THE Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) will officially kick off the yearly Sandugo celebration with the Sandugo 2023 official launching ceremony, with the theme “Celebrating Bohol and Beyond.”
The Sandugo Festival is annually observed in the Province every July to commemorate the alliance between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish Commander Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a pivotal moment in Philippine and World History. It was believed that Sikatuna (Katunao in Spanish records) boarded Legaspi’s ship to ally against the Ternate, a Portuguese -backed state in the Moluccas (Spice Islands), whose subjects have been raiding the coastal areas of Bohol. This alliance was done through a blood compact, locally known as the “Sandugo,” a customary practice done by local chiefs, on March 16, 1565, in Loay.
While not the first Sandugo-an between a local chieftain and a Spanish commander to ever take place in the country, this event paved the way for Spain to gain a foothold, colonizing the islands for 333 years, and established the Philippines as a significant area of trade, linking the East and the West through the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade.
The Provincial Government of Bohol’s Strategic Projects and Protocols Section said that this year’s celebration is more than just a commemorative festival, but a celebration of the Boholano identity and way of life. With this year’s celebration undergoing, PGBh hopes the Sandugo will help Boholanos build up a sense of pride in their heritage and their Province.
The launch will be on May 8, 2023, at the Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran City, to give us a glimpse of what’s in store for the Boholanos during the festival. PGBh will also be incorporating activities under the Bohol Island Aspiring Global Geopark project to help promote Bohol’s natural, archaeological, and intangible heritage. (PIMO/GMC)
