Sandugo Festival

Summary

The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. This 16th-century peace treaty occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact or "sandugo".[1][2]

Sandugo Reenactment

The Sandugo Festival is held every July. The Tagbilaran City Charter Day on July 1 kicks off the month-long festival with a holy mass, diana[clarification needed], motorcade and program sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Among the major activities during the month are the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant and the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition, which is usually held on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of July, and organized by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation.

Sandugo Street Dancing Competition edit

 
Sandugo Street Dancing

The competition attracts participants from schools, the city and municipal governments, Boholano organizations abroad, and contingents from other provinces. The competition starts at noon at the City Pier, passes through major streets, and culminates at the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex, where a Sandugo Re-enactment is held. The winners receive thousands of pesos in prizes.

As well as activities organized by the city and provincial governments and by the BSFI, there are nightly shows and a trade/food fair at the City Pier, a product showcase, concerts, medical and surgical missions.

Street Dancing Champions edit

Year Champion
1989 Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital
1991 Bohol National High School (BNHS)[a]
1992 Bohol National High School (BNHS)[a]
1993 Bohol National High School (BNHS)[a][b]
1995 Municipality of Baclayon
1996 Municipality of Talibon
1997 Bohol School of Arts and Trades (BSAT)[c]
1998 Municipality of Panglao
1999 Municipality of Panglao
2000 Overall Champion, Theme Category: Municipality of Loon; Best in Street Dancing: Municipality of Loon; Best in Production Design: Municipality of Loon; Best in Musical Accompaniment: Municipality of Carmen; Winner, Open Category: San Roque, Sogod (Southern Leyte)
2001 Municipality of Panglao
2002 Municipality of Panglao
2003 Municipality of Panglao[b]
2004 Bohol Island State University
2008 Best in Street Dancing: Municipality of Jagna; Best in Field Performance: Municipality of Maribojoc; Best in Production Design: Pamilacan Island Tourism Livelihood and Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pamilacan Island, Baclayon
2009 Bohol Island State University
2010 Bohol Island State University
2011 Municipality of Carmen
2012 Bohol Island State University (BISU) Candijay Campus
2013 Bohol Island State University (BISU) Clarin Campus
2014 Bohol Island State University (BISU) Calape Campus
2015 Bohol Island State University (BISU) Bilar Campus
2016 Barangay Napo, Loon
2017 Barangay Napo, Loon
2018 Barangay Napo, Loon[b]

There were no competitions from 2005-2007. In 2005 and 2006, Champions from around the country like Masskara, Ati-atihan, etc., performed. In 2007, 30 local contingents participated in an exhibition performance.

  1. ^ a b c Now called Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS)
  2. ^ a b c Sandugo Street Dancing Hall of Fame Awardee
  3. ^ Now called Bohol Island State University (BISU), formerly Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry & Technology (CVSCAFT)

The Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. edit

Due to the inadequate support coming from both government and private sectors coupled with the dwindling public interest in the yearly celebration of the Sandugo Festival, the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. (BSFI) was organized in 1991. Since then, the BSFI has ably spearheaded the celebration of the Sandugo and has made significant efforts in reviving a nationwide interest in the event which has now become a magnetic byword in the tourism industry.[3]

Tigum Bol-anon Sa Tibuok Kalibutan edit

Every two years, the "Tigum Bol-anon Sa Tibuok Kalibutan" (English: A Gathering of Boholanos Around the World) or TBTK is held in unison with the Sandugo Festival. This gathering is organized by the Confederation of Boholanos in the US and Canada or CONBUSAC, which aims to gather Boholanos from all over for a celebration of unity. Among the activities conducted by the TBTK is the Search for Mrs. Bohol International and Miss Bohol International, CONBUSAC Convention, Awarding of Outstanding Boholanos, medical and surgical missions (in cooperation with the BSFI), and others.

The 2010 Sandugo Festival edit

The 2010 theme is "Sandugo at 22: Onward for Unity and Progress". The schedule of events are as follows:

  • July 1 – Tagbilaran City's 44th Charter Anniversary at the City Hall Atrium
  • July 1–31 - Trade/Food Fair at the City Pier
  • July 16 - Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant & Coronation Night at the Bohol Cultural Center
  • July 21–25 - DTI Sandugo Product Showcase at the Block, Island City Mall
  • July 22 - 156th Bohol Day Celebration at the Bohol Cultural Center
  • July 25 - Sandugo Street Dancing, City Pier to CPG Sports Complex

References edit

  1. ^ History of Bohol www.bohol.gov.ph Retrieved 16 November 2006
  2. ^ Sandugo Festival Bohol www.philippinecountry.com Retrieved 16 November 2006
  3. ^ Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. sandugo.tagbilaran.gov.ph Retrieved 12 June 2010

External links edit

  • Bohol Sandugo Festival website
  • Official website of the City Government of Tagbilaran
  • Official website of the Provincial Government of Bohol
  • Sandugo photos
  • Bohol Festival
  • Sandugo Festival