lapulapu

Ferdinand Magellan; Spanish: Fernando or Hernando de Magallanes; Spring 1480–April 27, 1521) was a Portuguese maritime explorer who led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth. Magellan himself did not complete his final voyage; he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. He did, however, die further west than the Spice Islands, which he had visited on earlier voyages, making him one of the first individuals to cross all the meridians of the globe. He became the first person to lead an expedition sailing westward from Europe to Asia and to cross the Pacific Ocean.

Of the 237 or 270 crew members who set out with Magellan to circumnavigate the globe, only 18 managed to return to Spain and thereby complete the circumnavigation. They were led by Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano, who took over command of the expedition after Magellan's death.

Lapulapu is considered one of the greatest figures of ancient Philippine history. Although the first thing that usually comes to mind when the name of Lapulapu is mentioned is the fact that his battle with Magellan led to Magellan's death, Lapulapu is not honored because of that. Rather, he is honored because he was among the first to reject submission to a foreign power even though Raja1 Humabon, ruler of the neighboring island of Cebu, and other chiefs recognized the king of Spain as their sovereign and agreed to pay tribute.

On April 28, 1521, Magellan and some sixty of his men battled with the forces of Lapulapu on the shores of Mactan island. During the battle, Magellan was wounded in the leg. Seeing this, several members of Lapulapu's forces rushed at Magellan and killed him with their spears. With the death of Magellan, the Spaniards retreated to their ships and left. Lapulapu's victory is celebrated annually with a re-enactment of the battle at the site where the original battle is believed to have occurred.

Little is known regarding Lapulapu's life. However, he figures in several legends one of which is the legend of the Origin of the Coconut. Lapulapu also indirectly figures in a 20th-century legend, the legend of the Bow and Arrow.

Lapu-Lapu (Caliph Pulaka) (born 1491, died 1542) is the earliest known Muslim chieftain of Mactan in the Philippines. Known as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization, he is now regarded as the first National hero of the Philippines.

Statue of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan island, Cebu.On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears and kampilan, faced 49 Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese captain Ferdinand Magellan. In what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed.

In his honor, the Cebuano people have erected a statue and church in Mactan Island and also renamed the town of Opon in Cebu to Lapu-Lapu City.

This is the site where the annual re-enactment of the battle of Mactan is done. The battle between Lapu-lapu and his men over Magellan's group of which led to Magellan's death and luckily some were able to return to the ship and continued it's expedition.

Near this site you will find the Lapu-lapu's shrine and Magellan's. It's now developed into a beautiful park and it was the first time I saw it since you need to travel an hour from Cebu City to get there