Some 1,000 balikbayans from abroad, including those coming from various provinces in the country will be arriving to grace the 2006 Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) as activities will drumbeat this week.

Four hundred Boholano balikbayans, including those based in Metro Manila will be formally welcomed by Vice Pres. Noli de Castro during a Palace reception at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in Malacanang while some 350 Boholanos from Mindanao provinces are arriving here on Tuesday.

Earlier, it was Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who committed to formally welcome the balikbayans. However, due to her trip to Tripoli, Libya, she will not be able to catch-up the reception activity. However, the President will try to pass by the dinner reception tendered by DOT Secretary Ace Durano at the New Hyatt Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Betty Veloso Garcia, president of the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibook Kalibutan (TBTK) told the Chronicle during an interview that some 200 balikbayans from abroad are joining the Malacanang welcome reception, and another 200 who are based in Metro Manila.

However, she expects some 700 balikbayans arriving for the TBTK even as she admitted that only few have registered so far with the TBTK secretariat.

These balikbayans come from USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, Hong Kong and South America, she noted.

"The reception for the balikhbayans is indeed grand," Garcia told the Chronicle as even Manila Mayor Lito Atienza will likewise give the Boholano balikbayans a symbolic welcome reception at the Manila City hall, 10 o'clock Monday morning. Aside from the symbolic giving of the key of Manila as the "gateway to the islands," a cocktail party will be tendered by the Manila officialdom at the now famous bay walk at the Manila Bay and a dinner tomorrow evening.

The balikbayans will converge at the Duty Free Philippines at the Manila International Airport prior a motorcade to Malacanang on Monday noon, according to NAPOLCOM Director Bernie Calibo who is the president of the Boholano Association of Metro Manila, Inc. (BAMMI) which is coordinating the Manila reception. The 400 Boholanos are expected at the Palace by 1 p.m. for the courtesy call to VP de Castro. The dinner hosted by Sec. Durano will receive 250 invited guests.

Meanwhile, some 350 Boholanos from the various provinces in Mindanao are expected to arrive to join the TBTK activities.

Some 250 will be coming from South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos while some 100 will be arriving from Davao, according to Boy Pernia, chief of the Provincial Government Media Affairs (PGMA) who personally whisked the Mindanao region last year to invitation various Boholano associations.

In a check made by the Chronicle, it was learned that balikbayans started to arrive last week including Lito Dano, former president of the Confederation of Boholanos in the United States and Canada (CONBUSAC), Liklik Gallares-Schroeder, Meo Inting and dyRD broadcaster Vic Balbido, among others. Some of those who arrived earlier flew to Manila to join the grand reception in Manila tomorrow and Tuesday.

ACTIVITIES LINED UP

Various activities are being lined up this week for the Sandugo TBTK celebration.

The Bohol Day celebration on Saturday will gather investors from here and abroad with DTI Sec. Peter Favila as guest of honor while beauty pageants are set with nightly entertainment. The "Street Dancing Showdown" will be the main highlight including the reenactment of the historic Blood Compact with movie actor Cesar Montano playing the role of Sikatuna. (Read separate stories and LifestyleBohol)