Sandugo Festival

The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. This 16th-century peace treaty took place at Villalimpia, Hinawanan Bay, Loay on the Spanish boat San Pedro, March 25 1565, and is called a blood compact or "sandugo".^[1][2]

The Sandugo Festival is held every July. The Tagbilaran City Charter Day on July 1 kicks off the month-long festival with a holy mass, diana^{[clarification needed]}, motorcade and program sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Among the major activities during the month are the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant and the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition, which is usually held on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of July, and organized by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation.

The competition attracts participants from schools, the city and municipal governments, Boholano organizations abroad, and contingents from other provinces. The competition starts at noon at the City Pier, passes through major streets, and culminates at the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex, where a Sandugo Re-enactment is held. The winners receive thousands of pesos in prizes.

As well as activities organized by the city and provincial governments and by the BSFI, there are nightly shows and a trade/food fair at the City Pier, a product showcase, concerts, medical and surgical missions.

There were no competitions from 2005-2007. In 2005 and 2006, Champions from around the country like Masskara, Ati-atihan, etc., performed. In 2007, 30 local contingents participated in an exhibition performance.

Due to the inadequate support coming from both government and private sectors coupled with the dwindling public interest in the yearly celebration of the Sandugo Festival, the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. (BSFI) was organized in 1991. Since then, the BSFI has ably spearheaded the celebration of the Sandugo and has made significant efforts in reviving a nationwide interest in the event which has now become a magnetic byword in the tourism industry.^[3]

Every two years, the "Tigum Bol-anon Sa Tibuok Kalibutan" (English: A Gathering of Boholanos Around the World) or TBTK is held in unison with the Sandugo Festival. This gathering is organized by the Confederation of Boholanos in the US and Canada or CONBUSAC, which aims to gather Boholanos from all over for a celebration of unity. Among the activities conducted by the TBTK is the Search for Mrs. Bohol International and Miss Bohol International, CONBUSAC Convention, Awarding of Outstanding Boholanos, medical and surgical missions (in cooperation with the BSFI), and others.

The 2010 theme is "Sandugo at 22: Onward for Unity and Progress". The schedule of events are as follows:

• July 1 – Tagbilaran City's 44th Charter Anniversary at the City Hall Atrium
• July 1–31 - Trade/Food Fair at the City Pier
• July 16 - Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant & Coronation Night at the Bohol Cultural Center
• July 21–25 - DTI Sandugo Product Showcase at the Block, Island City Mall
• July 22 - 156th Bohol Day Celebration at the Bohol Cultural Center
• July 25 - Sandugo Street Dancing, City Pier to CPG Sports Complex

• Bohol Sandugo Festival website
• Official website of the City Government of Tagbilaran
• Official website of the Provincial Government of Bohol
• Sandugo photos
• Bohol Festival
• Sandugo Festival