Bohol Tour » Blood Compact Site and Monument, A Bit of Philippine History on Our Leisure Trip

The lazy morning at Tagbilaran was over and we immediately go to our first stop, the Blood Compact site and monument, a particular site made in honor of a very important event in the Philippine history done between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi of Spain and Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol.

What to expect in the Blood Compact Site

There was nothing there except for some statues overlooking a wonderful view of the sea on the side of the highway. But like many landmarks and statues, there are bits of Philippine history there. I’m not a history buff but sometimes it is nice to know some facts about the places we’ve been – it makes the trip more meaningful.

The blood compact site is in front of a public school of Baranggay Bool in Tagbilaran City along the highway, where a montage of figures - a monument to the site where Datu Sikatuna, the native Chieftain inflicted a flesh wound on himself and let his blood flow into the same flesh wound on the arm of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who was representing the King of Spain.

Group camwhoring at the monument

All you can do there is have a quick picture taking – I mean quick - because there are other visitors lining up to take pictures. 

Can I have a drink too?

We are thinking of doing some crazy pictures with the statues but lots of other tourists are waiting their turn so we just took pictures of the nice overlooking view of the sea at the back of the blood compact site.

Vendors at the gate of the  Blood Compact Site

This is also the place where you can buy cheap keepsakes (tarsier keychains, wallets, pearls, etc.) and other anik-anik to bring home. Other locations offer same items but on a very high tourist price, so you better do your bargaining here.         

A nice touch of history on our leisure trip 

Here’s a bit of my research:

This historical event [blood compact], which happened on March 16, 1565, is considered as the first Treaty of Friendship between the two races. This blood compact, an ancient method of sealing brotherhood and friendship, was considered as the first international treaty concluded between a foreign leader and a Filipino chieftain in Philippine history.

In his report to Philip II, Legazpi described the ceremony of the blood compact in the following words:

"It is observed in the following manner: one from each party draws two or three drops of blood from his own arm or breast and mixes them in the same cup, with water or wine. Then the mixture must be divided equally between two cups, and neither person may depart until both cups are alike drained."

The Blood Compact (El Pacto de Sangre), famous painting by Juan Luna

In honor of this Blood Compact ceremony, the former President of the Philippines Elpidio Quirino established the Order of Sikatuna, a presidential decoration conferred upon politicians. Nowadays, the Order of Sikatuna is also a diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines. Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was conferred this award last year. I suggest they develop this blood compact site and include a room where tourist can see Filipinos who are declared as Datu. 

Notes on the Raha Katuna discrepancy. After concluding a peace agreement with leaders of Samar and nearby islands, Legazpi proceeded to Bohol, an island near Cebu. There, he befriended the local chieftains – Katuna (Sikatuna, in Spanish Records) and Gala (Sigala in Spanish documents. The discrepancy lies in the fact that the Spanish chroniclers thought that the Filipino article “Si” was part of the names of these local chieftains.

The Sandugo Festival in honor of the Blood Compact

Re-enactment of the Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi

Sandugo Festival is Boholano’s very own festival which is a commemoration of this historical event that had transpired in Tagbilaran City, the very heart of Bohol. The festival showcase the re-enactment of the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and the Spanish king conquistador Captain General Miguel de Legazpi. 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.

Wrong place for the Monument? 

View at back of the monument

But wait, the actual site was recently challenged by the nearby fifth-class municipality of Loay, which has the kind of deep-water harbor that could accommodate Legaspi's fleet. Coastal Tagbilaran back then was supposedly little more than a mangrove swamp. After an investigation by a panel of experts convened by the National Historical Institute, Loay (on the shores of Hinawanan Bay, Barangay Villalimpia) was declared the official site of the Legazpi-Sikatuna "Sandugo".

Yodz Note

A quick stop to this monument serves as a quick refresher of my elementary history class. Some find it boring but it’s a nice touch on our Bohol tour.   

On my next blog post, I’ll feature the amazing old churches of Bohol that we visited.
Till then folks!

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References [Retrieved 27 September 2010] by yodz
» Bohol Blood Compact Site
» The Sandugo (Blood Compact) Wikipedia Article
» Zaide, Gregorio F. 1949. “The LEGAZPI-KATUNA Blood Compact – 1565”  Philippine Political and Cultural History Vol. 1
» Blood Compact Marker at the Blood Compact Shrine, Bool District, Tagbilaran City
» SANDUGO FESTIVAL – treaty of friendship as manifested in a blood compact
» Best of Cebu and Bohol – Interesting places to go in Bohol – Blood Compact Site PDP Digital Inc., 2002 Cebu City.
» Duka, Cecilo D. 2008. “Legazpi and Raha Katuna – Blood Compact” Struggle for Freedom, A textbook in Philippine History. Manila:Rex Bookstore Inc. 
» Arroyo confers Order of Sikatuna to boxing champ Pacquiao – Inquirer.net
» Severino, Howie “Much Ado About An Old Blood Compact”
» Loay vows grander celebration of Blood Compact’s 444th year – Bohol News Daily
[edit: links removed due to link farming Google policy]
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Lazy Morning at the City of Friendship » Tagbilaran City, Island Paradise Province of Bohol

Most people, if asked will not remember what they ate for breakfast. Maybe because it was unremarkable and routine - but I remembered this one, a simple carinderia breakfast by the Tagbilaran City Wharf.

We are on a tight budget so we always hunt the cheapest restaurant or carinderia. We asked our friendly driver to bring  us  to a place where we can have a cheap breakfast. There are fastfoods, but of course, we want something different. For backpackers like us, the hunt always adds excitement and fun to our travel experience and it always never fail us.


This is the first breakfast we had during our trip to the island paradise province of Bohol.

Chorizo, the Tagbilaran-style longganisa

We had pandesal, scrambled eggs, batchoy and cute little chorizos.

The picturesque Tagbilaran City Wharf

Group Emo at the Tagbilaran City Wharf

Before taking our breakfast, the picturesque city wharf caught our attention and decided doing some quick early morning camwhoring.

Awesome view of the City Wharf - yes this is still the Philippines

The wharf - a nice place to spend lazy mornings

The beautiful setting of the Tagbilaran City Wharf serves as the major insular port of entry in the Province of Bohol which mainly connects Bohol Island to Cebu City. Travelers from Cebu City can reach Tagbilaran City Wharf through fast crafts within an hour and a half only.

The backpackers, just landed

We arrived at the Tagbilaran Airport at around 7 a.m. and decided to take a peek at the city while waiting for our travel buddies on a separate 10:00 am flight.

Abby, Chuck and Anjho at the Souvenir Shop

Peanut Kisses, the most famous pasalubong from Bohol

The City is also famous for sweet Kalamay

Tarsier keychains, handicrafts and a lot more for pasalubong

Since we didn't have anything to do that early in the morning, we decided to take a quick morning city tour and do some pasalubong shopping, buy some stuff we need for the day and of course, city camwhoring after breakfast.

Quick Facts about Tagbilaran City, The City of Friendship

Welcome to the City of Friendship!

"Welcome to the City of Friendship," this is what will greet you on the welcome arc at the airport upon arrival. I only met a few people in Bohol, our driver cum tour guide, and a bunch of other tour guides and locals on our different destinations. I must say, yes,they are generally friendly. 

Tagbilaran is considered by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia as one of the eight (8) Philippine Dream Cities, along with Samal, San Fernando, La Union, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Marikina, Naga, Calbayog City and Surigao City. It was also recognized as one of the (20) "Most Competitive Cities in the Philippines" and "Pinoy Cities on the Rise" in 2005 and 2007, and First in the Quality of Life Category for the same 2 years, awarded by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center. 

With its strategic geographic location, Tagbilaran City is the gateway of the booming tourism industry of Bohol province.Tagbilaran City is one of the most promising tourist destinations in the Philippines and is a jump off point to our main destinations like Panglao Island, Chocolate Hills, and the Loboc River.

Awesome place to have a lazy breakfast and start our Bohol tour! 

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