‘Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival’ to Include Dragon Boat Race

A Dragon Boat race will be the latest addition to the series of activities lined up for the “Kadaugan sa Mactan (Victory in Mactan) Festival” which started Monday and will conclude on April 30,organizers said.

Lapu-Lapu City Acting Vice Mayor Harry Don Radaza said the Dragon Boat race will be held from April 28 to 30 at the Mactan Channel.

Radaza said some 80 boats from 37 teams and foreign participants have confirmed to take part in the race.

Radaza said a total of 60 activities have been lined up for the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival, but there would be no road closures in Lapu-Lapu City because these events would be held in six different venues in the city.

The venues include the Lapu-Lapu City Hall grounds, the Hoops Dome area, the MEPZ Soccer Field, Cebu Yacht Club and Kasamahan Wharf, the City Auditorium and the Liberty Shrine.

Radaza said the Kadaugan Street Party, to be held at the Hoops Dome from April 21 to 29, will be highlighted by the “Rampada,” a Brazilian style street dancing competition.

Some PHP2 million in prizes await the winners from among the nine participating groups for each of the Barangay and Open categories, he said.

Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said some 51 hotels and restaurants in the city would participate in a food festival where food, beverages and desserts would be on sale at prices lower than those being sold in their establishments.

Mendoza said the festival’s highlight would be the Kadaugan sa Mactan, a re-enactment of the April 27, 1521 Battle of Mactan between Mactan chieftain Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan, on April 30.

Magellan, who was killed in the battle, will be portrayed by James Ryan Cesena, a Pinoy Boy Band Superstar contestant from California.

Datu Lapu-Lapu will be played by Tony Labrusca, Pinoy Boy Band Superstar finalist of ABS-CBN, while Kris Bernal, a GMA Kapuso star, will play Lapu-Lapu’s queen Reyna Bulakna, Mendoza said. (PNA) EB