Kadaugan sa Mactan draws 5,000 people

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Lapu-Lapu City again reminisced the defeat of foreign invaders 491 years ago during the re-enactment known as “Kadaugan sa Mactan” which was held at the Liberty Shrine in Barangay Mactan yesterday.The 12th Kadaugan sa Mactan gathered about 5,000 spectators who trooped to the shrine as early as 9:00 in the morning.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said the battle of Mactan left a legacy which credited Lapu-Lapu as the first native of the archipelago to resist Spanish colonization and made him the first Filipino hero.

Radaza added that history teaches Filipinos either the decisive points of glory or the sorrow of defeat.

“Either way, its aftermath always leaves us with important discoveries to guide us whether to repeat history or evolve to progress and adapt to changes,” she said.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, director of the Police Regional Office-7, said that honoring Lapu-Lapu should be kept alive so as to show what the Filipino culture is all about.

“The significant episode that happened 491 years ago showed courage and unity among the Filipinos,” Garbo said.

He also stressed that the Kampilan (sword) and Kalasag (shield) of Lapu-Lapu will always symbolize courage, confidence and bravery of the Filipinos.

Sonny Coloma, Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, also congratulated the Oponganons for the success of the event and stressed that Filipinos should always fight for their rights.

“As we sing our national anthem in English an excerpt of it goes… Land, dear and holy…cradle of noble heroes…ne’er shall invaders…trample thy sacred shore…,” Coloma said.

He added that those who may be tempted to challenge our country’s sovereignty should let the courage and heroism of Lapu-Lapu remind one and all that the Filipinos are brave and noble people who will never allow invaders to trample our sacred shores.

One of the highlights of the re-enactment was the presence of actors Richard Quan and Patrick Garcia as well as actress Geneva Cruz. Their presence thrilled the crowd as they portrayed their individual roles.

Quan played as the native Datu Lapu-Lapu, Garcia as the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan, and Cruz as the Rayna Bulakna, wife of Lapu-Lapu.

The re-enactment started about 9:45 in the morning and ended about 10:10a.m. and was directed by Xavier Palanca.

 The re-enactment opened with a ritual dance of the natives along the shore at the Liberty Shrine while some natives killed a pig hogtied to a bamboo pole, as an offering to their “anitos” and putting its blood on the body of the native men, as well as on the sword of Lapu-Lapu.

During the ritual, doves were also released from cages as the performers danced before their wooden “anitos”.

Moments later, the camp of Magellan arrived through the sea which then signaled the start of the battle. The show ended when Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu.

The scene where the pig was stabbed by one of the tribesmen in the neck stunned actress Geneva Cruz, who was holding a sword in her hand before the pig.

Geneva is an advocate of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world which focuses on issues involving animal suffering.

Flower dropping which was done by Air Force personnel closed the activity.  

The activity area was secured by the Lapu-Lapu City police. Teams from the Lapu-Lapu City Public Safety Company were also around as well as personnel from the Philippine Air Force, Naval Forces Central and Barangay Intelligence Network.

Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, LCPO chief, earlier said that about 100 law enforcers were tasked to secure the area.

No untoward incidents happened until the end of the event.               

Despite a lower budget compared to last year, Lapu-Lapu City officials considered the reenactment of the 1951 battle a huge success.

Mayor Paz Radaza said that this year, the city government allocated P1.2 million compared to the P1.6 million they spent last year.

She acknowledged the support and cooperation of beach resorts, hotels and other business establishments in Lapu-Lapu City for the event’s success.

The re-enactment of the historic battle started during the administration of the late city mayor Dr. Maximo Patalinghug, Called “Bahug-Bahug sa Mactan,” it was introduced by former Cebu Customs Collector David Odilao, Jr.

It was changed to “Battle of Mactan” during the administration of the late city mayor Ernest Weigel, Jr. and when vice mayor Arturo Radaza was elected as mayor in Lapu-Lapu City in 2001, it was changed to “Kadaugan sa Mactan”.

Mayor Radaza said not a single centavo was taken from the city government funds for the presence of movie personalities Garcia, Cruz and Quan as the expenses were all shouldered by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Mayor Radaza said the Lapu-lapu City Tourism Commission tried their best to make the event a success every year.

After the re-enactment, the Kadaugan Street Party also started yesterday afternoon in front of the Lapu-lapu City Hall.

Different barangays and hotels based in Lapu-lapu City joined the Rampada contest. — (FREEMAN)