CEBU CITY – This year’s Saulog Festival in Tagbilaran City, Bohol will be bigger and grander.
TAGBILARAN City Mayor Jane Yap (second from left), Tagbilaran Vice Mayor Adam Jala, and Bohol Provincial Administrator Aster Caberte (left), who represented Gov. Aris Aumentado, led the relaunching of the Blood Compact Shrine in Tagbilaran, Bohol on Saturday, March 16. (Calvin D. Cordova)
This was promised by Tagbilaran Mayor Jane Yap, who led the launching of the 2024 Saulog Festival on Saturday, March 16, at the Tagbilaran City Friendship Park.
“We will showcase our 15 barangays in our street dancing competition and ‘Mutya sa Tagbilaran.’ This year’s prizes will be bigger as we will also include projects for the participating barangays,” said Yap.
Various activities have been lined up until April 30, which will be capped by the street dancing and ritual showdown competition.
“We will have nightly activities. We have invited celebrities such as Bamboo and Mayonnaise,” said Yap.
Aside from the nightly revelries, Yap encouraged her constituents to take part in religious activities.
“To bring even greater solemnity to Saulog, I encourage all businesses and residents to display the image of our revered patron Senor San Jose on your establishments and homes. Let us also actively join in the novena and masses in honor of Senor San Jose. Through these, we bring deeper meaning to our celebration of Saulog Tagbilaran,” Yap said.
The launching of Saulog was held simultaneously with the celebration of the 459th anniversary of the “blood compact” between Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol and Spanish conquistador (conqueror) Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
Yap led the relaunching of the blood compact monument which was transferred inside the Tagbilaran City Friendship Park in Barangay Bool. The Blood Compact Shrine is an artwork of Boholano national artist Napoleon Abueva.
The mayor also led the blessing of the Atty. Zoilo Dejaresco Jr. Amphitheater inside the park, which has become one of the top tourist attractions in the city.
As part of the Saulog Festival, the city also launched the Tagbilaran 2024 Sportsfest at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City on Sunday, March 17.
A parade participated by the competing barangays, their officials, and city officials led by Yap ushered in the sportsfest. A total of 15 barangays are competing in basketball, lawn tennis, volleyball, aquascaping, chess, and swimming.