrase “sa Tibuok Kalibutan” was added as a most precise name for a grand homecoming of Boholanos from around the world.

While CONBUSAC is the umbrella union of US and Canada Boholanos, the TBTK is a global Boholano movement providing a venue for the “mother of all Boholano reunions” right in their home province once in three years. TBTK chairperson Ma. Elizabeth “Betty” Veloso-Garcia said it is just thus fair to give CONBUSAC the credit as having “preluded” the TBTK. Based in New Jersey, Garcia herself is a CONBUSAC pillar. Meanwhile, the CONBUSAC held its 1999 biennial convention in Bohol in response to the invitation of the provincial government under then Gov. Relampagos and Vice Gov. Chatto. Done in the Sandugo month of July, it was a two-in-one event because it was also the launching, first edition of the TBTK. It was a historic CONBUSAC-TBTK affair. It was a significant achievement despite its yet limited participation by the Boholano expatriates from the North American continent and the Philippines thru the locals.

Dr. Nick Lopez, an uncle of Relampagos, was then the elected CONBUSAC president and had simultaneously served as the TBTK interim chairman. Garcia was first elected TBTK president in the second Bohol staging of the triennial get-together spectacle, the TBTK in 2003, during which the governor was already Erico Aumentado. She was the CONBUSAC convention overall coordinator, too, while the confederation’s president was Bernardo Mag-aso. Chatto, then already a congressman, facilitated in that edition the first TBTK courtesy call at Malacañang. He has in fact been instrumental to how far has TBTK gone now. The TBTK has since amazingly gained momentum as more Boholano groups in Asia, Middle East, Europe, Australia, other distant foreign lands and provinces in the country got involved in what is now a trending Philippine phenomenon in provincial homecoming.

It has gone more innovative and multi-concern conscious after every passing edition while institutionalizing such major highlights as the Ten Most Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) Awards, Mrs. and Miss Bohol International, tourism and investment forum, and family-clan, school and inter-school reunions that sow seeds of intergenerational bloom. The fifth TBTK this May of 2012 is unprecedented for being the first ever held in Bohol’s fiesta month when Boholanos’ attachment to their province is more pronounced. All past four TBTKs were celebrated during the Sandugo festivities in July. Further because of the summer vacation, Boholanos from as many parts of the country come together with their families, including children who have no classes. Homecomers from the USA, Canada and even Europe take advantage of lesser plane fare in this season.

The launching of the province’s new tourism slogan, “Bohol: Heart of the Islands, Truly Philippines,” graced by DOT Sec. Jimenez at the Manila Hotel on May 7, which was followed by Malacañang’s warm reception to the TBTK group, provided the TBTK 2012 a most telling pre-opening salvo. The TBTK has been recognized by top tourism officials in the country for trailblazing the Philippine homecoming campaign. The Department of Tourism (DOT) partnered with the TBTK in having Filipino expatriates bring more foreign visitors to the Philippines as a result of a Bohol tourism forum with Chatto, then tourism committee chair in Congress, at the Philippine Center in New York in 2002. In the 2009 TBTK, which was themed Green Bohol, no less than former Manila mayor and then Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Lito Atienza came and led the TBTK tree planting. He was conferred a TBTK honorary chairmanship. Atienza was so impressed that he asserted that the TBTK “is probably unmatched by any regular homecoming in the Philippines.”

In a Philippine celebration also in New York in 2011, then DOT Sec. Alberto Lim met with Chatto and Garcia and sealed an agreement magnifying TBTK as a model for the Balik Pilipinas program of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III. While TBTK is Boholanos’ prescription for homesickness, it is not just about the balikbayans rediscovering their cherished homeland, reawakening memories, retracing roots, and nourishing bonds, according to Garcia. It provides precious chances for the local government units, educational institutions, business community and even the religious sector to showcase development approaches, best initiatives and practices, and the strength of faith when Boholanos converge. It opens critical partnerships on initiatives that enhance economic growth, raise investments, encourage technology transfer and sharing of skills, generate jobs and livelihood, and advance solidarity and spirituality, among others. The TBTK fosters genuine concern for the homeland by having the expatriates the opportunity to link with local groups in combating poverty and other modes of deprivation. It is a strategy helping organize homeland Boholano lives better. TBTK. Because Bohol for always reminds of the reason why there are Boholanos. TBTK. Because it is their boundless way of telling Bohol “For you I will.” Ven rebo Arigo)