Bohol is known for having massive tourist attractions. One of these is the well-known, the Blood Compact Site in Bool District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol which stands as a memorial ground to the historic sign of friendship between the Spaniards and the Filipinos.
Hundreds of years ago, Philippines had a memorable historical happenings with the Spaniards. Bohol was where the first international treaty of friendship took place, the “Sanduguan”.
Sandugo or Sanduguan is a Visayan term for one Blood or also known as Blood Compact. This was an ancient ritual of the Filipinos to seal a treaty or an agreement. The contracting parties would cut their wrists and pour their blood into a cup filled with liquid, such as wine, and drink the mixture. Spanish Explorer, Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the chieftain of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna performed the sanduguan on March 16, 1565, to seal their strong bond of friendship as part of the tribal tradition.
Miguel López de Legazpi was sailing from Mexico with five ships and five hundred men, reached the Philippines in 1565. Eventually on their way to Mindanao, they met a bad weather and was forced to dropped anchor at a village southeastern part of Bohol, which is now called Jagna. The native there were unfriendly so he sail to other villages and found Tagbilaran City friendlier. He aproached the local chieftain captain, Datu Sikatuna, with a pleasing manner and became friends. With their strong bond of friendship, they performed the “Sanduguan” creating the first international treaty of friendship between the Filipino and Spaniards.
To commemorate this one of a kind history, the Bohol artist, Napoleon Abueva constructed the Blood Compact Shrine monument. This serve as a memorabilia of the historical event between the Filipinos and Spaniards. The landmark features a life-sized bronze statues of the Spanish Explorer, Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and the chieftain of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna, doing a toast and the three other witnesses of the said sandugo.
It is placed on an open and raised dais where visitors are treated with good view of Bohol Sea behind the monument. The site is easily accessible since it is alongside the national road. You can buy various souvenirs here since there are many stalls offering different souvenir and gift items. A lot of tourist will rest for a while and do some picture taking.
With the help of the site, people will be able to remember the wonderful and sincere friendship that was built by the Filipinos and Spaniards back then.
