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The Loay Blood Compact

Why the City of Tagbilaran chose to downplay the March 16 celebration of Sandugo is no longer beyond me. Right after hearing the justification of Kag. Dandan Bantugan, chair of the SB committee on historical accounts and heraldy that the city has something big up its sleeves, then we can only say amen to that. What the good kagawad actually meant was that come July, the city's Sandugo celebration is something to reckon with.

For all intents and purposes, Tagbilaran has all the reasons to be on the offensive against the backdrop of two contrasting claims about the Sandugo. Aside from enjoying the mantra of name recall, Tagbilaran also enjoys the full support of the entire Boholano population with regards to its claim as the rightful Sandugo site.

So what's all the fuss?

Well, Loay is no pushover in the race for recognition. Having the full backing of its own congressman, Loay has nothing to lose if the town will give all out support to this year's first Sandugo celebration which will be celebrated on March 25. For Loay, the declaration of the town as the actual site of the first treaty of friendship between Boholano chieftain Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was a manna from heaven. And knowing the resourcefulness of its local officials, there's no gainsaying that the town will always capitalize on the blood compact's tourism potentials.

Right now, the Loay officials are aesthetic about the prospects of hosting the Sandugo celebration with lots of fanfares and fireworks. Understandably, any place subjected to the same circumstance will have to feel the same. What else can one expect when a tourist attraction is handed to a municipality practically in a silver platter?