By I. Inojales | 06:16 PM July 20, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Bohol warmly welcomed 159 Filipino-American delegates and balikbayans participating in the 2026 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Program upon their arrival at the Port of Tagbilaran on July 19, 2026.
The delegates were greeted with a vibrant cultural presentation before setting off on a tour of some of Bohol’s most iconic attractions, including the Blood Compact Commemorative Shrine in Bool, the historic Baclayon Church and Museum, the scenic Loboc River, the world-famous Chocolate Hills, and the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary.
The VIP Program is the flagship heritage tourism initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Consular Offices across North America. The program encourages Filipino-Americans to reconnect with their Filipino roots through immersive cultural, historical, and educational experiences in the Philippines.
This year’s Visayas leg of the program, held from July 12 to 21, brought 279 delegates—including Philippine Consuls General from Foreign Service Posts in North America—to key destinations in Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cebu, and Bohol.
Among the participants, 159 delegates visited Bohol, where they experienced the province’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural attractions, and the warm hospitality for which the island is renowned.
