Proem

There is such a thing as philosophy of history. It generally deals with the purposes and uses of history and how to rationalize the historical event you are dealing with.

During the month of July, the people of Bohol celebrate the "Sandugo Festival." Its general purpose is attracting tourists but it also reminds us on a past event that happened in Bohol.

The original sandugo involves Boholanos and Spaniards. Let us try to analyze how both sides view the sandugo.

Philosophy of History

In the vast ocean of history, people and their historians select an event that they think will be useful or relevant. They interpret the event in ways that will profit or perhaps merely entertains them. In the province of Bohol, our favorite event is the sandugo.

One of the philosophies of history is to view the event in such a manner that it can teach as by example. In this manner, we can indulge our imagination and interpret the event so that it can influence our way of life.

Another philosophy of history is to view the event as it happened and would not mind whether it would satisfy our curiosity or not.

Boholano Viewpoint

The sandugo was an ancient Boholano ceremony of sealing an agreement by drinking a mixture of blood taken from the participants and wine. The Boholanos accepted the English translation "Blood Compact." The Boholanos give emphasis on the "friendship" aspect of the event. In fact we always refer to the Blood Compact as a treaty of friendship.

The Boholanos took the philosophy of history that teaches by example. Due to this viewpoint, the Boholanos did not care to investigate the true facts of the event but rather rode on their flights of fancy. This is the reason why, when the National Historical Institute finally determined that the sandugo actually occurred at Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol, many people would not accept this historical fact.

Spanish Viewpoint

On July 10, 1991, the City of Tagbilaran and the City of Zumarraga, Spain had a sisterhood agreement between the two cities. During that time, it was yet the popular viewpoint that the sandugo between Si Katuna and Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi occurred at Bo-ol, Tagbilaran City.

The officials of the City of Tagbilaran posited the opinion that the sandugo was a treaty or agreement of "friendship." The officials from Zumarraga, Spain insisted that it was an agreement of "alliance" and not of friendship. (Note: This writer, Jes B. Tirol, was one of the signatories of the agreement). In the end, the agreement was called an "alliance."

In effect, the Spaniards took the second viewpoint of the philosophy of history. They were technical about the event. They argued that the event signified only the collaboration and not the intimacy associated with friendship.

Comment

This writer would not say as to whose viewpoint is correct. I am just presenting the fact that there are two differing interpretations. These viewpoints are very much associated with the culture of the Boholanos and the Spaniards. The hospitality of the Boholanos is already legendary. So we took on the event of sandugo to emphasize the lesson of hospitality to visitors.

The Spaniards, with their history as colonizers, viewed the sandugo only as a tactical alliance with the Boholanos in order to carry out their purpose of colonizing the Philippines.

Fr. Urdaneta

One of the leaders of the Spanish expedition was Fr. Andres de Urdaneta. He was a co-leader with Gen. Legazpi. He lived in the Moluccas for nine years and became a captain of the Spanish infantry. He married a slave girl and had a daughter. That slave girl came from somewhere in the Philippines.

Later on he was captured by the Portuguese and brought back to Lisbon, Portugal. He escaped and went back to Spain. He wanted to marry a Spaniard but no one would accept him because he had a disfigured face caused by powder burns when his gun exploded on his face.

He went to Mexico and became a priest under the Augustinians. In Mexico, he was always dreaming of his slave-wife who lives in a caleta (small bay) somewhere in the Philippines. When he was ordered by the King of Spain to be the guide of the expedition, he accepted.

When he reached the caleta where the sandugo was held, he disembarked and celebrated a Holy Mass. If the caleta was indeed the home-place of his wife, what do you think would be his viewpoint of the sandugo? Would it be "friendship" or mere "alliance?"