Blood Compact Shrine

A Must See Tourist Spot

Probably one of the most important sites in Bohol, the Blood Compact(Sandugo) site is said to be approximate spot where Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna made a ritual to enter a pact of friendship and end the hostilities between them. It is located at Barangay Bool, a few kilometers from Tagbilaran City. The shrine, with the bronze statues of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Rajah Sikatuna and several other witnesses, was created by the national artist Napoleon Abueva. It overlooks the magnificent view of Bohol Sea.

The History Behind the Shrine

The pact between the two Boholano Kings(Sikatuna, Sigala) and Legazpi is a defining moment for the history of the Philippines as it paved the way for the colonization of the islands by the Spaniards. Officially, Bohol is the place where the first Spanish settlement was established after the expedition was turned-away in Cebu. Only the following month in April of 1565 when the conquistador decided to build a permanent settlement in Cebu with the assurance of help from Rajah Sikatuna and Rajah Sigala. And from there, the Spanish colonization of the Philippines started with the eventual establishment of Manila as the capital of the colony. It is also in Manila where Legazpi died.

A Little Controversy

There’s another blood compact site several kilometers from the one in Loay. Unlike the current site which is high above the hills, the other “sandugo site” is near the shore of Bohol sea. And even the current site is not really the duly recognized actual site of the Sandugo. About a hundred meters from it, there’s a marker inside the school that claims to be the actual site for the Sandugo in March of 1564. But whichever is the real one doesn’t really matter as the Blood Compact site is just a representation of what has transpired five centuries ago.

Incoming search terms:

• blood compact shrine
• history of blood compact in bohol
• information about blood compact shrine
• legazpi lopez
• resorts near blood compact
• to and from sea by napoleon abueva

No related posts.