SANDUGO FESTIVAL – treaty of friendship as manifested in a blood compact

SANDUGO FESTIVAL

Sandugo Festival is Boholano’s very own festival which is a commemoration of a historical event that had transpired in Tagbilaran City, the very heart of Bohol, in the year 1565 between a local leader Datu Sikatuna and a Spanish king conquistador Captain General Miguel de Legazpi. What made this historical event so unique is the treaty of friendship as manifested in a blood compact that took place between two people of completely different race, religion and culture. This treaty of friendship had eventually put an end to the conflict between the Filipinos and Spaniards following Ferdinand Magellan’s death after 44 years in Mactan Island.

The festivity commences in the month of March each year. Boholanos that are overseas usually come home and gather together to take part in this event. Activities like several sports tournament and cockfighting make the festivity more interesting. The religious sector also has a major participation with its church services and fireworks add up to heighten the entertainment. And just like the other popular Filipino festivals out there, Sandugo also has its own street dancing competition with participants coming from different schools in the province, each distinctly has its own dance custom uniquely choreographed and complemented with matching colorful costumes according to its own dance theme. The music is provided by a marching band that trails each group of dancers. The parade also showcases local business establishments and local government departments each having their muse and escort presenting their establishment’s banner. The very last part of the parade presents the local beauty queens of Bohol.

Sandugo Festival is a marketing and cultural pitch of the province of Bohol where it had to position itself in the tourism map in the country. During the late 80s where many provinces vied to be included in the tourism map, Bohol had poised itself to showcase its arts, culture and traditions in the form of a festival to which the neighboring islands like Cebu and Negros had also set.

It was during the administration of Governor Nonoy Torralba when the first sandugo festival was held. A consortium of governmental and non-governmental entities bound themselves to mount various socio-cultural activities that showcased the arts, ethnic foods, dances, culture and tradition of Bohol. Sandugo festival had blossomed in the succeeding years and had drawn a lot of tourists and events enthusiast.

In the early part of the 90s, the Bohol Sandugo Foundation was organized to ensure participation from the civil society organization in the planning and implementation of festival activities.

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