Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Great Chief of Mactan

Ask any grade schooler "Who killed Magellan?" and almost everyone will answer you right. Probably the most famous Filipino hero next to Rizal, Rajah Lapu-lapu is the brave Mactan chieftain who was the first to resist Spanish colonizers. He is highly regarded by the people for his bravery and that is why the locals built a bronze statue of him in honor of his heroic deed.

Located in an enclosed park at Punta Engaño in Mactan, the Lapu-lapu Monument share the park with his foe, the Magellan Monument. The Magellan monument was erected in 1866 to honor the Spanish (some says Portuguese) explorer who have died on the very same spot. The obelisk is mounted on a tall plinth and the plinth rests on a tripartite structure: an octagonal base on which rests a tall quadrilateral structure, divided into two parts. The lower part is decorated with high relieves of vases, and the upper part is pierced by narrow arches. On the monuments are inscribed texts honoring Magellan.

Built a century after is the heroic sculpture of the chief of Mactan who defeated Magellan. It depicts the hero holding a bolo in one hand and a pestle on the other. Said weapons were believed to have been used during his combat with Magellan. This monument stands as a reminder of Filipino bravery.

While you are in the area, it is also worthy to visit the seascape fronting the monument where you can find mangroves and a small thriving community of wooden houses on stilts. Further down the park are rows of beach resorts and the famed Su-Tu-Kil restaurants.

Fake Coconut Tree among the Real Ones


The Obelisk Magellan's Monument


Lapu-lapu's Bronzed Back


Stalls of Cebu Crafts on a Row


Low Tide Scene


Resting Boat on Mangroves


Wooden Watch Tower


As to who killed Lapu-lapu? Anybody knows?

31 comments:

  1. I've never visited Lapu-lapu's monument but from your photo, he does look very confident as a warrior. As to who killed him, well, that beats me.

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  2. Pagpunta ko dun medyo lubog na ang araw kaya gabi na... halos alang matinong pic... pero maganda ang lights... jijijiji

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  3. Uh, the fisherman? ;)

    But seriously, idol ko si Lapu-lapu... the first Filipino hero. And that monument really looks good!

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  4. If we connect the string of events, Lapu-lapu has no idea that the spaniards were there to colonize them. It was an animosity between Humabon, the Rajah of Cebu, trying to subjugate the island of Mactan, and Lapu-lapu, the datu of Mactan. Nadamay lang si Magellan.

    Yan ang napala nya for trying to impress Humabon with the Spanish empire's military prowess.

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  5. The place have changed a little bit since 16 years ago.
    Impressive captures of the place here.
    I don't like fake coconut trees. I only favored real ones...
    I like the low tide scenes and the two photos beneath...
    The obelisk didn't accurately portrayed Lapu-lapu. According to recent studies, our Filipino ancestors are typically malaki ang tiyan and maliit lang na tao - seguro, a few inches above five feet ang height. Lapu-lapu is also being thought to look that way. Pero the artists and sculptures created a Lapu-lapu character with muscles, macho, he-man, may height, etc. Eh, wala pa namang gym during those times.
    Nevertheless, these studies didn't discount Lapu-lapu to be the first Filipino hero...

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  6. Wow, he looks better now. Three or four years ago when I visited, diaper look yung pangbaba nya.

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  7. Nice bronze statue. Interesting history : )

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  8. i want a cute little guitar! will that make me a cebu "guitar hero?"

    happy halloween!

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  9. Now I know where and who killed the famous Magellan

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  10. ang sexy pala ang behind ni Lapu-Lapu (lol). i've been to "sutukil" many times but never entered Lapu-Lapu Shrine. thanks for sharing.

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  11. Nice history of the hero. Hahaha, I wanted to ask if the coconuts are fake. Oh, I love the street scene of the crafts. My favourite part of my holiday is to bring some sovenirs back home.

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  12. I've never been to Cebu. Wait, I think I did already. Pero hanggang airport lang. Dati kasi may stop over palagi sa Cebu yung flights going to Dumaguete. :)

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  13. Kuya palink ulit sa blog list mo ;)

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  14. Tu no pierdes el tiempo ehh?
    Buen reportaje.
    Un saludo

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  15. One good thing that the downed FB does is that I could browse the net for endless hours. Finding your blog is a delight because of the so many wonderful photos of your country. Cheers.

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  16. Kilala ko pumatay kay Lapu-lapu. Lol. Kusinero.

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  17. Magellan was born in Portugal, but it was under the Spanish flag that he sailed in 1519 with the intention of reaching the Spice Islands by sailing west around South America. After much hardship he succeeded in reaching and then sailing across the Pacific Ocean. Soon thereafter he was killed while trying to subdue the natives on what is now the island of Mactan in the Philippines.

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  18. buti ka pa napadaan kay pareng Lapulapu...kelan ka pala ng Cebu?

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  19. masculado pala si Lapulapu...kaya pala yakang yaka nyang patayin si Magellan.

    Nice views. Thanks for sharing

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  20. Beautiful scenes! Picture Perfect.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  21. Sabi ng mga experts, hindi daw maskulado si Lapu-lapu...

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  22. pagkakita ko pa lang ng monument ni Lapu-lapu naalala ko ang Q&A nong bata pa ako.

    Sino pumatay kay magellan?
    -si Lapu-lapu.

    Sino pumatay kay Lapu-lapu-
    -Kusinero.

    Bagong pintura ata yang monument niya.

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  23. Great pics. That's a nice monument to Lapu-lapu. IMO, either Lapu-lapu or Bonifacio should have been our national hero :)

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  24. LS: That is really a neat statue, what a great place to visit.

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  25. I wish i could visit cebu again, been there thrice already and would love another visit.

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  26. History, Nature and local handmade.
    Beautiful.
    Luiz Ramos

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  27. Ang macho naman ni Lapu-lapu. Akala ko maliliit silang tao. Pero tama ka, grade 1 pa lang tinuturo na sa atin si Lapu-lapu.

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  28. Thank you for the wonderful pictures and the fascinating history. The statue of Rajah Lapu-lapu is truly majestic.

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  29. All of this is news to me! I didn't know any of this stuff! Lapu-Lapu seems like quite a chief! I love the sculpture!

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