Bohol — Fifteen years of songwriting, five albums, and countless memories found their way home on June 27, 2026, as Boholano singer‑songwriter Joseph Gara staged his first major concert, “ULI: Balik Lantaw sa Kong Asa Ta Gikan,” at the Bohol Cultural Center. The event opened the Sandugo sa Bohol 2026 festival with a celebration of music, identity, and the enduring warmth of island life.
A Son Returns to Where It All Began
The concert’s title, “ULI,” translates to “return home,” a fitting theme for an artist whose lyrics have long drawn from the landscapes and stories of Bohol. Gara took the audience through a journey spanning five albums, each song a chapter of his personal and artistic evolution. The evening was less a performance and more an intimate conversation between a musician and the community that shaped him.
The Provincial Government of Bohol, led by Governor Aris Aumentado, backed the production through the Bohol Center for Culture and Arts Development. The stage was transformed into a nostalgic countryside setting, evoking the simplicity and spirit of rural Boholano life. The visual design allowed the audience to feel as though they were sitting in their own backyard, listening to a neighbor pour his heart into every note.
A Stage Shared with Bohol’s Finest Talents
Gara did not stand alone. The Loboc Children’s Choir, celebrated worldwide for their angelic voices, lent their harmonies to several numbers, adding a layer of innocence and purity that moved many to tears. The Loboc Muzika Rondalla, with their mastery of traditional string instruments, provided a rich cultural texture that anchored the concert firmly in Filipino soil.
The dance crew T‑Mates, fresh from their national victory at the World of Dance Philippines, brought explosive energy that balanced the evening’s more tender moments. Guest artists Julia Faith Joaquin, Juan Erscel, Brandon Kail Ungab, Music & Me, Amabi, and Lizeth Gara each contributed distinct voices and styles, creating a tapestry of Boholano talent that spanned generations and genres. The Young Fortress of the Lord opened the production with a solemn blessing.
A Festival Rooted in Heritage and Resilience
This year’s Sandugo Festival carries a different weight. The provincial government deliberately streamlined the celebration, redirecting funds from traditional pageants toward community welfare programs like rice distribution. Cultural events like the ULI concert have become even more vital, serving as the heart of a festival that honors history while adapting to present realities.
By anchoring the festival’s opening on homegrown music, the Capitol affirmed that heritage is not something to be displayed behind glass but lived, sung, and shared. The concert also reinforced Bohol’s identity as the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark, where culture and nature intertwine to create a destination unlike any other.
An Invitation to Experience Boholano Soul
For tourists, events like the ULI concert offer a glimpse into the authentic creative spirit of the island. It is one thing to visit the Chocolate Hills or sail the Loboc River; it is another to sit inside the Bohol Cultural Center and hear the music that springs from the same soil. The Sandugo Festival, through performances like this, invites travelers to connect not just with places but with the people who give those places meaning.
As the final notes of the concert faded, the audience carried with them more than melodies. They carried the reminder that home, in Bohol, is always a song waiting to be sung. The ULI concert did not just open a festival; it opened a door into the heart of Boholano identity, and everyone was welcome to step inside.
