Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco honored Lapu-Lapu, the Philippines’ first hero, as she delivered the keynote address at the 502nd Kadaugan sa Mactan at Liberty Shrine, Lapu-Lapu City, island of Mactan, Cebu recently.
The event is observed annually every 27th of April, in honor of Lapu-Lapu and his men, who valiantly fought against the invading Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan.
“The story of Lapu-Lapu is the Filipino story, for we have all faced difficulties and challenges in the width and breadth of our history,” Frasco said.
Lapu-Lapu, also known as Çilapulapu, was the former chief of Mactan and is revered as the first Filipino hero who resisted foreign influence.
“Yet armed with courage, bravery, and a strong sense of identity, each and every single time we have stood up and said we will not give up, we will rise back stronger than ever. Especially here in the province of Cebu and in the City of Lapu-Lapu, where the blood of Lapu-Lapu runs strong,” the tourism chief added.
The tourism head likewise praised the local chief executives of Cebu for conducting the 502-year-old commemoration in order to teach the youth the story of Lapu-Lapu’s greatness.
“If we bear within ourselves that strong sense of identity and the refusal to give up in the face of insurmountable difficulty, there is no reason why we should not prevail.”
“I’m grateful for the city government of Lapu-Lapu for never allowing youth to forget that, guided by the example of courage and bravery of our very first Filipino hero, if we bear within ourselves that strong sense of identity and the refusal to give up in the face of insurmountable difficulty, there is no reason why we should not prevail,” she stressed.
“I’m very happy to see that tourism continues to run strong here in Cebu and here in Lapu-Lapu because you have translated the Kadaugan sa Mactan not only as an opportunity for commemoration but also as an opportunity for livelihood and employment,” Frasco added, noting that other components of the celebration, such as the food festival, are effective in attracting tourists and providing livelihood for locals.
She happily shared that the country had already met last year’s international tourist arrivals target of 1.7 million in the first four months of 2023, with the help of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City, which recently reaped important citations, including the nomination as Asia’s Leading Honeymoon Destination by the World Travel Awards and Asia’s Best Airport under the 5 Million category for Mactan Cebu International Airport by Routes Asia.
“Tourism Sec. Frasco is a modern-day hero and the epitome of Datu Lapu-Lapu.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Junard Ahong Chan lauded the tourism chief, calling her a modern-day hero and the epitome of Datu Lapu-Lapu.
“Let this be our way to thank her for all her efforts and support in bringing back the tourism industry not only in our city but the entire Philippines. Thereby ushering in opportunities for employment and livelihood which translate to food in every Filipino household she is therefore our modern-day hero and the epitome of Datu Lapu-Lapu,” Chan said during his welcome address.
