Blood Compact Between Sikatuna and Legaspi

Location: Tagbilaran City, Bohol  
Category: Sites/Events
Type: Site
Former status: Level II - Historical marker

Marker date: 1941

Installed by: Philippines Historical Committee (PHC)

Marker text:

BLOOD COMPACT BETWEEN SIKATUNA AND LEGASPI

ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MARCH 1565, CAPTAIN GENERAL MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGASPI’S FLEET ANCHORED ALONG THIS SHORE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, LEGASPI MANIFESTING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE ISLANDERS, ENTERED INTO A BLOOD COMPACT WITH DATU SIKATUNA FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSURING FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SPANIARDS AND THE NATIVES. A FEW DROPS OF BLOOD DRAWN FROM A SMALL INCISION IN THE ARM OF EACH OF THE TWO CHIEFS WERE PLACED IN SEPARATE CUPS CONTAINING WINE, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FOLLOWERS OF BOTH, EACH CHIEF DRANK THE POTION CONTAINING THE BLOOD OF THE OTHER. THUS, DURING THIS PERIOD OF COLONIZATION, A BOND WAS SEALED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIVE PRACTICE, THE FIRST TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND ALLIANCE BETWEEN SPANIARDS AND FILIPINOS.

Current status: Delisted

Basis of delisting: Resolution No. 04, S. 2005 – Adopting the recommendation of the Panel resolving the Site of Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi

Delisted by: National Historical Institute (NHI)

Date delisted: 2005