CEBU CITY – The Sandugo Festival in Bohol province made a successful return on Sunday, July 30, after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Thousands of residents and guests witnessed 10 contingents compete in the street dancing and ritual showdown.
Tribu Tagbilaranon of Tagbilaran City emerged as the biggest winner after it was crowned champion in the ritual showdown at the Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Sports Complex.
The feat earned Tagbilaran a whopping P500,000 cash prize.
Tagbilaran, headed by Mayor Jane Yap, pocketed another P100,000 after bagging the Best Street Dancing award.
Tagbilaran also bagged the Best in Musicality and Best in Costume awards. Each award was worth P50,000.
Banay Loaynon of Loay town got P300,000 after finishing first runner-up in the ritual showdown while Tribu Carmenanon of Carmen town received P150,000 as the second runner-up.
The rest of the contingents, which got P50,000 as consolation prize, were the towns of Pilar, Talibon, Guindulman, Calape, Getafe, Buenavista, and Tubigon.
Sen. Imee Marcos was one of the spectators at the CPG Sports Complex.
Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado welcomed the return of the festival.
Sandugo commemorates the 1565 treaty of friendship between Boholano chieftain Rajah Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
The agreement was sealed with a blood compact, hence, the term “sandugo” or one blood.
It was also the first Sandugo Festival held under the administration of Aumentado.
The governor said the festival shows that the province is back on its feet and is open for business as a top tourist destination in the country.
“We are expecting more visitors to the Sandugo because we now have direct international flights to the Panglao International Airport,” said Aumentado.
“I am very happy that after three years, the Sandugo finally returned and we saw that the event was very successful and the Boholanos were very excited about the festival which has big impact on our tourism,” added Aumentado.
Spectators gathered in the city’s major streets as dancing contingents in colorful costumes and distinctive steps inspired by Bohol-original dance – the “kuradang.”
Aumentado promised a bigger Sandugo next year which will highlight the province as the country’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Global Geopark.
“We will further improve so that more towns will participate. We will offer bigger prizes,” said Aumentado.
The return of the event was described as a great comeback.