By RIC V. OBEDENCIO

Now, truth must prevail.

The National Historical Institute (NHI), the agency authorized under Presidential Decree No. 260 to take care of the historical, or scientific or archaeological sites in the country, had actually come out with a resolution resolving the controversy whether the blood compact took place in Bool, Tagbilaran City or in Loay town. In its approved Resolution No. 04, series of 2005, entitled, “A Resolution Adopting The Recommendation of the Panel Resolving The Site of the Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi,” the (NHI) said that Loay town is the place where the blood compact took place on March 25, 1565. NHI Resolution pointed out that after the a thorough investigations and interviews of divers, fisher folks and residents of both Tagbilaran City and Loay, including documents presented by both sides, the “panel concluded that the blood compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi took place in flagship San Pedro which was anchored off Hinawanan Bay or off the waters of Loay on March 25, 1565.”

With this, the controversy arising from the real site where the Blood Compact site is has been hounding Boholanos for years and even kept them in the dark, has finally resolved. The Resolution provides, “Whereas, ocular inspection and interviews with divers and fisher folks in Tagbilaran and Loay were conducted on February 9-11, 2005 with the help of experts of National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA) and National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines.” The Resolution was signed by NHI's Ambeth R. Ocampo, chairman, and its members: Jose M. Cruz, Benito L. Legarda, Jr., Corazon S. Alvina, Heidi K. Gloria, Serafin D. Quiason, Prudenciana C. Cruz; and Ladovico D. Badoy, director.

The panel that assessed and studied the documents is composed of Judge Nestor Ballasillo, Office of the Solicitor General, chairman; Atty. Edgardo Sison, office of the Solicitor general; Fred dela Rosa, Editor, Manila Times, member; and Dr. Ricardo T. Jose, historian/adviser, University of the Philippines, the NHI Resolution said. Loay residents interviewed by media have said that it's about time to correct the “error of history” for the benefit of the next generations and rectify the wrong notion of the blood compact site. Some say that it's also about time to avoid fooling the visitors of believing that it is in barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City where the Blood Compact took place.

Since they received the said Resolution from NHI not too long ago, Loay officials, including the present administration, have preferred just to keep mum about it to stay away from head-on collision with other claimant, this case Tagbilaran City. But they (Loay officials) tried but failed to promote the site, after putting the marker courtesy of the NHI and placing a billboard and even clear the way especially the well as an indicator of Legaspi's anchorage way back then even if the said site is along the tourism circuit on the way to Chocolate Hills in Carmen town. Some well-meaning tour guides who are already knowledgeable about it tried to explain leisurely on the real score but still preferred to put in tour itinerary, stopover for that matter, the one with the statues of Datu Sikatuna and Legaspi in Bool, this city. (RVO)