The Philippines Bravery and Pride: Lapu-Lapu of Cebu
Before the discovery of the Philippines by any foreign colonizers, native Filipinos are living peacefully.
Philippines, a paradise, being peaceful and naturally abundant with food and water, Filipinos only prepared weapons for hunting animals and fishes.
Being an archipelago, Philippines composed of thousands of islands. Filipinos would prefer living on the mountains and on the seashore.
The expedition of Spain headed by a Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led to the discovery of the Philippines on March 16, 1521.
The discovery brought Catholicism on the country today.
Magellan sought alliances with other natives with Datu Zula. Expanding his search and his pride, he found himself having a political rivalry with other chieftain of Cebu.
At dawn on 27th of April 1521, with his pride, he ordered Datu Zula and his men to remain on board and watch how he fights with the opposing natives.
Magellan invaded Mactan with 60 armed men and a thousand of Cebuano warriors.
In his invasion, he had difficulties on landing their ships due to a rocky shore. With his 60 armed men, with guns and armors, confidently looking forward to win the battle with the local natives in Mactan.
Defending Mactan and the pride of the locals who do not want to become the invader's slaves, a group of natives headed by Lapu-Lapu resist the invasion. Lapu-Lapu and his 1,500 warriors were ready with their bravery, pride and hunting tools and skills.
The Battle in Mactan started.
Magellan greatly underestimated the opposition. The strong and mighty Lapu-Lapu and his warriors killed Magellan and 14 of his armies making the remaining retreat to their ships, Concepcion, Trinidad and Victoria. Concepcion was abandoned in the Philippines and was later retrieved by the Spanish.
This defeat delayed the Spanish occupation for 40 years and made Lapu-Lapu the first national hero of the Philippines.
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Monuments to Lapu-Lapu have been built in Cebu and Manila.
A city in the province of Cebu named after Lapu-Lapu, Lapu-Lapu City.
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In Cebu the monument could be found in Punta Engaño Rd, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu, Philippines.
In Manila, the statue of the sentinel of freedom could be found in Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Being the first hero of the country, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection uses his image on their seals as a symbol of heroism.
The hero was also greatly honored to which an online game, Mobile Legends, gave its respect for Filipinos and designed a hero on the game. The hero name is also Lapu-Lapu.
Starting 24th of July 2017, Lapu-Lapu now became an official National Hero after the current President, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has signed the Republic Act (RA 11040) which made the 27th of April as Lapu-Lapu Day, in honor to the brave hero.
Every 27th of April, A festival was also celebrated in Cebu for Lapu-Lapu bravery and pride and winning over Magellan. The festival is called the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival or the Victory of Mactan. The locals replayed the history starting where the 3 ships came to the island, the building of the Magellan's Cross, Conversion to Christianity by Baptism and battle scenes between the group of Lapu-Lapu versus Magellan.
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| Famous in Cebu that now is a tourist attraction, the Magellan's Cross |
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