A Joyful Homecoming: The Bustrillos Reunion in Bohol

After more than a decade, we, the members of the Bustrillos clan of Bohol, finally had another reunion in our hometown in Tagbilaran. This reunion wasn’t merely a cork-popping one-day affair – it was a week-long celebration of our heritage, a heartfelt salute to the elders who nurtured us, and a rekindling of old bonds, as well as a warm welcome for the new relatives joining the fold. For the Bustrillos clan, this year’s gathering in Bohol was nothing short of extraordinary. It blossomed into a wonderful festival of family, tradition, and community spirit.

From the bustling streets of Tagbilaran to the island’s sun-kissed beaches and best-kept secret corners, the reunion painted a vivid map of kinship across generations and continents. With its rolling Chocolate Hills, its wide-eyed tarsiers, its centuries-old churches, and its crystal-clear shores, Bohol will always be the perfect stage for our family’s grand affair. Not only is it home for us Bustrilloses, it is a place made famous for its warm, frugal hospitality, its enduring Christian values, and most importantly, its loving clan-centered traditions. All these formed a colorful backdrop that made our backroom stories come alive and our memories – the good as well as the bad ones – more enduring.

The Bustrillos clan can trace its roots to Zacarias “Iyas” and Albina “Binay” Bustrillos, considered the first generation Bustrillos whose legacy has threaded its way through the second-geners composed of the four sons – Paping, Titing, Lising, and Tunying – and their only daughter, Charing. Over the years, our 5 branches have travelled and expanded far and wide: to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Europe. Yet, no distance can dim the glow of our shared past. All the miles apart have only sharpened our appreciation for the family’s unbreakable bond, anchored on the steadfast Christian faith handed down by our 1st and 2nd-gen forebears and the bold Bustrillos identity we proudly carry with us.

This week-long reunion was a joyful blend of fun, reflection, service, and cultural immersion. And I would like to convey a heartfelt shout-out to the fourth-generation cousins – Marie, Corinne and Kai – whose singular focus, determination and creativity stitched together an outstanding program. Despite the miles between them (Marie in Australia, Corinne in New Zealand, and Kai in Cebu), their ingenuity kept the flames burning and the plans moving. They choreographed each day like mini-adventures: each sunrise brought a new experience, each evening deepened our connections, and each activity inculcated in us subtle lessons and reminded us of what a blessing it has been to belong to this caring Bustrillos family.

What made the week truly special was the way it balanced laughter with meaning. We shared stories that made the room light up. We honored the elder generations, most especially those who have since passed, with much warmth and gratitude. And we taught the younger ones the rhythms, the recipes, and the rituals that keep our Bustrillos clan – as well as the Boholano culture – alive. We danced to familiar tunes, tasted long-loved family dishes, and wandered through hallowed grounds that whispered our ancestors’ footsteps. And we would carry with us back to our present homes not just souvenirs, but a renewed sense of belonging – an affirmation that the Bustrillos name is more than a surname; it is a living, breathing story that continues to grow with pride and dignity with every new generation.

Even before the week-long event started, our creative organizers had drummed up interest among everyone by posting interviews of the seniors, focusing on the olden ways, the better for the younger generation to understand and appreciate the values set forth by the older generation of Bustrilloses. Thus, as Reunion Week neared, there was a clearer understanding of what the reunion strove to achieve. And the excitement started to gather steam.

Day 1: Rediscovering Bohol’s Unique Tourist Attractions

Our Bohol reunion kicked off with a whirlwind of wonder, turning sightseeing into a playful parade of nature and culture. We were in awe of the Chocolate Hills, wondering how they were uniquely formed. We teased the tarsiers at the sanctuary, oggling at them as their tiny eyes sparkled with mischief. The Loboc River cruise became a floating party – with festive laughter, stories traded like treasure, gleeful songs and dances, and bites of delicious native delicacies gifted to us on the calm, clean, glassy waters.

Day 2: A Heartfelt Socio-Civic Project

Giving back, respect and the advocacy for Christian values have always been inculcated in us by our elders. This warms our hearts and provides the spiritual sustenance that nurture our souls. We rolled up our sleeves with a small, yet gratifying socio-civic project at the K of C Multi-Purpose Center, where many of our 3rd-gen seniors have a lot of fond memories. It was heartwarming to see the happiness in the children’s faces as they received bags of school supplies from our clan’s younger generation. The event was both a learning experience and a lesson in love and giving, the kind of activity that makes hearts pound with pride. The recipient-kids’ smiles were the true reward, a vivid reminder that family isn’t just about blood; it’s about lifting each other up, and offering a little more sunshine to the world.

Day 3: Cemetery Visit and Honoring Our Ancestors

On the third day, we walked through the cemetery with reverence and gentle awe. We paid our respects to those who have gone ahead of us. Flowers were offered to cherished graves, heartfelt prayers were given softly. And loving memories were served to inspire our youth. It was a moving thread that tied the present to the past, weaving gratitude into the fabric of our conversation, and reminding us to be grateful for the wonderful guidance and love that have since clothed us with more love and devotion. And we vowed to keep alive the poignant stories of sacrifice and humanity offered by those who came before us.

Day 4: Sports Day – A Spark of Youthful Bonding

We also recognized the importance of physical activity for our next-geners, inviting them to claim the day with a variety of sports activities. The 4th and the 5th geners, particularly the grandkids of Noy Ding and Nang Ex, came well prepared for the sports events. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the organized tennis and pickleball games had to be shortened. Instead, there was laughter and friendly taunts and creative kiddie games that dotted the athletic compound, even as the more senior guys strained their voices with the karaoke machine. The outdoor court echoed with cheers and laughs, as the 3rd-gen oldies croaked on the music box, while the 5th-gen youngsters giggled, and the 4th-gen organizers took time to prepare for the next day’s presentations. Overall, despite the uncooperative weather, there was that clear recognition for the need to push for fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork in the pursuit of a better future for the next geners.

Day 5: The Penultimate Day, A Grand Evening at the MetroCentre Hotel

The penultimate night lit up the skyline at the MetroCentre Hotel, where the activity kicked off with the lineage of the 5 children of Iyas and Binay parading proudly. The largest contingent came from the Titing Bustrillos group, with more than a hundred participants coming from all over the world. The smallest contingent came from the Tunying Bustrillos group. Tiyo Tunying had settled in Los Banos in the 60s, where he raised his family. It was a treat to hear of each family’s growth amid the challenges. Each group stitched together its own dazzling cheer and dance. There were also special presentations, one coming from our growing foreign-based contingent, and another a fashion show from promising young designer, Christian Bustrillos. Our oldest living Bustrillos, Jun Garcia, gave a short talk on the Bustrillos heritage, providing a wonderful insight on the olden ways and the old Tagbilaran environment. There were games and dances, as well as stories of adventure abroad weaving through the room. Each individual member of the clan had his own unique story to tell, and the hall served as the perfect sponge absorbing every little detail, every small sacrifice that collectively helped to make the clan even stronger today. It felt like stepping into a living museum of family pride – a fulfilling showcase of who we are, where we come from, as well as our shared aspirations for the future.

Day 6: The Grand Finale: A Beachside Send-Off

As tradition dictates, we crowned the finale with a beach party on Bohol’s stunning shores. The sand at Dumaluan Beach in Panglao became a playground of games, laughter, and carefree moments. At 87 years old, our very own Nong Jun Garcia insisted on testing the waters of Panglao. It was a memorable time for all of us, knowing that the time to bid each other goodbye would soon come, when “see you soon” would become “until we meet again.” We tried to share more stories – with more urgency, we sealed plans for future reunions, and we treasured the glow of kinship redeveloped magnificently with these few days of building relationships.

The week provided reflections and many lasting memories. It wasn’t just a random sequence of events; it was a meticulously planned celebration of resilience, love, and a shared identity that hopefully will grow stronger with more activities to come. For some, it was their first time to see the entire clan stand together in years. For others, it has become a cherished dream, with a wish to make it a regular tradition. Our Boholano roots, coupled with our present new environs, have only served to enrich the tapestry with more color, proving that a common heritage can bridge oceans and differences with laughter, dancing feet, and soulful conversations.

As we waved goodbye to Bohol, our hearts carried the stories of sunshine and storms, triumphs and tremors, and funny private family anecdotes that will travel with us across continents. Plans for the next reunion are already being discussed, getting the next geners bubbling with excitement. Perhaps more 4th and 5th gen cousins will come forward to help bring more adventures, more ingenius ideas and even more loud laughter. It has been a heartwarming and enlightening week of love and clan unity. This defined the week; and it will keep guiding us, generation after generation.

If you’re seeking a blueprint for a well-defined heart-and-soul reunion, take some notes from our Bohol week-long feast. Invite everyone to participate early on with an open heart. Weave together memory and adventure, honor the elders with acts of service, and let the landscape of home – in our case, Tagbilaran’s streets, the island’s beaches, and the patches of green hills that cradle us – remind you why kinship matters. The Bustrillos clan members now living in different parts of the world left Bohol richer in wisdom, deeper in connection, and more certain than ever that being with family will always be the happiest kind of home.

Pictures courtesy of the Bustrillos photourists. For a closer look, pls click on the pics.