THE EVENT conceptualization and and management group of Loay’s “panag Higala-ay” has prepared a grander commemoration of the historic Blood Compact’s 444th year on March 25.
The 2008 celebration, under the “Treaty that started Friendship” concept of the Event Management and the Organizing group, paved the way for Loay’s partnership with the Department of Tourism, through Secretary Ace Durano in endorsing the “panag Higala-ay” as one of the newest celebration and latest tourism activity in Bohol together with.
The “panag Higala-ay” 2008 celebration involved 5,000 people eating together on a line of 150 tables connected together through the sponsorship of Coca Cola – an attempt for a Guiness World record.
Initiating it was Councilor Kag. Hermes Entero, tourism chair of Loay.
The grand celebration clinched with “fireworks display” through the courtesy of Eduardo ‘Boy’ Enerio and the Enerio-Espiritu family of Loay; and the “banda sa Hinawanan Bay”, an anual commitment of San Miguel Corporation for all Boholanos to savor “ Sarap Mag Blood Compact” concept.
Organizers vowed to make it bigger on March 25, as a prelude to the grand celebration of its 445th year on March 25, 2010.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) declared Loay as the site of the Historic Blood Compact – the 1565 treaty on the shores of Hinawanan Bay, Barangay Villalimpia.
For years, Loaynons had been clamoring for recognition as the exact site of Sandugo, dubbed as the very first intrenational treaty of friendship, that will exactly be 444 years on March 25.
Recognition is due Loay as the historic treaty’s accurate venue while its exact date is March 25 which respected Boholano historian, Jess Tirol substantiated with facts.
Tirol was commissioned by the Municipality of Loay together with a historian from the National Commission of Culture and Arts, and Bohol’s Marianito Luspo, and then Loay mayor Leonides Tiongco who was the driving force in locating “the well between two rivers, where the soldiers of General Legazpi fetched water…”
The NHI panel concluded that “the Bohol Blood Compact between Boholano warrior Datu Sikatuna and Spanish Commander General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi took place onboard the flagship San Pedro which was anchored off the waters of Loay, Bohol on March 25, 1565”.
NHI, through Resolution 4 issued on July 21, 2005, officially declared Loay as the exact location and March 25, 1565 as the Bohol Blood Compact occured – the crowning glory and achievement of Tiongco and his group for their untiring effort and sense of history.
NHI Chariman Ambeth Ocampo installed the NHI Marker on March 25, 2006 with a fitting celebration and colorful re-enactment of the blood compact depicting two men of different races at the shores of Hinawanan bay.
In a related development, the NHI is now in the midst of assessing the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia house in Tagbilaran City to become and be declared as a Heritage Place.
The Bool Blood Compact site is the Commemorative Site wherein lies the steel sculptured work of National Artist, Napoleon Abueva – a Boholano, of the historic Blood Compact between Datu Sikatuna and General Legazpi.
Over the years Sandugo has become a popular festival every July, interpreting the blood compact.
Loay’s celebration and reenactment in 2007 included a ceremonial tree-planting of a Philippine and Spanish trees, witnessed by more than a hundred children from Loay and watered by the then president of National Resources and Development Corp. (NRDC), the corporate arm of DENR, using the water in the well.
It gave birth to the “panag Higala-ay sa Loay”.
It was also during the celebration that the winning piece in the theme song contest done by Onie Oclarit with a P10,000 prize was chosen; and Johnny Enerio, chairman of the event organizing group awarded P5,000 for the winning entry in1565 Treaty Logo category.
Enerio was appointed through a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution 72 -2006 and Memorandum of Agreement 915-2006 through former mayor Tiongco and Jenar Valloso, SB secretary , as duly attested by then vice-mayor Tiburcio Bullecer Jr.
The resolution and the MOA provided for a five-year event conceptualization and management of the Bohol Blood Compact from 2007-2011.
The Bohol Blood Compact – had established the historical importance of Bohol; showcased the culture and arts heritage and innovations of Boholanos; secured a stronger multisectoral community participation enhancing the Tourism potential and emphasizing the Historical importance and significance of the such event; and stimulate economic movements & inventor interest.
Loay has been noted to be an investor-friendly town hosting the Loay Floating Restaurant, the Clarin Heritage House and the Holy Trinity Church ground, an NCCA grant recipient in the year 2006.
