Sandugo Festival 2015: Commemorating the Historic Blood Compact of Bohol

Every month of July, Tagbilaran City – the provincial capital of Bohol – rouses for a festive celebration called the Sandugo Festival, commemorating the historic sandugo or blood compact between Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and local chieftain Datu Sikatuna on March 16, 1565. A traditional way of forging alliances between pre-colonial Filipino leaders, the sandugo was executed by drawing blood from the left arm of both leaders with a dagger and adding a few drops into a cup of wine, whichRead More→