18/01/2025
PROUDLY BOHOL MADE: The Warrior Spirit Lives On
Showcasing our premium handforged Boholano weapons : Dagohoy Pinuti 18, named after our proud Boholano hero, Francisco Sendrijas aka Francisco Dagohoy and the Sikatuna blade, named after our town's name, Sikatuna Bohol, which was also named after Datu Sikatuna, a precolonial local chieftain, who forged a lifetime friendship with the Spanish explorer, Juan Miguel de Legazpi, who became the first Governor General of Las Islas de Filipinas (Philippines).
Scant sources from Jesuit historians were said to recount how Miguel Lopez de Legazpi brought with him brave Boholano warriors to conquer the Kingdoms of Maynilad, thus making Manila, the seat of Legazpi's rule. These warriors he brought with him came back to the Visayas (kay gimingaw sa pista, way pista ila dadto) and because they were in on not-so-big, wooden bancas that time, the journeys were ardously long. Hence, one of these famous warriors, eventually, ended up in the coastal areas of now modern day Sorsogon and founded the famously scenic and historic town of Gubat Sorsogon. I even went to check this place and yes, it's true. The main street of the town is marked Manook St. and the named of the Poblacion, the town's center is Brgy. Manook. Records says he was the son or grandson of Datu Pagbuaya of the Kidatuan sa Dapitan (Dapitan Kingdom) near Dauis-,Mansasa area. He was given a Christian name and baptised Pedro Manuel Manooc, who was eventually buried in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Only conquerors were buried in big churches that time. This I have to check because Cebuano historians are not keen on making a big deal about this. Talking about a Boholano warrior who was given a burial befitting a conqueror, buried in the seat of Visayan Christendom, an archdiocesan church. FYI, Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi's body was laid rest in the oldest church in the Philippines, the world renowned San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila.
It's time we show them respect in our own little way. That's why in our next blade project, we will collab with another blade of our shop, the Manooc Blade.
More on the next post.
