Hero Lapu-Lapu deserves more respect, Duterte says
‘WE HONOUR OUR OVERSEAS WORKERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT’
As the country marks the annual occasion to honour the nation’s martyrs, President Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to evoke the contribution of a hero, those whose actions were seminal to the country’s nationhood — Lapu-Lapu.
In a speech he delivered at the National Heroes’ Cemetery in Taguig City yesterday, National Heroes Day, the President urged Filipinos to give the hero, Lapu-Lapu the rightful place he deserves for leading the country’s first armed opposition against foreign aggressors.
Duterte expressed that Lapu-Lapu had been seemingly relegated to the dustbin of history, “a footnote, just the --- a vignette of life”.
“Lapu-Lapu was the first Filipino to kill a foreigner who invaded our country … (yet) history forgot him. He was the (Philippines’) first hero and designated a certain species of fish and called it “lapu-lapu” (grouper).
Lapu-Lapu, who is also referred to in history books as “Cali Pulaco”, among other names, was the ruler of the kingdom of Mactan in what is now known as Cebu in Central Philippines. Based on the accounts of Spanish chronicler Antonio Pigafetta, in April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu led his men in fighting a landing party headed by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. ■
Magellan had sought to establish a foothold in the area to claim it for the Spanish crown but Lapu-Lapu and his men, wary of the foreigner’s true intentions, fought against the intruders and slew Magellan.
At that time, there was no entity sharing a common nationhood such as the Philippines, only different tribes led by rulers of Malay origin.
It would take the Spanish crown 44 more years before it could set foot again in the Philippines.
The Philippines was a subject to colonial Spain for more than 300 years. ■