Sandugo @ 25th : “Furthering the Spirit of Oneness”

Bohol is said to be the Jewel of the country Philippines. The island is surrounded with magnificent spots and splendid views that attract many outlanders. It has different genres of festivities that are celebrated, but the grandest and the most jubilee is the “Sandugo Festival”. It is an annual event in this current province during the months of July at the 28^th day. Carrying the today’s theme “Furthering the spirit of oneness.” on its silver anniversary (25^th).

           

The boholano term “Sandugo” which is a visayan word meaning “one blood”. It is also originated from a blood compact, performed between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565 to assure their friendship and serves as their symbol of oneness and cooperation in terms of trade as a part of the tribal tradition. 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 located in Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City.

Everyone is gathered and eager to witness the aforementioned festival especially the participants each with their pride of talents commemorating the signing of treaty of friendship between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Tagbilaran City, Philippines primly establishes its 25 years. The matter started with a Street Dancing Competition from the Tagbilaran City seaport to the CPG Sports Complex where the foremost showcase was held. The participants nurture a variety of tribal gestures with spectacular costumes and choreography. Followed by it was the lineament of the actors and actresses usually from the GMA Network, Kapuso Stars participated by Dion Ignacio, Bianca King, Diva Montelaba and others that seasoned the crowd during the street dancing competition while Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes as well as the fireworks display awed the spectators at the CPG Sports complex.

The 6 different contingents are: Totolan, Dauis , Immaculada Concepcion Academy (Catigbian), Barangay Cogon, BISU Clarin, Tribu Manghuhulma (DCPNHS) and Tribu Doljoanon (Panglao). Each of them executes its own motif based on their tribe and their way of living. Different manners of choreography are shown that dreaded the audience. Each and every of them had their bets and supported it by their cheers and screams. The people are having an elbow grease just to attend the celebration even if the atmosphere is so hot and tried to insert themselves at the audience’s column. All the leaders in bohol are gathered and assembled particularly: Governor Edgar Chatto and City Mayor Baba Yap favored the event along with Reps. Rene Relampagos (1st district), Aris Aumentado (2nd district) and Arthur Yap (3rd district), and BSF President Mariano Uy. They also have a short play or reenactment of the sandugo.

After that, was the performance and if I would be one of the judges, I would be in doubt in deciding the winners cause they are all pleasant, but we all know that in every contest, there is a winner and a loser but we must endure and accept it. So, the BISU-Clarin contingent received from Bohol Sandugo Foundation a cash prize of P300,000 for the title and held as the grand champion BISU-Clarin contingent received from Bohol Sandugo Foundation a cash prize of P300,000 for the title, and also bagged the Best in Production Design prize of P45,000, Best in Street Dancing Showdown over five other contenders this year 2013. First runner-up prize of P225,000 cash goes to Catigbian town, represented by Immaculate Mary Academy, while the 2nd runner-up prize of P175,000 cash was grabbed by the  town if Panglao, represented by the Barangay Doljo contingent. Right after the awarding was a grand fireworks display and the moment of the love team Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes to shine.

As the jubilee ends, people are scattered and waves a bye. We can never forget our boholano pride; culture and tradition that still exists nowadays. I hope that this custom will never die and be forgotten but let us have a space in our heart and let our own culture vibrate it.