"Battle of Mactan" reenactment actors and organizers praised

CEBU, Philippines - The “Kadaugan sa Mactan” festivities, which was capped by the reenactment of the “Battle of Mactan,” the skirmish that saw Lapu-Lapu and his men thwarting Spain's first attempt to colonize the archipelago, went without any hitches yesterday morning. A huge crowd was in attendance.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and wife Paz lauded the organizers for the 30-minute reenactment held at the shores of Liberty Shrine. 

Mayor Radaza praised the performance of the actors especially Philip Salvador, who played the role of Lapu-Lapu. Salvador has not asked for a talent fee for his portrayal.

Lapu-Lapu was the chieftain who led Mactan tribesmen against a fleet of Spanish colonizers led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan in a seaside battle in 1521. Magellan was played by Lloyd Umali.

Desiree del Valle played Reyna Bulakna, the wife of Lapu-Lapu, while Will Devaughn as Lapu-Lapu's aide.

"It feels great doing the character of Lapu-Lapu," Salvador told reporters after the event.

In order to have no hitches in the presentation, Salvador said he watched the previous presentations of the reenactment, and then he asked the action director for a rehearsal.

At about 9:30 in the morning, the mock battle began with Lapu-Lapu and his men and the Spanish fleet meeting on the shores of Mactan Island.

Undersecretary Phineas Alburo of the Department of Tourism attended the event in behalf of Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano.

The “Kadaugan sa Mactan” was launched in 1979 by former Cebu Customs Collector David Odilao Jr., originally called “Bahug-Bahug sa Maktan.”

It was in the Battle of Mactan, which took place in April 1521, that Rajah Lapu-Lapu, Mactan chieftain, killed Spanish colonizer Ferdinand Magellan.   (FREEMAN NEWS)