MikeLigalig.com

By Jes Tirol

BLOOD COMPACT SITE: Site Investigation by NHI Panel

Proem

On September of 2003 there was a Round Table Conference conducted by the National Historical Institute (NHI) to settle the controversy as to the actual site of the famous Blood Compact between Si Katuna and Gen. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It was conducted at the Audio Visual Hall of the NHI in Manila.

This writer (Jes B. Tirol) and Prof. Emmanuel Luis Romanillos presented the contention that the site was Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol. City Councilors Danilo Bantugan and Rizalino Israel represented the side that the site was Bo-ol, Tagbilaran City.

It was agreed that the NHI Panel would not decide until it can conduct an actual site investigation.

NHI Notice

Last February 4, 2005 I received a faxed notice that the NHI Panel will be in Bohol on February 9-11, 2005 to conduct the actual site investigation and do the second phase of the investigation. The notice contained the information that two experts will come with the four-member NHI Panel.

One of the experts will come from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) and another from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA). Actual it was a representative from the Philippine Geo-Sciences Authority that came. These two experts verified the data from historical records and compared which of the two sites can best fit the records.

The Second Phase

On February 9, 2005 the members of the NHI Panel and the two experts visited the two sites and conducted interviews. Nobody among the presenters in the First Conference was present so that the NHI Panel will not be influenced. They were the verifying the veracity on what was presented during the First Conference.

On February 10, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at the Dao Diamond Hotel Conference Room was held the Second Panel discussion. The 4-member NHI Panel and the two experts were presented. When the conference started, it was only Ex-Vice Mayor Rizalino Israel who was presented to defend the case of Tagbilaran. I was also the presenter present for the Loay side.

In the audience were mostly representatives from Loay including Mayor L. Tiongco, V-Mayor T. Bullecer Jr., Ex-Mayor Jose Borja, Ex-Mayor O. Clarin Jr. and some councilors.

In attendance also were officials from NHI, Fr. Ted Torralba, representing the BACH Council of Bohol, Carmen Gatal, the former Bohol Provincial DILG representing BACRAI of Baclayon, and some media persons.

Additional Presentation

Ex-Vice Mayor Rizalino Israel made the first additional presentation. He quoted numerous newspaper articles and after ten (10) minutes presented his evidences to the panel. (Note: Councilor D. Bantugan was not yet present. He came late.)

During my turn to speak, I manifested that I will present a revised form of my position paper and pertinent zeroxed copies of “Conquista de las Islas Filipinas” by Fr. Gaspar de San Augstin, OSA. Fr. Gaspar died on 1724, so the document must have been written before that date. The paper was accompanied by an English translation by Luis Antonio Mañeru. The paper described the Blood Compact and I emphasized that it mentioned that Si Katuna lived beside a river.

The addition to my position paper was the contention that in 1915 nobody in Bohol had known regarding the Si Katuna-Legazpi Blood Compact. I showed a tattered by still intact souvenir program of the “Circulo Boholano” dated 1915 whose editor was Olegario Clarin, the future Senator. It said that Magellan was the one who came to Bo-ol. I also presented the book “Bohol ug Mga Bol-anon” by Atty. Bernardino Inting indicating that it was only in 1934 when the Si Katuna-Legazpi Blood Compact was known in Bohol. That Bo-ol Tagbilaran was claimed as the site because of the opinion of the then American Superintendent of Schools Bruce Baynes relying only on the second hand reference “The Philippine Islands” by Blair and Robertson. Since the original Spanish language reports of the participants of the Legazpi Expedition are now available, it must be the one analyzed. I showed the reference books to Ex-Vice Mayor Israel, unfortunately he said, “This is Greek to me.”

When Councilor Bantugan arrived he asked for five (5) days to present his opinion. The NHI Panel also asked the opinion of Fr. Ted Torralba regarding the whole matter of the controversy in his capacity as Church historian and BACH Council representative. The Panel asked for a written opinion of Fr. Torralba. Carmen Gatal was also asked regarding her opinion.

The Promise

During the open forum, Mr. Visarra asked whether the NHI could render a decision before the start of the July Sandugo Celebration. After consultations, NHI Deputy Director Almerosa manifested that if the Panel can make a report by April, it can give time for the NHI Board to deliberate and make a decision before July 2005.

So the promise was made, NHI will make a decision on or before July 2005.

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