THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) S.S
First Regular Session
1
01
JJ;;
30 Rei 3 4
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The first successful defense of Filipino freedom against Western imperialism and
the first recorded triumph of Filipino arms over superior western firepower took place in
the historic battle of Mactan four hundred seventy eight (478) years ago. This victory
catapulted Lapu-lapu into the limelight of history as the first Filipino hero.
An account told by the late historian Gregorio Zaide discloses that upon the
arrival of the Spanish fleet under the command of Ferdinand Magellan in March 1521,
most of the local chieftains had converted Christianity and accepted Spanish rule. For
instance, Rajah Humabon of Cebu and even Zula, one of the two kings of Mactan,
submitted to Spanish power and agreed to be subjects of Spain.
Zaide then continues by observing that,inspired by his initial successes, Magellan
ordered all other chieftains in Cebu and the neighboring islands to recognize Humabon
as their king and kiss his hand as a sign of homage.
Only one Filipino ruler dared defy Magellan. He was Lapu-lapu, the proud and
lion-hearted king of Mactan.
For his refusal to submit to Spains might, as well as, for fighting Zula, who was
by then a subject and good friend of Spain, Magellan decided to subdue Lapu-lapu by
force of arms.
At dawn on April 27, 1521, Magellan invaded Mactan. His force consisted of 60
armored Spanish soldiers in three big boats and 1, 000 Cebuan allies in his men to
remain in their boats and just watch how Europeans fight, Magellan and his men waded
in the shallow shores of Mactan. There they found Lapu-lapu calmly awaiting their
attack with his warriors arranged in three battle columns.
Despite Magellans ultimatum to submit peacefully Lapu- lapu replied: I submit
to no king and pay no tribute to any power. If our enemy have lances of iron, we have
also lances of bamboo and stakes hardened in fire.
Magellans men, with their arquebuses, fired the first shots, but this proved
ineffectual. The brave Mactans, fighting in the defense of their liberty and honor, firmly
stood their ground. As the invaders came nearer they raised their war cries and hurled
their javelins, arrows, flaming stakes and stones.
In the fierce hand-to-hand fighting that ensued, the white invaders were soundly
defeated. Magellan ordered a retreat, but this was too late. He died from several
mortal blows, one of which caused him to fall face downwards on the beach of Mactan.
Lapu-lapus victory at Mactan was a serious blow to European prestige. Western
accounts of the battle written from the European point of view and naturally slanted to
present Magellans defeat in a less disastrous light cannot disguise the fact that the
Spanish invasion of Mactan was a total failure and that Lapu-lapu, by staging the first
successful Filipino resistance to Western aggression on our soil, deserves no less than
a heros recognition.
At present, a small monument in Opon, Mactan is all that stands to honor Lapulapu, the heros conqueror of Magellan. By declaring a day in his memory we hope to
give him the same honor we accord to our other national heroes.
JERClTO ESTRADA
Senator
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) S.S
First Regular Session
1
SENATE
S.B. No.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
TO DECLARE APRIL 27 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-WORKING
HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY
OF LAPU-LAPU AND HIS MEN OVER THE SPANIARDS LED BY FERNANDO
MAGALLANES IN THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF MACTAN ON APRIL 27,1521.
TO BE KNOWN AS LAPU-LAPU DAY OR ADLAW NI LAPU-LAPU.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in congress assembled:
SECTION 1. The twenty-seventh day of April of every year is hereby declared as
a special non-working holiday throughout the country to commemorate the victory of
Lapu-lapu and his men over the Spaniards in the historic Battle of Mactan on April
27, 1521 to be known as Lapu-lapu Day or Adlaw ni Lapu-lapu.
SECTION 2. To ehsure meaningful observance of the holiday as herein
declared, all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including
government owned and controlled corporations as well as local government units,
and employers in the private sector shall encourage and afford sufficient time and
participate in any activity conducted in their respective localities to celebrate Lapulapu Day or Adlaw ni Lapu-lapu.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect three (3) days following its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulations or in the Official Gazette.
Approved,
