Proem

In Year 2006 the National Historical Institute (NHI) finally declared that the date of the Sikatuna-Legazpi Blood Compact was March 25, 1565 and that the site of the event was Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol.

Another finding of this writer (Jes B. Tirol) is that Bohol was created into a separate province on March 3, 1854. This important date is still unrecognized in Bohol.

The Law

On May 1994, a law known as R.A. 7685 enacted declaring July 22 as "Bohol Day." This date is declared a legal holiday in the Province of Bohol.

This date, July 22, is based on the erroneous English translation made by Emma Blair and James Robertson on the original Spanish book "Provincia De San Nicolas De Tolentino De Agustinos Descalzos" authored by Fr. Patricio Marcellan.

The original statement of Fr. Marcellan indicated that the decree creating Bohol as a province arrived from Spain on July 22. However, Blair and Robertson made a wrong English translation and said that July 22 was the date of the decree.

The Original Decree

The original decree creating the Province of Bohol is still available at the National Archives, Manila. The decree is found in the Governor General's File and the Royal Audiencia's File. Both records are signed by Governor General Marques de Novaliches and dated 3 March 1854.

An indication that the date is correct is the existence of another document appointing Captain Guillermo Kirkpatrick as the Politico-Military Governor of Bohol. The date of this document is also 3 March 1854.

Britain's Case

In the United Kingdom of Great Britain, more popularly known only as England, the King or Queen has two recognized birthdays - the actual birthday and the official birthday.

The present queen, Queen Elizabeth II, was born on April 21, 1926. However, by law, her official birthday is on the first week of June. The date is movable depending upon the weather.

The reason for an official birthday is to enable the nation to make a grand celebration.

So the best time to hold a parade was selected because the Queen is obligated to ride on horseback to review the troops. If there would be no official birthday, it might happen that the actual birthday of the King or Queen will fall on days of bad weather and no grand celebration could be held.

It is important to note that the two birthdays of the Queen of England is officially recognized.

Bohol's Case

In Bohol, there are two "Bohol Day" - the legal and the historical. The trouble is, the legal "Bohol Day" does not recognize the historical "Bohol Day" of March 3.

If we will take a cue from Great Britain, the situation could be remedied if the Provincial Board of Bohol will officially declare that historically the "Bohol Day" is March 3 and the legal "Bohol Day" is July 22.

The reason that could be put forth is that the July 22 "Bohol Day" will mark the end of the Tourism Festival also called "Sandugo Festival."

If R.A. 7685 would not be amended to declare March 3 as the actual "Bohol Day" then it is much better to officially recognize two "Bohol Days." This will enable outsiders to know that Boholanos are not ignorant of historical facts.