491 years later, Lapu-Lapu’s victory still a hit

Eleven-year-old Edward Rondevo didn’t mind the summer heat and standing on his toes to get a better view of the fight between his “idol” and Spanish invaders.

With a throng of about 3,000 people, Edward closely watched the reenactment of the 1521 Battle of Mactan yesterday on the shore of the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City.

The mock battle featured Datu Lapu-Lapu of Mactan played by actor-model Richard Quan against the Portuguese-Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan played by actor Patrick Garcia.

“Isog man gud si Lapu-Lapu mao nang idol kaayo nako siya (He is my idol because of his bravery),” said the 11-year-old boy.

Nearby, Lapu-Lapu’s wife Rayna Bulakno played by singer-actress Geneva Cruz, who wore large gold earrings, pearl accessories and bright clothes, watched while fighting back tears.

The heroism of Lapu-Lapu 491 years ago came to life yesterday as the climax of this year’s Kadaugan sa Mactan.

The commemoration started with a Mass at 7:30 a.m., a flag raising, wreath laying in Lapu-Lapu’s monument and a 21-gun salute from the Philippine Air Force.

With his wife by his side, “Lapu-Lapu” and his men slaughtered a live pig as part of a pre-battle ritual.

When the tide rolled in about 9:40 a.m., the attack of Magellan and his men began.

Nipa huts along the shore burst into flames to signal being “hit” by cannon balls fired from Magellan’s galleons.

Magellan and his men emerged from a mangrove forest nearby.

By historical accounts, Magellan promised to send fire and sword to Lapu-Lapu for his refusal to pay homage to the King of Spain.

In mock swordplay using unsharpened blades, Lapu-Lapu took only four strikes to down Magellan.

The tribal chief’s men danced to upbeat tribal music while carrying off the body of the invader like a trophy.

Air Force choppers flew overhead and dropped flower petals.

Singer-actress Cruz later explained why she was in tears during the reenactment.

She was shocked by the sight of a real pig being slaughtered.

Cruz is a vegetarian who once modeled for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or Peta.

“I thought I was gonna faint when they killed a Baboy Ramo in front of me as part of the reenactment of the Battle of Mactan,” she said in her Twitter account later.

The guest of honor in yesterday’s commemoration of 491 years after Lapu-Lapu’s heroism was Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Malacanang Communications Group.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Lapu-Lapu Rep. Arturo Radaza presided over yesterday’s activity.

History records the voyage of Magellan’s three remaining galleons which dropped anchor in Sawang (now San Nicolas, Cebu City) on April 7, 1521, to the welcoming arms of Rajah Humabon.

Magellan converted Rajah Humabon to Christianity. Humabon forged an alliance with Magellan to neutralize his rival, Datu Lapu-Lapu of Mactan.

This set off Magellan’s attack on Lapu-Lapu’s lair on April 27, 1521.

Lapu-Lapu was said to have defiantly responded to Magellan’s call for him to be subjugated by the Spanish colonizers saying: “I bow to no King, I only owe allegiance to my people.”

Setting sail around the world in 1519, Magellan’s port call in Sugbo was to be his last. His men, though, finished his expedition when they returned to Spain without Magellan in 1522. The Magellan expedition has been credited as the first to circumnavigate the globe.