Done with my lunch, I just needed one more site to complete my list for Bohol. The one I missed was the Blood Compact Shrine in Barangay Bool. I got a multi-cab in front of Island City Mall and asked the driver to drop me off at the Blood Compact Shrine. Every driver knows where it is and it is a good thing. As usual, my ride took its own sweet time before leaving. Soon we were out of the main city of Tagbilaran and into the main highway. Just past the Caltex station was the Blood Compact Shrine.
The Blood Compact Shrine is a sculpture by National Artist Napoleon Abueva, depicting one of the more significant events in Philippine history. In 1565, the expeditioner Spanish Miguel Lopez de Legazpi sailed from Mexico to the Philippines and ended up in the island of Bohol. The locals, wary of any foreigners, were naturally hostile, however, after some convincing, the natives believed that they were not the same people who plundered their land some years ago. As a symbol of their mutual trust, the leaders of both groups: Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna performed a Blood Compact. Each man would give a few drops of blood to a cup with wine. Each will drink from the cup.
Interestingly, historians say that the Blood Compact Site was actually in the town of Loay. This was a little confusing since they built the sculpture here in Barangay Bool. Based on clues from writings from the Miguel Lopez de Legazpi expedition, historians have concluded that the actual site was further down the road. I didn’t know of this fact when I was in Loay, or I would have gone and visited the marker. Locals have dubbed this event as the first international treaty of friendship between two races, two religions and two cultures.
Anyway, this story would be the start of more than 300 years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. The event is known locally as the Sandugo and is commemorated every year. The sculpture is composed of five persons sharing a toast. It overlooks the sea from its spot. From here, one can see Bohol sea and the resort island of Panglao. It is possible to go down the stairs where the sculpture was but the rest of the path didn’t seem complete. I would expect that there would be a path all the way to the water. But only time can tell when the local government can complete this.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/BloodCompactSite.kmz} zoom=14]