Talk:Order of Sikatuna
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[edit] Sandugo
The Sandugo or blood compact article mentions the Order of Sikatuna as symbolizing the first international treaty of friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards. I think the historical event is notable enough to be mentioned also in the article Order of Sikatuna as its historical root or background. --Pinay06(Talk•Email) 03:33, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
- by all means!Gareon 07:15, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
- Thank you. The current link to Pacto de Sangre still links to the metal band (as opposed to the El pacto de sangre painting of Juan Luna) which, if I'm not wrong, has absolutely nothing to do at all with the article. Maybe remove the wiki link and change to italics to denote Spanish translation of blood compact, i.e., instead of Pacto de Sangre, Pacto de sangre. Once again, in deference and respect to User:Gareon, I inhibit myself from making the edit myself. --Pinay06 (Talk•Email) 08:56, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Order of Sikatuna is based on false history
The Order of Sikatuna was created by Executive Order No. 571 signed by Pres. Elpidio Quirino on 27 February 1953. Section 2 of the E0 states, “The Order of Sikatuna...commemorates the first treaty (Pacto de Sangre) between the Philippines and a foreign country...” The Order was inspired by an award-winning painting by Philippine hero Juan Luna titled Pacto de Sangre. This painting, dated 1885, commemorates an event that happened in 1565 between datu or "king" Sikatuna from Bohol and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The painting itself is less than historically precise because another datu from Bohol of equal standing, Rajah Sigala, was a participant to the compact. He was omitted for artistic reason which is probably justifiable under the rubric of artistic license. But as a historical document, the painting is of less than commendable merit.
The Sikatuna award is based on false history. In the first place, the Legazpi-Sikatuna blood compact was not a treaty. In the second place the blood compact was not the first. The first recorded blood compact is related by Antonio Pigafetta in his eyewitness account of the circumnavigation of the world. This was the blood compact between Ferdinand Magellan and the king of Mazaua, Raia Siaiu--Si Ayo for easier reading. Magellan called the ceremony "casi casi", a Malayan term the Portuguese mariner learned at Malacca when he was stationed there in 1511. This incident happened on Holy Thursday, March 28, 1521, 44 years before the event immortalized in Juan Luna’s painting. The place where this happened was the island-port of Mazaua which Pigafetta locates at 9° 40' North, Francisco Albo at 9° 20' North, and The Genoese Pilot at 9° North. The port is wrongly represented today by an isle in Leyte which has no anchorage.
On the other hand the first treaty between Fernando de Magallanes (Fernão de Magalhães in Portuguese) representing the Spanish crown, and Rajah Humabon, representing his chiefdom of Cebu--the concept of a Philippine nation had not entered the minds of people in the archipelago not until the 19th century--occurred on Tuesday, April 9, 1521.
The Philippines' National Historical Institute--which advises the President on historical matters--is aware of the above historical facts and is in a quandary what to do. As of this date (Jan. 25, 2008) it has yet to announce a suitable solution. The award's value--in the face of its fallacious historical basis--is greatly diminished if not rendered nil. --Vicente Calibo de Jesus (talk) 03:22, 25 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Philippine Military has its own Sikatuna awards
The military establishment of the Philippines, separate from Malacanang or Office of the President, gives its own Order of Sikatuna and it has more ranks. While the President used to give only two ranks, Raja, the highest, and Datu, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has 5 ranks, namely, Raja-Commander Laureate, Datu-Commander 1st Class, Lakan-Commander, Maginoo-Officer, and Maharlika-Member.--Vicente Calibo de Jesus (talk) 05:39, 25 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Inaction by Philippine government make the Sikatuna Award a hoax
On July 10, 2006 Congressman Leovigildo B. Banaag of Agusan Norte, District I, wrote Mr. Ambeth Ocampo, Chairman-Executive Director of the National Historical Institute, to point out the need to correct the Sikatuna award. He urged on Ocampo "to correct certain historical errors...that have been elevated to premier decorations/awards of the Philippine Republic." Banaag recommended that "henceforth the Order shall be known as Order of Raias Siaiu-Humabon."
Even earlier, on April 30, 2005, I wrote President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a letter urging her to correct the Sikatuna error. "To keep it as is is to foist a lie on an unsuspeccting world and undermine the Republic's credibility," I wrote. I sent a copy my letter to NHI Chair Ocampo and Mrs. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, executive director of the National Commission on Culture and Arts of the Philippines.
On September 12, 2007, retiring Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki was conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu. Yamazaki accepted the award ignorant of the fact his outstanding services to the Philippines was being slapped with an historical hoax.
Up to now (Jan. 25, 2008) no action has been taken by the Philippine government. It seems to be waiting for the time foreign dignitaries will know of the character of the Order of Sikatuna as a hoax and demand its replacement or else they'll refuse to accept it will Philippine officials start to move.--Vicente Calibo de Jesus (talk) 05:39, 25 January 2008 (UTC)
