The stars at the Kadaugan sa Mactan 2019 reenactment

CEBU, Philippines — After tapping a Cebuana to play last year’s Reyna Bulakna, the Lapu-Lapu City government is back to featuring Manila-based talents to take on the role of Datu Lapu-Lapu’s wife in the annual Kadaugan sa Mactan reenactment.

“Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4” Big Winner Myrtle Sarrosa, a popular cosplayer who is now an ABS-CBN talent, will don the regal garb of Reyna Bulakna in this year’s reenactment. The 24-year-old, who last year graduated Cum Laude at the University of the Philippines Diliman with a Broadcast Communication degree, was recently seen on the big screen starring alongside Teddy Corpuz and Donna Cariaga in the Regal Films romantic-comedy “Papa Pogi.”

To portray Myrtle’s legendary husband is Kapuso actor Derrick Monasterio as the heroic Datu Lapu-Lapu. Derrick, 23, began as a teen idol who has of late transformed into one of GMA-7’s up and coming hunks. In 2018, he starred opposite Barbie Forteza in the Cebu-filmed primetimes series “Inday Will Always love You,” and also played leading man to Sanya Lopez in the daring flick “Wild and Free” from Regal Films. Recently, he played a guest role in the afternoon series “Dragon Lady.”

Tasked to flesh out the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is Filipino-British actor Mark Neumann. Discovered through TV5’s talent search “Artista Academy,” the 24-year-old is now under the care of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic.

Last year’s main cast was played by basketball player-turned-model Derick Hubalde as Datu Lapu-Lapu, Cebuana actress Dionne Monsanto as Reyna Bulakna and actor Luis Alandy as Magellan.

In a post on the Lapu-Lapu City government’s Facebook page, Kadaugan sa Mactan production director Victor Hao Cuenco said that Oponganons should expect a grander and more spectacular 30 to 45-minute presentation.

Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza also said that the Mactan Liberty Shrine can now accommodate more than 30,000-40,000 visitors to witness the spectacle.

Set along the shores of the Liberty Shrine, the reenactment is held every year on the morning of April 27 to commemorate the valiant efforts of the country’s earliest heroes. The performance depicts the victory of Lapu-Lapu and his men over the Spaniards’ attempt of colonization in the historic battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

The 499th Kadaugan sa Mactan reenactment will be held on April 27, 8 a.m. at the historic Liberty Shrine, Barangay Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.

Other events lined up for the Kadaugan sa Mactan festivities are the ongoing Food Festival which will run until April 30 at the Liberty Shrine, the Kadaugan Golf Tournament which will culminate today at the Mactan Island Golf Course, the Dagan sa Kadaugan on April 21 at the Liberty Shrine, the Rampada competition on April 26 at the Hoops Dome, the Reyna ng Bulakna competition on April 27 at the Hoops Dome and the Summer Music Festival on April 27 at the Mactan Newtown Beach.