Lapu-Lapu City - Cebu Province Destinations

Lapu-Lapu City

It is a 1st class highly-urbanized city in the province of Cebu, Philippines.

Lapu-Lapu City occupies most of Mactan Island, one kilometer off of mainland Cebu Island, and also covers the whole of Olango Island five kilometers further to the southeast plus a few other islets. It is part of the larger Cebu Metropolitan Area which is centered on Cebu City.

 

Lapu-Lapu City is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.  

 

Brief History

On April 8, 1521 Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu and discovered the island for the Europeans thus opening a route that would be followed by sea traders until today.

 

 

Magellan planted a cross in the island that would become Cebus most famous landmark. While in the island, Magellan picked a fight with Cebus local chieftain Lapu-lapu that led to the now legendary Battle of Mactan. Magellan was killed in the battle and most of his men were annihilated by the locals that marked one of histories most stunning war reversals. Spain was a world power at that time, dividing the world with Portugal, while Cebu was an unknown remote island in the Pacific.

 

 

Fourty-four years later, in February 1565, Spain sent another expedition to Cebu headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi which eventually succeeded in colonizing Cebu and the central islands of the Visayas as well as the northern islands of Luzon. The whole archipelago was named Las Islas Filipinas in honor of the then Spanish king Philip II. Spain ruled the Philippines with an iron fist for 400 years that produced several rebellions and many Philippine heroes foremost among them was Dr. Jose Rizal who was recently been accorded as a hero of the Malayan race.

 

 

In May 1898 the Americans defeated the Spaniards in the Battle of Manila Bay and took control of the Philippines. The US Government awarded the Philippines independence in 1946 but retained favored trade pacts and several U.S. military bases within the country. In 1991 the Philippine Senate voted against the continuation of of US Military bases that effectively ended Americas presence in the Philippines.

 

 

Today, Lapu-lapu City is one the fast rising cities in the Philippines. With its very high rise and world class hotels and beach resorts, Lapu-lapu City brings forth more promising future ahead.

 

 

Sources:
Wikipedia

Lapu-Lapu City Government

Attractions at Lapu-Lapu City

Lapu-Lapu City Festival