WHO gets the cash and who gets the credits?

The question, when resolved could settle the disputes as to who owns Sandugo on one hand and who gets the funds for the assistance to Pamilacan Island's whale watching operations on the other.

Tale of two Sandugos

TAGBILARAN City 's 441st Sandugo celebration last Thursday March 16 passed rather sans the usual fanfare. After the rites at the Bool commemorative site and the program later at the City hall atrium, this year's celebration pale in contrast to blitz the Sandugo was accorded in the past years. This possibly as the festivity shifts to a new venue this week, following feverish preparations in Loay. This week ushers Loay's first ever commemoration of the Sandugo March 24-25, more than 400 years of passively accepting the activity centered in Tagbilaran City . The National Historical Institute (NHI) recently penned in Loay's favor, a decision that may end in Tagbilaran City holding an empty bag after roughly 441 years of bagging the tourism benefits of the festive Sandugo Festival. Sandugo, the major tourism revenue generator for Tagbilaran City is widely considered the mother of all Bohol festivals.

The yearly festival is a celebration of friendship commemorating an event that happened between Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and native chieftain Si Katuna. That is only as far as the two contending claimants could agree. As to where and when it happened is a decided issue but remains to be legally established to assume legitimacy. In its decision penned recently, the NHI, citing document 27, p. 297 of the Collecion de Documentos Ineditos Relativos Al Descubriemento, Conquista y Organizacion De las Antiguas Posesiones Espanolas De Ultramar ruled that the Blood Compact happened aboard flagship San Pedro anchored in Hinawanan, Loay. NHI noted that the event happened March 25, 1565 .

Even then, Governor Erico Aumentado pressed that until a law supercedes his authored Republic Act 9093, he would be siding with Tagbilaran. RA 9093 ruled that the Sandugo (Blood Compact) happened March 16, 1521 in Bool. The same fact was based on the accounts written by historian Gregorio F. Zaide. On the other hand, Hinawanan Bay in Villalimpia Loay becomes the hub of activities as Loay girds for Sandugo, the first recorded international treaty of friendship. Getting a hold on the Sandugo means a righting a historical flaw for Loay and a booster for Tagbilaran City which has adopted the “City of Friendship” in lieu to that event. Even then, keeping a historical marker and programming themed tourism activities in support of the events associated with the Sandugo unfurls boundless possibilities for money, not discounting grants from the government for site historical site development.

On to making whale of a mistake in Pamilacan

CASH or credit again appears to be the root of another conflict that may spell a whale of a mistake in Pamilacan's whale watching industry. The conflict, spawned by jealousy, according to observers has the potential to capsize the industry and leave all takers nothing but empty pockets and rumbling stomachs. The spotlight brought about by the recent visit of the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Elizabeth Clark and the accolades heaped upon Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale Watching Organization (PIDWWO) sent various groups squirting dirty tactics to grab credits and cash from Dolphin Watch Pamilacan (DWP).

DWP added another praise by becoming a finalist in the world tourism tilt's Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for 2006 in the conservation category. This also brought pride for New Zealand , being the funding government. Barely a week after hosting the NZ Prime Minister, PIDWWO is now charged with misrepresentation. PIDWWO oppositors alleged that the New Zealand aided organization is hand-spearing the money from the Provincial and National Governments, which was accordingly intended to benefit the majority of whalers in the island. Pointing the accusing finger was a competing whale watching operator, the Pamilacan Island Boat Operators and Spotter Association through its operations manager Joselino S. Baritua. PIDWWO Chairman Leo Sumalpong on the other hand denied the allegations and pointed to jealousy as the motive behind PIBOSA's charges.

Pamilacan Island Barangay Captain Crispo Valeroso, in a certification dated March 8, 2006 stated that Barangay Pamilacan was not in any way involved with PIDWWO. Furthermore, he said the barangay has not received any of the 50% share of PIDWWO net income for the community development in the island. Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) during a press conference Friday clarified that the 50% share would not come as cash but projects for the barangay. ELAC cited the island's solid waste management program and rain collector as a beneficiary of the 50%.

Baritua, in a signed letter addressed to Provincial Tourism Chair Peter Dejaresco accused PIDWWO members of misrepresenting in saying they conducted sea patrols, contributed to sanctuary clean-ups, installed mooring buoys and acted as members of the Municipal Bantay Dagat.

Sumalpong flashed to the media a Fish Warden deputization card signed by Governor Erico Aumentado and then Bohol Environment Management Office head Nunila Pinat. After going mainstream, Sumalpong, as with Baritua both became members of the Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals. This put them both as volunteers for sea patrols, reef and coastal clean-ups and enforce diving ethics. Meanwhile Baclayon officials tag PIDWWO Chairman Sumalpong for not disclosing to them a big event that would happen in the town accused him of getting the credits alone by himself.

On his end, Sumalpong in his capacity as PIDWWO chair coordinated the visit and said he was strictly warned non-disclosure. The Malacanang and New Zealand protocol with the Presidential Security Group was also securing the visiting prime-minister. He was told not to divulge any classified information on the matter for security reasons.

Baritua, who was then hired by World Wildlife Fund and its local counterpart, Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas started PIDWWO but was accordingly terminated for undisclosed reasons. Sumalpong, who openly accepted he used to gather tuba and hunt balelan started to reorganize PIDWWO and relaunch the DWP in 2003 after the National Eco-Tourism Committee help.