Your tour in Bohol would not be complete without you visiting the historic place where the blood compact or sandugo took place between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (Spain) and Raja Sikatuna (Philippines). The monuments were built to commemorate the friendship between two nationalities. (Which later on, became a political anomaly.)
There were lots of tourists when we got to the place. Nevertheless, for photo addicts like us, no one and nothing could deprive us from taking pictures! lol
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| Hardly see the monument! |
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| "Hi sir, how are you?" |
From the monument, there is a staircase that leads to the lower level where you could also have your pictures taken since the view is really nice. Cool breeze, calm sea, greenery....very nice!
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| Nice view |
But historically, this was not the place where the blood compact did happen. A small municipality named Loay was declared by the National Historical Institute as the official site where sandugo took place on March 16, 1565. (This was after a long investigation and research on where sandugo did happen). Apparently, the coast of Tagbilaran was full of mangroves then that made it impossible to accommodate the ships of Legazpi.
For history buffs, this place has a lot of stories to tell. For shopaholics, a nearby souvenir shop would suffice your craving for nice items - bags, wallets, key chains, coin purse, accessories, etc! At the gate, vendors selling tarsier-inspired wallets and coin purse would approach you. Better make a good bid with the vendors because they were really selling those items cheaper than those in other spots.
After a crash course in history at Blood Compact Monument, we went to Baclayon Church.
Baclayon Church is one of the oldest stone churches in the country. (I think second to San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila). This church was founded by Jesuit Missionaries in 1595.
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| The tower outside Baclayon Church |
Upon entering, the "church ladies" accommodated us and gave us something to cover around our body since we were wearing short skirts/dresses and sleeveless tops.
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| Covered! |
Part of the church was converted into a museum. A competent tour guide showed us around. From the stairs to walls and roofs, most parts were still built with original materials. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the museum.
We were in great astonishment when the guide showed us the first song books and mass books that the priests used during the mass centuries back. There were lots of monuments of saints, candle holders, books (handwritten in script), chalice, old altar, adornments of saints and a lot more!
Inside the church (where the mass is held), a small room at the balcony was alloted for the rich and famous parishioners during the Spanish times. The elites were not seated next to ordinary people during the mass. But of course, today no one is using that room anymore. There were also long bleachers at the ground floor designated to mestizos and rich Filipinos where they stayed during the mass. History tells us a lot of injustice and discrimination in our own country.
The church's altar is old but really beautiful. At both sides of the altar, wooden staircases allow the tourists to take a view of the whole interior of the church.
Outside the church, vendors were selling lots of candles, rosaries and keepsakes. We even lit a candle for our safe trip.
Outside the church, vendors were selling lots of candles, rosaries and keepsakes. We even lit a candle for our safe trip.
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