MABUHAY!
This is a photo and a video journal of my budget travel to Cebu featuring my visit to the LAPU LAPU SHRINE a.k.a the Liberty Shrine in the historic resort island of Mactan.
MAGELLAN'S LANDING IN THE PHILIPPINES
On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer commissioned by King Charles I of Spain, unintentionally landed on Homonhon Island now Samar of the Philippines in search of the Spice Island or the Moluccas in modern Indonesia. He is the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean. Leaving Spain in command of 270 crews and 5 ships: the Trinidad being the lead ship, the San Antonio, the Conception, the Victoria, and the Santiago. After 3 years, only the Victoria ship with 18 crews returned to Spain under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, the first man to circumnavigate the world.
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| Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) |
THE BATTLE BETWEEN MAGELLAN AND LAPU-LAPU
Ferdinand Magellan made friends with the local chieftains Rajah Kolambu and Rajah Siagu, king of Limawasa, who guided him to Sugbu now Cebu. Cebu was ruled by Rajah Humabon, who with his wife, embraced Christianity introduced by Magellan and were later baptized. The site where Magellan planted a wooden cross in Cebu became a popular landmark for local and foreign tourists today.
Rajah Humabon ordered the local chiefs of the island to convert to Christianity and provide food supplies to the ships. This command was met with opposition by the chieftain of Mactan, Lapu-Lapu who refused to recognize the authority of Humabon.
Rajah Humabon persuaded Magellan to crash the resistance. Magellan with 49 armies armed with guns was met by Lapu-Lapu with 1500 armies.
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| A mural in Lapu-Lapu Shrine depicting the Battle of Mactan |
Rajah Humabon ordered the local chiefs of the island to convert to Christianity and provide food supplies to the ships. This command was met with opposition by the chieftain of Mactan, Lapu-Lapu who refused to recognize the authority of Humabon.
Rajah Humabon persuaded Magellan to crash the resistance. Magellan with 49 armies armed with guns was met by Lapu-Lapu with 1500 armies.
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| The exact spot where the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan died. |
The Marker reads
"FERDINAND MAGELLAN'S DEATH
On this spot Ferdinand Magellan died on April 27, 1521, wounded in an encounter with the soldiers of Lapu-Lapu, chief of Mactan Island. One of Magellan's ships the Victoria, under the command of JUAN SEBASTIAN ELCANO, sailed from Cebu on May 1, 1521, and anchored at San Lucar de Barrameda on September 5, 1522, thus completing the first circumnavigation of the earth"
LAPU-LAPU- THE FIRST FILIPINO HERO
Very little is known of him but traditions declare that he came from Borneo before settling in Sugbo now Cebu Island of the Philippines. The only written evidence of his existence is the journal of Antonio Pigafetta who documents the voyage of Magellan. He wrote in his journal the names of the two chiefs of Mactan Zulu who embraced the Christian religion and Cilapu-Lapu who refused to recognize the authority of Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu.
Very little is known of him but traditions declare that he came from Borneo before settling in Sugbo now Cebu Island of the Philippines. The only written evidence of his existence is the journal of Antonio Pigafetta who documents the voyage of Magellan. He wrote in his journal the names of the two chiefs of Mactan Zulu who embraced the Christian religion and Cilapu-Lapu who refused to recognize the authority of Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu.
LAPU-LAPU SHRINE
In honor of Lapu-Lapu's heroism, a bronze statue was erected on this parcel of land in Mactan and became a famous landmark here in Cebu. He was the first native with written records to defy the colonialism of Spain which lasted for 333 years.
In honor of Lapu-Lapu's heroism, a bronze statue was erected on this parcel of land in Mactan and became a famous landmark here in Cebu. He was the first native with written records to defy the colonialism of Spain which lasted for 333 years.
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| This bronze statue was erected in honor of the local chief of Mactan, Cebu, Philippines. The first Filipino to resist foreign invasion. |
In honor of Lapu-Lapu, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection use his image as their official seal.
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| Someone left a rose in front of his statue. |
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| A travel route map from Google estimates the travel time to be 17 minutes drive by car, depending on the traffic, from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Lapu-Lapu Shrine. Mactan area has an industrial zone that causes traffic congestion during the morning rush hour around 6:30am to 9am and in the afternoon around 4:00pm to 7:00pm. |
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MAGELLAN'S MEMORIAL
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| This memorial was erected by Spain to honor Ferdinand Magellan for his exploration that paved the way for the Philippines to become a colony of Spain for more than 3 centuries. |
ROAMING AROUND THE LAPU-LAPU SHRINE
The Lapu-Lapu Shrine is a public park managed by the city government of Lapu-Lapu city. The entrance is free. The Shrine is open to the public starting at 7:00am.
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| The town of Opon in Cebu was later named Lapu-Lapu City in honor of the first Filipino hero. |
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THE MAGELLAN'S BAY
The Shrine overlooks Magellan's Bay where fishermen's catch is bought by the local seafood restaurants around the vicinity of the park and sold to local and foreign tourists as delightful Filipino dishes.
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| Overlooking Magellan's Bay |
AROUND THE SHRINE
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| Modern buildings are now constructed to house the growing number of tourists visiting the island resort of Mactan and the other islands of Cebu. |
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| Small chapels such as this are very common in Cebu |
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| Filipinos serve Lechon - roasted pig, during a special event. In Cebu, selling Lechon is a lucrative business. |
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| A replica of Lapu-Lapu |
STO. NINO DE CEBU - MACTAN PARISH
This Roman Catholic chapel was designed in the form of an old Spanish soldier's helmet.
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| An old Spanish infantry helmet |
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| A large Balete tree in front of the chapel |
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| Flower vendors |
The popular local transportation ride in Mactan is the small version of colorful Jeepneys made from a small pickup truck. It carries up to 14 passengers. There are now solar-powered mini-buses taking commuters from this route.
THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS AROUND LAPU-LAPU SHRINE
Lapu Lapu Shrine & The History of Battle of Mactan
LAPU-LAPU'S SHRINE RENOVATED
With the upcoming celebration of the Kadaugan Festival in Mactan (Victory in Mactan) on April 27, 2019, commemorates the victory of Lapu-Lapu over the Spanish army of Magellan, the city mayor of Lapu-Lapu City made some renovations to improve the park. There is also a reenactment of the historic battle in Mactan Beach.
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| The statue of Lapu-Lapu was surrounded by GI pipes and scaffolds to protect it during the relocation. |
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| This area is to be landscaped and planted with various plants. |
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| This viewing deck will be demolished. |
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I Was Here For A Gathering etc.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great time in Cebu. Thank you for your interest with my article.
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