Lapu-Lapu statue honors the Filipino soldier

Although I’m not really a big football fan, but like most of the football crazies in Asia or in this part of the world I woke up at dawn to see the World Cup finals between Germany and Argentina in what was to be a great football match worthy of the world’s finest football players. Yes, I submit I cheered for Argentina because they were the underdog and perhaps because of Pope Francis who is the first Argentinean Pope. But in the end one kick from Mario Gotze did it in one goal just a mere 7 minutes from extra time and the World Cup belonged to Germany.

Germany had long waited to get its 4th World Cup after a 24-year absence… but it was a meaningful, albeit a glorious one because it was the first time that a European soccer team won in South American soil. Best of all, this World Cup was won by a unified Germany. Perhaps most of all, God heard the prayers of Pope Benedict XVI because he has nothing better to do than pray day in and day out. Congratulations to all Germans living in Philippines.

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Our dear friend, former Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon emailed me his reaction to our column last week about the Lapu-Lapu statue that he erected at the Agrifina Circle in the Luneta, but since it is quite lengthy, I will only reprint the most important parts of his message. His letter is actually a letter to Cebu Congressman Raul del Mar who queried him on how all this began. So here are some parts of his letter:

“Dear Rep. Del Mar: As promised, the following are some historical facts that went into the building of Lapu-Lapu monument in the National Park: In 2004, The Lapu-Lapu monument was built in the National Park in Luneta as a gift by the Korean Freedom League to the Filipino people to honor the Filipino soldiers who served and fought for the freedom of the Korean people. During my visits to Korea as SBMA Chairman and later as Secretary of Tourism, I would always ask to be taken to visit the monument honoring our Filipino soldiers who fought and died for FREEDOM during the Korean War.

This gesture intrigued my Korean hosts who would always ask me if I had relatives who fought in Korea. My answer each time was yes. I told them all of them are my relatives because freedom flows in the blood of every Filipino. This, I said, is why neither of our countries must ever forget the noble sacrifices of our soldiers who fought and died for freedom in Korea.

Therefore, the Lapu-Lapu Statue is not just for the honor and glory of Lapu-Lapu, the Chieftain from Mactan Island who killed Ferdinand Magellan. Apparently, the Korean Freedom League gave this statue “To Honor the Filipino soldiers who served and fought for the Freedom of the Korean people.”

At this point, I still don’t know who asked Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza to accept the Lapu-Lapu Statue and the reasons why they want to remove this statue, for sure he is high enough in the officialdom of President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III’s Cabinet because Mayor Radaza seemed compelled to accept the statue and place it somewhere in Mactan Island.

Meanwhile Sen. Gordon continued saying, “The Koreans wanted to show their gratitude and deep respect to the Filipino people, whose sons fought and died in Korea. The Korean Freedom League was so touched by the sacrifices of the Filipino soldiers that they decided to honor this heroism with a statue of Lapu-Lapu in our National Park. Thus the Statue of the Sugbu-Visayan and Muslim became the “Sentinel of Freedom in Asia.”

Korea’s gift of the Lapu-Lapu monument would have been a “game changer in the national Filipino psyche.” Had this been given the proper attention and respect by our national leaders, it might, and it is still not too late, elevate the pride and spirit of our citizens. I must dare point out that Lapu-Lapu was an authentic hero with a strong commitment to freedom. Lapu-Lapu lived two and a half centuries before the Americans inspired the French with their revolution. Unlike Lapu-Lapu, Lady Liberty was not even an authentic person nonetheless she became a great icon of Freedom for the American people.”

I’m glad that Sen. Gordon sent this letter to Rep. del Mar as it puts this issue on the right perspective. Like I said, it is not just about Lapu-Lapu as a genuine Filipino or Asian hero, but he has become a symbol of Freedom and his statue being erected at the Luneta Park is just the perfect place after all. Dr. Jose Rizal’s writings earned him his execution and this destiny to be our national hero. While Lapu-Lapu did not write anything against our colonizers, he simply defied the foreign invaders and fought for his freedom. As Sen. Gordon said, “The Lapu-Lapu monument in the National Park represents our first victory as a race and shows the indomitable character of a Filipino patriot… A Sugbu-Visayan-Muslim from Sulu, who deserves sharing a place of honor with Dr. Jose Rizal in the National Park.”

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