For decades, April 27, the Battle of Mactan has always been a public holiday. The wisdom of its declaration is to remind the Cebuanos of the great national importance of the heroism of Lapu-Lapu and the people of Mactan. Ironically, during its 500th year, the Palace, made it a “Special Working Holiday”, a comedy, applauded by political ass lickers. Have we lost our Cebuano pride and honor?
A nation must nurture its sense of history and its children, pride and honor, to its citizens. This is the key to making a country strong.
In 1966, the first year of his presidency, Marcos made the following proclamation:
MALACAÑANG
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 29
DECLARING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1966, AS A SPECIAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY
IN THE CITY OF LAPULAPU.
WHEREAS, Wednesday, April 27, 1966, marks the 445th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan where the Filipinos’ first battle cry for freedom was sounded; and
WHEREAS, it behooves our people to keep a flame the ideals of freedom and liberty for which Lapulapu fought and died;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, April 27, 1966, as a special public holiday in the City of Lapulapu.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-six.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
By the President:
(Sgd.) RAFAEL M. SALAS
Executive Secretary