Lapu-Lapu City Celebrated the 502nd Kadaugan sa Mactan

Lapu-Lapu City successfully celebrated the 502nd anniversary of the Victory at Mactan yesterday, April 27, 2023, at the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City with the theme “Honoring the bravery and triumphs over adversity.”

The event kicked off with the flag-raising ceremony followed by a wreath-laying ceremony attended by Lieutenant General Benedict Arevalo, AFP Commander of the Visayas Command, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, Congresswoman Cindi King-Chan, Chairman Emmanuel Calairo of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, other government officials and dignitaries, and the city’s honored guest Department of Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Cristina Garcia-Frasco.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan in his welcoming speech during the event emphasized the bravery shown by Datu Lapulapu 502 years ago, the same bravery the Oponganons showcased during the COVID-19 pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette.

“When one of Magellan’s ships successfully returned to Spain after circumnavigating the world Datu Lapulapu’s victory 502 years ago highlighted the bravery and sense of community of our early ancestors. Fast forward to today, it is the same bravery and sense of community which took center stage during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette,” Chan said.

A reenactment play of the Battle of Mactan was held soon after. Datu Lapulapu was played by Jonel Espinosa Pepito, Reyna Bulakna was played by Lourelle Henj Manlosa, and Ferdinand Magellan was portrayed by Kevin Lahousse.

Other notable personalities also attended the 502nd anniversary of the Victory at Mactan, namely Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy and members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Undersecretary of the National Authority for Child Care, Usec Janelle Marie Ejercito Estrada, Undersecretary for Governance and Field Operations of the Department of Education, USEC Revsee Acuña Escobedo, Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and Arts, Director Marichu Tellano, DOT Chief Tourism Operations Officer, Gelena Dimpas, Honorary Consul of Japan in Cebu, Consul General Hideki Yamaji, Consul General of Korea in Cebu, Consul General Song Sewon, Commander of the Naval Forces of the Philippines, Commodore Florante Gagwa, TOWCEN Wing Commander of the Philippine Airforce, Brigadier General Ramil Oloroso, Lapu Lapu City Director, Police Colonel Elmer Lim, and DepEd 7 Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez. (ASC)