By VEN C. ARIGO

Gov. Edgar Chatto has enjoined the local government units (LGUs) to this year's Sandugo festivities as a sentimental, lively showcase of recovery and adorable culture truly befitting of Bohol's stature. The provincial government for the first time heads the month-long annual festival every July in lead partnership with Tagbilaran City government and Provincial Tourism Council (PTC). The governor presented to the mayors in their meeting at the Governor's Mansion on Friday the initial discussions on the enriched traditional features and proposed new highlights of the celebration. He invited the mayors to lead their LGUs' participation to different fairs and activities as he is also bent on generating the support of the private sector, including the academe and business community. Chatto chairs the Bohol Sandugo 2014 Executive Committee with City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II as co-chair and PTC chairman lawyer Lucas Nunag as executive director.

Closely working with the executive director are Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II and City Administrator Leonides Borja, who are the respective provincial and city coordinators of the festival. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Sangguniang Panlungsod which are presided over by Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, respectively, are fully behind the new triumvirate handling Sandugo. What should have been Bohol's signature festival had observably steadily lost substance and luster in past editions under the baton of the Sandugo Foundation until recent efforts to revive its life and glow. There were allegations of corruption and lack of---if not neglect for---accounting of public funds entrusted to the foundation, thereby plastering on its face a credibility question.

The organizers now, and even members of committees in past celebrations, intend to make this year's Sandugo a better version that lays the basis for future spectacles truly deserving of a red date in the calendar of Philippine festivals. Also sitting in the new executive committee are Loreto Palapos of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Deo Butawan of Bohol Bankers Association, Marianito Luspo from the culture and arts sector, Peter Dejaresco of the Bohol Tri-Media Association, Romy Tagaan of capitol's Council for Culture and Arts Development, and Drs. Wilfreda Bongalos and Evangel Luminarias of the DepEd Bohol and Tagbilaran City Divisions, respectively. Apart from the mardi gras or streetdancing, which is set on July 27, major activities and nightly events as the month-long festival runs have been identified or proposed in initial discussions.

These include the Miss Bohol Sandugo, agri/food fair, product showcase, City Charter Day, Bohol Day, encounter of PBA legends and former stars, and the proposed full-length episode here of ABS-CBN's popular Showtime hosted by Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis and Vhong Navarro. The crowned Sandugo queen can be hailed as an official “Ambassadress of Bohol Recovery.” As initially discussed, nightly presentations are assigned to BAHRR, PTC, DepEd, SMB, Coca-Cola, ICM, BQ, balikbayan, bankers, Smart/Globe, Du Ek Sam, LGUs, school/colleges/universities. There will also be “Bohol Aim Global Night.” There are plans to revive the Bohol pop music festival, launch the first-ever Sandugo selfie contest to enhance promotion via social media, and design and launch the festival's official logo. Nunag proposed the Sandugo as the launching pad for the “Visit Bohol 2015” campaign and to designate a “tourism street” in the city during the whole month festivities. Limited streetdancing contingents are expected because of time constraint as Boholanos have been confined to rehabilitation efforts after the great earthquake. But event organizers are seeing the stunning resilience and resolve of the Boholanos to rise, move on and create an image greater than before as a motivation to show their best.