MANILA, Philippines - My recent trip to the province of Cebu literally started on a happy note courtesy of Yoyoy Villame’s 1972 hit single entitled Magellan.
“Then the battle began at dawn... Bolos and spears versus guns and cannons... When Magellan was hit on his neck... He stumbled down and cried and cried. Oh, mother mother I am sick.?Call the doctor very quick. Doctor, doctor shall I die? Tell my mama do not cry.”
It was the song our tour guide Balbino Guerrero repeatedly sang while we were touring the City of Lapu-Lapu aboard a bus. The song, a parody of sorts, reminded us how Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu defeated Magellan to refuse Spanish colonization. To this day, Magellan’s fame and fortitude remain a staple story that is enjoyed both by the island dwellers and tourists.
If the chieftain were alive today, he would have been very proud to see that Lapu-Lapu City has become the prime tourist destination in Cebu. The city houses an international airport, a rich coastline of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and rich marine life. It is also home to international chains of hotels and resorts. It is envisioned that 10 years from now, Lapu-Lapu City will become a world-class city, thanks to the efforts of Paz Radaza, the city’s first woman mayor.
“Under a tourism platform of governance, I hope to emulate the five-star quality service the tourism industry is known for. It is the vision of this administration to inculcate the culture of service and the culture of tourism into its constituency,” said Radaza.
Radaza’s campaign challenges all private sectors of tourism to work together to achieve the city’s vision. Among the resorts participating in the campaign are Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort, Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, The Crimson Resort and Spa, Abaca Boutique Resort, Be Resorts, Maribago Blue Water Resort and Spa, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino, Cebu White Sands Resort, Soto Grande Hotel and Resort, Vistamar Resort, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel and Tambuli Beach Club.
Blessed with tropical weather all year round, the city is enjoyed by tourists and islanders who frolic under the sun. For land trotters, April and November are the best months to tick their calendars. The annual “Kadaugan sa Mactan” is held in April. The defeat of Magellan by Lapu-Lapu is re-enacted annually at the beach of Barangay Mactan where the event had actually taken place (Mactan Shrine). The event is a major attraction in the city and draws big crowds. The food festival is held at the Liberty Mactan Shrine where hotels and restaurants serve dishes at carinderia prices — talk about all the lechons and otaps you can eat. On Nov. 20-21, fiesta for the city’s patron saint Virgen dela Regla is held. The fiesta is celebrated as a symbol and pride of the island. Every year, hundreds of pilgrims from all walks of life come to kiss, touch and thank the Virgin for the blessings they have received.
Other attraction that shouldn’t be missed is the guitar-making industry in the city, one of the Spaniards’ influences. Famous manufacturers belong to the families of Alegre, Lumanog and Malingin. Also part of the city’s infrastructure that is becoming popular as a tourist spot is the International Academy of Film and Television, a film school for a new generation of filmmakers. The facility boasts of sound recording facilities, sound studios and built-in underwater tanks.
Lapu-Lapu City is dubbed as one of the country’s cleanest cities. Before hitting the shoreline, one cannot miss the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility), the only one running in the Philippines. The MRF conducts the city’s waste management system. This program has converted most of the city’s scavengers into working citizens. The facility is composed of more than 200 workers who help turn wastes to more useful produce like organic fertilizers and concrete hollow blocks made of non-biodegradable materials. These biodegradable materials are used in most of the city’s roads and facilities.
For the more adventurous, the coastlines’ attraction is a must. Islands Banca cruises are available for island hopping that will take you shore to shore around Cebu and all the white sandy beaches around the coast. One popular destination is Olango’s Island Wildlife Sanctuary that houses temporary habitat for migratory birds from Northeast Asia. The island is also ideal for water sports. For instance, Serena Marine Water Sports provides amenities for diving, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, jet-ski rental, banana boats and other water sports activities.
The Lapu-Lapu City government aims to reinforce a sportier environment that can help boost island tourism. Newly elected city councilor Harry Radaza outlines his strengths in procuring programs for youth, tourism and sports. Some of his mentioned ventures are open-water wakeboarding competitions, island adventure racing and fun runs tied up with the city’s November fiesta.
Another island worth mentioning is Caohagan Island, where tourists and locals can dine by the shore with a wide array of seafood to choose from — soft-shelled lobsters known as mantaha, local abalones, baby octopi (known as tabugok), clams, mudfish, seaweeds and other local shellfish.
If island hopping and water sports are just too much bodywork, one can just enjoy the sea breeze or walk in the park in Mactan Shrine. It houses three monuments that mark the city’s history — the Lapu-Lapu statue carved by sculptor Jun Kawili, Magellans’ Obelisk and the large headstone on the spot where Magellan died in the hands of Lapu-Lapu.
As I boarded my plane on my way back to Manila, I realized that there’s so much more to see in Lapu-Lapu City. I can still feel my body strained from the endless jet ski and island hopping activities I did while I was in this wonderful tourist destination.
Up in the air, the song Magellan was ringing in my ears: “Mactan Island we could not grab, ‘cause Lapu-Lapu is very hard...” I just smiled. It will take a while till I get a new tune in my head.