Warrior chief Lapu-Lapu was the first to resist Spanish rule in the island of Cebu about 300 years ago.
Most of us, however, only remember the ruler of Mactan because there’s a fish named after him.
Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte wants to change all that — by changing the name of the grouper fish to Magellan, the Portugese conquistador whom Lapu-Lapu killed and thwarted during the Battle of Mactan on Apr 27, 1521.
Duterte also wants to declare a Lapu-Lapu Day national holiday (Proclamation No 1251 already made Apr 27 a special non-working day in the city of Lapu-Lapu this year).
“He was the first native who fought and even killed the imperialists, si Magellan. To honor this feat, Lapu-Lapu should be given the highest honor,” Duterte said in a GMA News report.
In his campaign speeches, Duterte liked to remind his supporters of how heroic Lapu-Lapu was in fighting for freedom.
“Siya ang unang nakipagbakbakan eh kasi ginawa lang nila si Lapu-Lapu na isda and I do not like it (He was the first to fight, yet they only named a fish after him. I do not like it),” he said,
Duterte will leave it to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to determine how to best recognize the warrior chief as a hero — which we think is a good idea since his name may not even be Lapu-Lapu in the first place.
Lapu-Lapu is based on the notes of Magellan’s assistant, Antonio Pigafetta. But that is another story altogether.
Meanwhile, for those who want to know more about Philippine history…
