AFTER a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bohol will once again hold the “Saulog Tagbilaran” Festival.

During its launching on Thursday, March 16, 2023, Tagbilaran City Mayor Jean Yap said the two-month long celebration will culminate on May 1, or the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

The activities lined up include street dancing, a dragon boat race and a food fair, among others.

“We are celebrating a post-pandemic event. After two years, Bohol, as a mainly tourism destination, only had a few visitors, and now that we are back to face-to-face activities, this is our avenue to promote the tourism industry of Bohol and our beloved City of Tagbilaran. So we are inviting all our guests from all over the world, we are now celebrating ‘Saulog Tagbilaran’ Festival,” Yap said.

The mayor admitted that the number of tourists has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Based on the data of the City’s tourism office, 80 percent of tourist activities are back to normal with arrivals steadily rising.

During last Thursday’s launch, organizers held a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 458th anniversary of the “Blood Compact” between Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

A reenactment of the historic event was performed on stage along with folk dances and songs like the Kuradang, a traditional courtship dance. (BBT, PJB)