Wake-uppers:
 |
Mikey Gatal with his high school
classmates-Father Alberic
Bonje, Jorge Besa
and Roel Rosco. Courtesy:
Mikey Gatal
|
Scene: The 163rd Bohol Day
Governor's Awardees: Ambassador Fernando
"Ding" Borja (Diplomacy/International), Relations, Fr. Arnold Zamora
(Music), Atty. Ingemar Macarine (Advocate
for Environment/Long Distance Swimmer),
Carmen Gatal (Community Service) and Mr. and Mrs. John and Geesnell Yap
(Business). Special Citations: Dr. Jeong Taek Lee, Country Director, Korea
Project for International Agriculture (KOPIA) and Engr. Tadashi Aoi , Project Manager, Japan
Airport Consultant.
Scene: The first “ToFarm
Film Festival” in Bohol on July 26-28, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The festival
features farmers, agriculture and bounties of nature. Contact BITGAP and KABOG
for direct purchase of tickets. Text 09172034705/09102450515/09277932406/09128109145/09332253163.
***
They’re
back again for the Sandugo.
The
Sandugo beat, hugs and smiles greeted
our balikbayans from abroad as early
as last week.
Pushing
a cart filled with baggage that includes “pasalubong” for his friends, US-based
socialite Mikey
Gatal
has been coming to Bohol and all for the Sandugo
festival.
“It
truly feels like home,” said Mikey who arrived with his mother Fely.
Aside
from the Sandugo, Mikey came for a
reunion with former high school classmates at Divine Word College High School
Batch 1987 which was held at Boffo Resort in Loon town.
 |
Mikey Gatal with his mom Fely. Courtesy: Mikey Gatal
|
He
said he plans to join the 2nd “Bangga sa Kuradang ug Subli sa Sandugo”
street-dance on Sunday.
Kuradang is dance during
social gatherings such as birthday, baptism, wedding and fiesta because of its
lively moves and the life it gives to the gatherings. It is dance with the
accompaniment of the rondalla that it makes kuradang flared, brisk and
romantic.
The
kuradang, a courtship dance, imitates
the playful "birig" or courting movements of the aggressive rooster
and coy hen.
Mikey
said although he visited some places he wants to explore more. He said he plans
to make a countryside tour. He said it never fails to amaze the towns for a
relaxing encounter with sight.
It
is, indeed, a time for milestone high school reunions.
According
to Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao-Gabin, overall coordinator of the Bohol National
High School (BNHS) Class of 1987, the 30th (Pearl) anniversary celebration on
July 21-22, 2017 anchored on the theme "Polished Over Time."
She
said Boholanos from different parts of the world came home not only to be with
their families, to attend weddings and to witness the Bohol Sandugo Festival, but to relive the 30
glorious years of their high school life.
 |
The Divine Word College-High School
Class of 1987 Pearl
reunion. Courtesy: Mikey Gatal
|
A
combination of "advocacy" and "lingaw-lingaw," the BNHS
Class of 1987 turned over to Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School principal
Virgilia Omictin P20,000 for the SpEd classroom ceiling repair from Pia
Madronero-Bongulto of San Diego, California, more than 600 K to 12 books for
the regular classes and more than 100 pairs of school shoes for the SpEd students
from the San Joaquin Kalawaan High School of the Pasig City Schools Division,
through Nicolasa Clarito-Enierga, and P10,000 worth of sports equipment.
Balikbayans who joined were Noel
Cericos and Doods Bullen from the United States, Annaliza Preciado-Yano and
Jadel Salazar-Karasawa from Japan and Jessica Vidal-Glyde from Australia.
Moreover,
Leo Madanguit, Rolland Clarete, and Clarissa Matela - Arado from the United
States got in town for their July 14-16, 2017 Divine Word College of Tagbilaran
30th year HS reunion, so with Paulino Biloy, Jr. from Hongkong, also for his
church wedding to Shirmie Cuadra last July 21, while Holy Spirit School
graduates Ma. Nerissa Virtusio - Clarete, Jacqueline Malanog - San Pedro, and
Rebeca dela Serna also from the United States, made it in time for their July
22-23, 2017 pearl anniversary reunion.
On
the other hand, those balikbayans
from the US also participated in their Holy Spirit School Elementary Class of
1983 gathering last July 20 at KEW Hotel in preparation for their grand 35th
anniversary reunion in 2018.
 |
The Holy Spirit Elem. Class of 1993 gathered
for their
reunion in preparation for their
big 30th event next year.
Courtesy: Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin
|
Boholano
movie actress and performer Leah Scarnet "Scarlet" Geulen-Boiser,
Bohol Quality Corporation CEO Raymond Ong, Tagbilaran City Community Hospital's
Rey Inting, accomplished Chicago, Illinois businessman Leo Madanguit, and
Tagbilaran City Information Officer Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao - Gabin are among
the graduates.
Welcome
greetings from friends and relatives also filled the arrival area at the
Tagbilaran Airport and pier for Saudi Arabia-based couple Marvin and Jolzeccar
Uy-Fronteras and Miss Bohol
International 1999 Chan Cajegas-Casabal and her family.
Unlike
past years, balikbayans didn’t come
in a single large group, but traveled individually.
Some
came as early as May to attend some reunions and fiestas. Last May, erstwhile
society writer Gisela Mae “Jiji” Apalisok came home to attend their town
fiesta. I told her to wait for July. “Next year perhaps,” she said.
***
Pinoy Aquaman swims from Cebu
to Bohol before
English Channel trip
Triathlete
lawyer Ingemar Macarine, known as "Pinoy Aquaman," swam nonstop for
eight hours covering at least 18 kilometers from Argao town in Cebu to Cabilao
Island in Loon town in Bohol province last Sunday.
 |
Helen Castano with triathlete
lawyer Ingemar Macarine,
known as "Pinoy Aquaman," swims Cebu
to
Bohol, his last intense training session before
embarking on the English
Channel swim.
Macarine was one of the Awardees during the
163rd Bohol Day on
July 22. Leo Udtohan
|
Macarine
said his latest feat was not easy because of the jellyfish he encountered along
the way.
"During
the first 8 kilometers I was really thinking of abandoning the swim because of
the jellyfish. l suffered for the first 8 kms, the good thing no more jellyfish along the way but I
encountered the strong current,” he said.
The
Cebu-Bohol stretch is part of his training as the first Filipino to swim
through the English Channel, known as the “Mount Everest” of swimming, next
month.
“This
is my last swim before I depart for UK next week to start my training for the
ultimate swim of my life that would be August 14," he said.
"So,
I will try to swim again the English Channel because last year I was not able
to swim because of the bad weather," he added.
Last
May, he successfully endured New York's freezing Hudson River as he swam from
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to Bannerman Island for one hour and 49 minutes, about
8.4 kilometers.
Macarine
swam from Guinsiliban, Camiguin Island, crossed the Macajalar Bay, and reached
Talisayan town in Misamis Oriental to promote peace in Mindanao last June.
***
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