The Spanish in our blood partly conjures the title of this book: Pacto de Sangre. Blood compact, or sandugo in Filipino, the act of friendship made by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, as representative of the Kings of Spain, and by Sikatuna, a chieftain of Bohol, transcends the original and possibly very political motives of both parties. As celebrated in this book, Pacto de Sangre is symbolic of the cultural transfusion which transpired after Sikatuna drank the wine mixed with Legazpi's blood. The transfusion, perhaps, is largely one-sided. In the real politik of colonialism, it is almost impossible to think of even a hint of Filipino blood in Spain. But who knows? A future researcher may someday write a treatise on the effects of abaca on Spanish shipping or of manton de manila on Spanish fashion. Or, and this is more likely, the influence of our highly Hispanized cultural icons, like Jose Rizal and Juan Luna, on Spanish literature and painting.

Published in 2003 by Philippine-Spanish Friednship Day Committee

189 pages / Hardcover