One of the first destinations of a cheap Bohol tour package is the “Blood Compact” Monument or locally known as the “Sandugo“. Located near the beach in the area of Loay in Bohol, the Blood Compact site is one of the main tourist attractions in the island. It is the area where the Spaniards, headed by conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, landed on 1565. It is a memorial of what happened during the Sandugo. The “Sandugo” comes from two words, “Isa”, which means “One” and “Dugo”, which means “Blood” – when combined means One Blood.
Blood Compact
When the Spaniards arrived in the island of Bohol, the folks were uncongenial in treating them as friendly visitors because they thought they were Portugese. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi convinced the people that they are Spaniards and they came to the island to befriend the people. On March 16, 1565, the leader of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna, and Legazpi held a Blood Compact to seal their camaraderie. Considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spanish people and the Filipinos, the Blood Compact is a tribal tradition, witnessed by the followers or people, where the leaders draw blood from a small incision in their hands. They then put the blood in a separate container and mix it with wine. The leaders then exchange the potion and drink the blood of the other, claiming a friendly relationship between both parties.
In Bohol, the Blood Compact or Sandugo commemorated or celebrated every July, is one of the biggest gatherings in the island. Traditionally the feast was held every March but since July is the vacation month in other countries where many Boholanos (people in Bohol) work, the government decided to move the celebration to July. This encourages the people of the island to go home and spend time with their loved ones.
The hospitality of Boholanos is never-ending and that is probably the reason why the Spaniards was friendly to them. The Blood Compact held in 1565 gave the Spaniards a chance to prove their peaceful visit and the Boholanos, in return, learn many things from them including building sturdy Churches, tough bridges and a lot more.
If you want to visit the site of the Blood Compact and other tourist attractions in the island, at a cheap price, please contact us and tell us your travel details such as number of persons in the group, arrival and departure dates, special requests, etc. We will reply to you with our detailed quotation and itinerary in less than 24 hours.