Lapu-Lapu City ("Opon")

"OPONGANON AKO"

History of Mactan

Before the island was named “Mactan Island or Lapu-Lapu City” , it is known as “Opon or opong ” the local word for cogon grass that is abundant in the island. Mactan Island is an island located at the east of Cebu and known for its history being the site of the so called “Battle of Mactan”, the first violent incident between native Filipinos and Europeans. The Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, met his death in a surprise ambush at the hands of the tribesmen under the local chieftain Lapu-Lapu. Mactan Island is an island that is still belong to Cebu, which belong to the region VII. The island is connected to mainland Cebu by two (2) bridges, the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the second Marcelo Fernan Bridge which span the Cebu Strait. The presence of two bridges has greatly improved the accessibility between Lapu-Lapu City and other areas in the Province of Cebu.+

Lapu-lapu City is one of the most important cities in Cebu province. It is a city located in Central Philippines and covers a vast area under its domain. Lapu-lapu City, Cebu has a long and rich historical and cultural background. The place was initially known as Mactan and was renamed as Lapu-lapu City in 1961. The city is named after Lapu-lapu, a renowned figure in Philippine's history who defeated Ferdinand Magellan in early 16th century.

Both Lapu-lapu City and Cebu city are a part of the Visayan Islands. Lapu-lapu City is well connected to Cebu mainly via cruises and ferries that ply between the two cities in Philippines. Located to the eastern side of Cebu, the place has developed into a major tourist hub in Philippines. Tourists may opt for short excursions from Cebu City to Lapu-lapu city, which may range from one to three days. These excursions are very interesting as there are many places that can be explored in Lapu-lapu City.

Lapu-lapu City in Cebu is a major hub of trade and commerce in the country. The city has a port and an industrial center that has enhanced the importance of the place to a great extent. The location of the city has helped in developing the place as a major business center. The tourism industry has also flourished wonderfully well in the city. The place abounds in immense natural beauty. There are pristine beaches as well as coral reefs in close proximity to the Lapu-lapu City at Cebu. 

Apart from nature, there are various other attractions in Lapu-lapu City, which are frequented by large numbers of travelers and tourists. Some of the most popular tourist destinations are as follows:

• Maribago Blue Waters
• Cebu Yacht Club
• Cebu Light Industrial Park
• Plantation Bay Resort & Spa
• Marcelo Fernan Bridge Park
• Lapu-Lapu and Magellan Shrines
• Mactan Coral Golf Club
• Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa
• Vano Beach
• Mactan Export Processing Zone

Political Subdivision 

Lapu-Lapu City is one of the 3 cities comprising METRO CEBU. An independent component city, it is composed of 30 barangays with 19 located in mainland Mactan island and 8 barangays at Olango Island and the 3 barangay islets of Caubian, Pangan-an, and Caohagan. 

Area 

Total land area of the city is approximately 6,422 hectares of which 5,400 ha. is the area of the 19 barangays in the mainland of Mactan and 1,022 ha. is the combined area of Olango Island, Pangan-an, the 2 Caubian islsets and Caohagan. Approximately 1,300 hectares of mainland Lapu-Lapu City is used for the airport, 1,067 hectares is used for the airbase and 199 hectares is now the PEZA (previously MEPZ). Recently, 100 hectares from the area of the airbase was developed into PEZA II. 

The People 

Based on a 1996 census, the city has a total population of 205,709. The barangay with the highest population is Gun-ob (in the mainland) with a population of 22,885, the lowest population is 342 in the islet of Caohagan. 

Topography 

Made up entirely of hard coral rock. Actually 40% of the total area is of rocky terrain. Loam soil, if any is scarce. The place is characterized by beautiful beaches on one side of the island and deep harbors along the coast facing Cebu. 

Climate and Rainfall 

There are 2 main types of climates - the first is characterized by a pronounced maximum rain period with no dry season, the second by a short pronounced rain period with a short dry season lasting from 3 to 4 months often occuring from March to May. The City is not located within the typhoon belt, hence typhoons seldom affect the place. 

Government 

A first-class city with an annual income of 400 millinon. The seat of government is in PUSOK along the Quezon National Highway, 200 meters form the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. 

ELECTRIC POWER, WATER SUPPLY AND COMMUNICTAION FACILITIES 

Mainland Lapu-Lapu City, including Olango Island is supplied with power by National Power Corporation through Mactan Electric Company. The main sources of potable water is from deep wells and from Metro Cebu Water District. Communication facilities are provided by PLDT. 

 A Legendary Past

A Hero's Rise

Dawn of April of 1521, Mactan shores became restless as Spanish cannons roared upon the Island Villages. Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer working for the Spaniards, came to Mactan to demand from Lapu-Lapu to pay taxes and to convert to Christianity. But to Magellan's surprise, Lapu-Lapu denied. Knowing this, Magellan then invaded Mactan. Magellan expected for a quick victory by relying on his sheer artillery power and riflemen. But a force of a thousand natives with spears, and swords, and poison sticks forced the enemy to a rout. Then the tide turns. Magellan was already fatally wounded when he ordered his soldiers to pull back. But Magellan was killed before they could react. Magellan's body was never recovered back despite the efforts to buy the body from the natives. The Battle of Mactan was the first war won by local natives against the Spaniards and making Lapu-Lapu, the first Filipino Hero.

The Spanish Era

In 1591, Mactan has passed on to colonial rule. Together with Camotes Islands formed encomienda subject to the City of Santisimo Nombre de Dios Cebu . Opon then became the seventh town founded by the Augustian fathers. In 1736, the Icon of the Blessed Virgin of the Rule was brought to Opon by Fr. Fransisco Aballe, Opon's first Parish Priest. He also built the Magellan monument of Mactan while in 1872m Fray Benito Perez constructed the first case municipal. By 1899, the Spaniards turned over the Philippines to the United States after Spain 's defeat in the Spanish-American War.

The American Era

In 1903, Facundo Patalinjug was elected as Town President of Opon in the first popular election under the Americans. In 1907, Pascual de la Serna was elected Town President. In 1908, the Twon acquired the site of the Town Plaza from the catholic church. The same year, Phil. Refining Co, Standard Oil Co., Texaco & HOA HIN started operation. In 1916, The Irish Redemptionist fathers founded St. Alphonsus Catholic School, but in 1921, the Benedictine Sisters took charge.

The Path to Industrialization

On June 17, 1961 , the former town of Opon officialy became a Chartered City under Republic Act 3134 and named after Lapu-Lapu, the hero of Mactan. Factories and Buildings rose through the skies. Large companies filled the City. The General Milling Corporation, who started operation at the same year. In 1966, The Mactan International Airport came to service. The Mactan Export Processing Zone also strated operation with 5 industrial firms namely: TMX Phils, Fairchild, Mactan Apparel, Eltra Asia Pacific, A.M. Cable & TV Industries at 1978.

M.I.A

                 The Mactan International Airport

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Mactan-Cebu, Cebuano: Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Mactan-Sugbo) (IATA: CEB, ICAO: RPVM) is a major international airport in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is located in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Metro Cebu and is the country's second primary gateway. The airport is managed by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

The airport has a large apron, a single 3,300 meter runway, and a taxiway. The terminal building incorporates both domestic and international wings with a combined capacity for 4.5 million passengers. The airport covers an area of 797 hectares.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is a major trade center in the south for both domestic and international traffic. Its traffic is continually increasing and is now serving 602 commercial flights weekly transporting 10,223 passengers daily. Narrow-bodied aircraft such as A319, A320, A321, B737, and wide-bodied aircraft such A300, A330, A340, B777 and B747 have been introduced in international flights to Mactan and in the domestic trunk routes.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport reported recently an average of 161 daily aircraft operations (landings and take-offs). About 54% of the flight operations at Mactan-Cebu International Airport are commercial carriers while the remaining 46% are military aircraft and general aviation operations.

Over the last fifteen (15) years, Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s passenger traffic has grown at an annual average of 21% for International while the domestic grew at an annual average of 5%. Mactan-Cebu International Airport is currently served by fourteen (14) passenger airlines and three (3) cargo airlines.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport is one of the major cargo airports in the Philippines. Air cargo volume in 2007 is 53,472,924 kg. International cargo volume increased at an average growth rate of 47% annually while the domestic cargo grew at an average of 4% per annum.

There was a healthy growth rate of air transport movement for the year 2007, an increase of 31% for international and 8% for domestic compared the other year.

A total of 3,731,500 domestic and international passengers passed through the airport back in 2007, marking an increase of 22% compared to the passenger throughput back in 2006.

For the year 2007 cargo volume rose by 8% for domestic and an increase of 2% for international compared last year.

The Mactan Shrine

                 Mactan Shrine

The Mactan Shrine houses three of the prominent landmarks in island. The shrine is a large tower erected in commemoration of the "Battle of Mactan" and the victory over foreign forces.

The area where the shrine stands was believed to be the battle ground where Magellan died. It measures 30 meters high, located few meters away from Shari-la Mactan Island Resort and part of the jurisdiction of Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

History

Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer arrived in initially in Homonhon on March 16, 1521 where Rajah Kolambu advised them to take the route to Cebu for trade. On April 7, Magellan arrived in Cebu (formerly named Zugbo) and was successful in converting the ruler of the place, Rajah Humabon with his wife and his men to Christianity.

It was believed the Rajah Humabon and Rajah Lapu-Lapu of Mactan were having dispute over the control of this small thriving island. Humabon prevailed in convincing Magellan to attack the island. Magellan, with his honest mission, wanted to convert Lapu-Lapu and his men to Christianity but in turn, it was rejected.

Magellan sailed on Mactan and arrived in its shores in Punta Engaño, in the northeastern part of Mactan on the break of April 27, 1521. With an army of soldiers, the colonizers were defeated with 1,500 aggressive men of Lapu-Lapu. Magellan was wounded by poisoned arrow and was finished by surrounding spears and swords.

Juan Sebastian Elcano, the second-in-command took over the left the place back to Spain. The body of Magellan was never been recovered despite the attempt to trade jewels and spices.

Both has stories to tell and worthy of recognition. Great thanks to Magellan for the effort of spreading Christianity in the region. Magellan was the first Western explorer to arrive in the country and Lapu-Lapu on the other hand holds the title of the first Filipino hero who resisted Western colonizations.

The Mactan Shrine was intentionally built to commemorate the heroic deeds of Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. It contained three prominent landmarks: the Magellan Marker, the statue of Ferdinand Magellanand the proud statue of Datu Lapu-Lapu.

Lapu-Lapu Monument

Lapu-Lapu Monument is the oldest of the monuments in Cebu province. The effigy portrays the once-chieftain, Datu Lapu-Lapu who believed to the reason of Magellan’s death. Lapu-Lapu was depicted in bronze holding a bolo on one hand and the shield in the other. His bravery epitomized the strong fighting spirit and courage of the Filipino people.

Magellan Marker

The spot where the marker was located was said to be the place where Magellan died and feel in the hands of Lapu-Lapu. Few years after the even happened, Spain colonized the Pihilippines and ordered a marker to be erected in memory of Magellan. The stone erected on 1866 with a note in the marker mark the actual place where the explorer shed his blood.

Magellan Monument

Side by side of the statue of Lapu-Lapu was the monument of Ferdinand Magellan. It was built accordingly on 1866 under the Augustinian priest Simon Aguirre, who the padre cura of Opon (former name of Lapu-Lapu City) on 1857 to 1871.

The shrine was open for public and eventually turned into plaza. Spectators can envisage the entire happening while strolling and watching the statues and painting depicting the history.

The shrine as well holds the annual celebration, the Kadaugan Sa Mactan by Lapu-Lapu City Government. Every April, the re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan by amateur actors is a one sight to behold.

Two reasons to visit Mactan Island especially the Mactan Shrine: its historic significance and the undeniably-good local cuisine, the “Sutokil” or STK. Sutokil stands for Sugba-Towa-Kilaw.. Sinugba is cooked with spices and grilled over direct fire. Towa or Tinola refers cuisine stewed in hot soup and Kilaw or Kinilaw is the local version of the Japanese “sushi”: raw fish in spices and vinegar.

How To Get There

Most common means of transport is by Taxi which usually seen all over the place. If you want to avoid long wait for a taxi, you can ask a taxi to convey you there and will wait for you, of course with higher pay.

From Cebu City, it is just a 30-minute ride and accessible by two bridges connecting Mactan Island and mainland Cebu.

         Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in Mactan Shrine

The Mactan Bridge

                                       Cross the Bridge

2nd Mandaue-Mactan Bridge. Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an extradosed cable-stayed bridge located in Metro Cebu, Cebu in the Philippines. It spans across Mactan Channel connecting Cebu Island to Mactan Island. Marcelo Fernan Bridge was opened in August 1999 to decongest the traffic from the older Mactan-Mandaue bridge. The bridge has a total length of 1237 metres (4058.40 feet) with a center span of 185 metres (606.96 feet). The bridge is one of the widest and longest bridge in the Philippines. It was named after Senator Marcelo Fernan, a political figure from Cebu City.

Mayor Ernest Weigel Jr. favors naming the 2nd Mandaue-Mactan bridge as Senate Preseident Marcelo Fernan bridge. The late senate president deserved to be honored for being a great Cebuano, Weigel said. Fernan was also Chief of Justice of the Supreme court, making him the lone Filipino to lead both the Senate and the Judiciary.

Wigel said he was invited to attend the congressional hearing on the proposed bill naming the bridge after Fernan, which is set on Feb 3. Meanwhile, Weigel plans to name the circumferential road in the city after President Carlos Garcia since not a single road is named after the late president.

President Garcia was responsible for making Lapu-Lapu, then called Opon, a city. He also had a hand in the creation of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Weigel said. House Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas and Senator John Osmena filed separate bills for the naming of the new Mandaue-Mactan bridge as Senate President Marcelo Fernan bridge.

In House Bill 7928, describes Fernan as one of the greatest Cebuanos and the only Filipino in recent history to have occupied the highest positions in two separate branches of government as Chief Justice and Senate President. Senator Osmena files a bill stating that to name the bridge after Fernan would be a fitting tribute to the man.

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Maribago Bluewater Resort

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Cebu is correctly named "The Queen City of the South". It was the first city established in the Philippines, having been the landing place of Magellan in 1521. Today, Cebu is a busy metropolis, recently having been chosen by Asiaweek Magazine as one of the best cities in Asia to live and play in.

Linked to Cebu by a modern bridge is the island of Mactan .. the home of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, a magnificent facility set in 5 hectares of immaculately groomed and beautifully landscaped grounds.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort offers the best of Cebu for those who seek the ideal balance of creature comforts and nature's wonders. The Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is located just 15 minutes away from the Mactan Cebu International Airport. All the diverse pleasures of island living are at your doorstep, scuba diving, snorkeling, beach combing, swimming or just simply lazing under the tropical sun.

And yet, the temptations of city life are but a short 40 minute drive away! In historical Cebu City you can have your fill of shopping, fine dining, casino gambling and sightseeing. Whatever you want to do, Maribago Bluewater is the perfect seaside haven for refreshing body and soul.

SuTuKil in Mactan

Sutukil: Dining on fresh seafood by the seas of Mactan island

When you’re in or anywhere near Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island, you have to try sutukil. Sutukil is a portmanteau of the three ways fish are cooked in eateries near the Mactan Shrine: Su is for sugba or grilled, tu is for tula or prepared into a soup and kil is for kilaw or turned into a raw fish salad.
Sutukil restaurants let you choose whatever you want cooked from stalls of fresh fish, prawns, crabs, seaweeds, shells, clams and even lobsters (click on photos to view larger images). These seafood are as fresh as seafood can be and the crabs and lobsters on display are still alive as you pick which ones you want cooked. Sutukil eateries get their daily supply of fresh seafood from fishers in nearby islets.

Many people love to eat in the place and it’s packed on weekends, especially during mealtimes. When we got there last Thursday, however, we were the only customers in the eatery we chose as it was mid-afternoon on a weekday.
We chose a local fish, molmol, because its white meat is great for kinilaw. The woman who sold us the fish did not bother asking us how we want it prepared. When I asked her how it would be cooked, she simply said sutukil. Everyone who eats fish in the place get this triadic culinary treat: sugba, tula and kilaw.
We also bought half a kilo of prawns and got four of the biggest prawns I’ve seen in my life. Each prawn weighs 1/8 of a kilo and I found, in hindsight, that one piece would have been enough for me since we already ordered fish.
The eateries are open-air and you dine in full view of the Mactan seawaters and rows upon rows of mangroves. What is it with waves, my wife asked me, that you get hypnotized as you stare into the deep? The view is surprisingly calming, for an urban corporate rat like me.
But off to eating.
The dishes were served in less than 15 minutes with fish soup brought first. The molmol’s head, tail and other un-kilawable and unsugba-able parts went into the soup, which is garnished by spices and seaweeds. This is the tula and being in Cebu, you do not pronounce it as it is spelled, you say tuwa or tua. True-blue Cebuanos do not pronounce the letter l in most words. Tula is the Cebuano word for the process of preparing a certain type of soup or sabaw, Bisaya for stock. The dish is called tinuwa, the prefix ti denoting that it is a product of tuwa.
The tinuwa tastes great if you haven’t tasted the dish yet. But for tinowa connoisseurs, which I fancy myself to be, it’s just passable. It wasn’t hot enough for my taste, a few more sword peppers would have done the trick.
After tasting the soup, I was eager to try the product of the kilaw preparation: the kinilaw. I love kinilaw and by the way, you pronounce it as it is spelled. Don’t go asking for a kiniwaw in there, you’d be embarrassing yourself.
When the kinilaw or raw fish salad was served, I was disappointed. The slices of ginger, onions and other spices mixed with the fresh white fish meat were too big. I want the spices with my kinilaw to be minced so that the flavors don’t interfere with the experience of eating diced raw fish meat cooked only by soaking it in vinegar. Note to self: next time I eat there, tell the cook to mince the spices.
My biggest disappointment with the kinilaw is that it did not contain coconut milk. I used to enjoy kinilaw without coconut milk but after I tried preparing the dish with it, I got hooked. The trick in preparing a great kinilaw is to soak the fish in one part vinegar and one part coconut milk for 10 to 15 minutes and then drain it. Dab a tablespoon of mayonnaise into the fish meat, mix it with minced spices and then soak it in one part vinegar and two parts coconut milk.
Now that, is a kinilaw. What was set before me in the sutukil restaurant was a poor imitation of the dish. But I guess those who are new to the dish would still love how they prepare it there. I actually heard a few people say it was good the previous time I ate there.
The sugba part of the sutukil trilogy came in last: grilling fish takes time. The sinugbang isda (grilled fish) was surprisingly tasty. It was probably the best dish to come out of the huge, more-than-a-kilo molmol we bought for cooking.
But the best dish served to me last Thursday was the plate of prawns cooked in garlic sauce. Its taste stays with me as I write this close to Friday dawn and yes I’ve brushed at least twice since that late-lunch-early-supper. It is the kind of dish that makes your mouth water even hours after you’ve eaten it. The half a kilo of fresh prawns were supposed to sate me but it didn’t and I still find myself planning my next meal in the place because of it.
If you love dining fresh seafood by the sea, you have to try sutukil. Just tell the cook preparing the kinilaw to mince the spices and not just chop it.
Prices
The molomol is sold at 160 pesos per kilo which is really quite cheap. The prawns are 700 pesos per kilo, crabs are at 400 plus pesos per kilo while lobsters are at 1,200 per kilo. These prices are really cheap and are comparable to what you pay when you buy these seafood in public markets in Lapu-Lapu City.
How to get there
The sutukil restaurants are located near the Mactan Shrine. It is a 250-peso taxi ride from central Cebu City. Just tell the cab driver you want to go to Mactan Shrine in Punta Eo. It’s on the way to Shangri-la Mactan. If you want to take public transport, you can either ride on a jeepney that goes to Punta Engao (No. 23 jeepneys with Punta Engao signboards in the windshield) or you can choose one of the hundreds of tricycle in Lapu-Lapu City.
The sutukil eateries are to the left of the stage near the Mactan shrine, on the side of the area’s police precinct (now there’s an added security for you.) After you pass a couple of souvenir shops selling trinkets, shell craft and other native products, you then see several stalls with pails and buckets of fresh seafood-just choose one of the several eateries in the place.