Sandugo Shrine

The Philippines has long been considered a top tourist destination by people all over the world. Not only does it
have plenty of beautiful beaches and scenic spots for people to enjoy, it also has a rich culture and history that
everyone will find interesting.

To give you an overview, the Philippines was colonised by the Spaniards for 333 years until the Americans took
over for over 40 years. The British, Japanese and other nationalities also tried their hand at conquering the country
within those years.

Today, the Philippines has become a melting pot of various cultures and its historic landmarks have played a major
part in the country’s tourism industry.

Sandugo Shrine

Sandugo referred to the blood compact that took place between the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and
the chieftain of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna, back in 1565. Sandugo means “one blood” in the Visayan dialect and was
performed to seal the friendship between the two leaders. It was considered to be the first ever treaty of friendship
between the Filipinos and the Spaniards.
The Sandugo or Blood Compact Shrine monument found in Bo-ol district of Tagbilaran City is a landmark at the
site of the first international treaty of friendship between Spaniards and Filipinos. Behind the monument is a
magnificent view of Bohol Sea.

The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in Bohol between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi
and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol, on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition.
This is considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan
word which means "one blood"

The monument, with the bronze statues of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Rajah Sikatuna and several other witnesses,
was a masterpiece of the Boholano sculptor and National Artist for Sculpture, Napoleon Abueva.

The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in the island of Bohol in the Philippines, between
the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to
seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition. This is considered as the first treaty of friendship between the
Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood".

The Sandugo is depicted in both the provincial flag and the official seal of the government in Bohol. It also
features the image of the blood compact. The top of the seal explains the history behind the Sandugo event that
occurred in Bohol, the fleet and the location where the Spaniards anchored and the place where the treaty was
conducted which was dated on March 16, 1565.

History

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellanbecame the first person from Europe to reach Asia by sailing
west, a voyage of which he would meet an untimely death in the island of the Philippines. Spain sent expeditions to
colonize the East Indies in their competition with Portugal to seize control over the spice trade. However, all of
these expeditions failed. It was not until Miguel López de Legazpi, sailing from Mexico with five ships and five
hundred men, reached the Philippines in 1565 and a Spanish settlement was established. López de Legazpi was
greeted by hostile Muslim tribes opposing a foreign invasion. His attempt to land on the island of Cebu resulted in
the death of one of his soldiers prompting him to explore another island and seek trade with various tribes.
Sailing south toward the island of Mindanao, López de Legazpi's fleet encountered highwinds forcing them to sail
northward to the island of Bohol. There, he captured a vessel from Borneo whose Malaysailors informed the
Spaniards that the natives inhabiting the region traded with people from Borneo and Indonesia. Arriving in Bohol,
López de Legazpi noticed the hostility of the people. The Malayan servant explained that such hostility was due to
the expeditions conducted by the Portuguese from the Moluccas islands. In 1563, Portuguese fleets arrived
in Visayan waters and enslaved about 1,000 inhabitants. López de Legazpi, with the help of the Malayan sailor,
explained to the tribes in Bohol that they were not Portuguese and that they had come to the islands to trade. Upon
learning this, the chieftains and their tribes became friendlier and welcoming to the Spaniards.

Ceremony

The Sandugo began with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in Bohol in 1565 and the establishment of
allegiance by Datu Sikatuna to the king of Spain. They made a cut on their left arm with a dagger and poured their
blood into a cup filled with wine, which they both drank in honour of their friendship. The inscription at a
monument in Tagbilaran Citydescribes the event:

“About the middle of March 1565, the fleet of Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi anchored along these
shores. In the course of this visit, López de Legazpi entered into a blood compact with Datu Sikatuna for the
purpose of insuring friendly relations between the Spaniards and Filipinos.”

It added that the compact was performed as part of the tribal tradition.

“Each of the two leaders made a small cut in his arm, drew a few drops of blood from the incision, mixed it with
wine, and drank the goblet containing the blood of the other. Thus was the first bond of friendship between
Filipinos and Spaniards.”

In his report to Philip II, López de Legazpi wrote:

“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.
Tradition

By performing a blood compact, it preserves the bond of friendship between two tribes. This ceremony was the
first treaty or bond of friendship between the natives, and the Spaniards. In honor of this ceremony, the
former President of the PhilippinesElpidio Quirino established the Order of Sikatuna, a presidential decoration
conferred upon politicians. Juan Luna, a Filipino painter, depicted this event in his painting entitled The Blood
Compact (Spanish: El Pacto de Sangre) in 1883. El Pacto de Sangreobtained the first prize in Paris in 1885 and at
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of St. Louis in 1904. At that period, it was an important part for tribes to
perform the sandugo as part of the peace process. A monument was constructed in Tagbilaran City by the
Philippine Historical Committee and the National Historical Institute.