The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in the island province 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”.
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, 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 Sunday of July, and organized by the Provincial Government of Bohol through the Center for the Culture and the Arts Development Office (CCAD).
A re-enactment of the treaty of friendship or “sandugo” is being emulated during the street dancing competition and is usually played by the Governor as Datu Sikatuna and the City Mayor of Tagbilaran or the first gentleman of the City in case the Mayor is a woman, as Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
