How Cebu went from historic battleground to booming tropical paradise
AT A GLANCE
When we reached land, those men had formed in three divisions to the number of more than 1,500 persons. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with exceeding loud cries, two divisions on our flanks and the other on our front. —Antonio Pigafetta
FROM THE BLOOD OF OUR ENEMIES The Battle of Mactan led to Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s defeat after being severely outnumbered by Datu Lapu-Lapu’s forces
Laced with enthusiasm, a young dance troupe tries to perfect their moves on the land that once hosted an epic battle against overconfident colonizers.
Just a short distance from the shore, a tall bronze statue commemorates the country’s earliest recognized hero, Datu Lapu-Lapu. Behind it lies a marker of defeat dedicated to Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his fallen comrades. Both are found at the Mactan Shrine, a national shrine dedicated to the historic Battle of Mactan, which is widely known as the first resistance against Spanish colonization in the country.
THE FIRST HERO A bronze statue of Lapu-Lapu enshrined in Mactan
“When we reached land, those men had formed in three divisions to the number of more than 1,500 persons. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with exceeding loud cries, two divisions on our flanks and the other on our front,” wrote Antonio Pigafetta, who chronicled most of the Magellan-led expedition. Each year, on April 27, the Kadaugan sa Mactan (Victory in Mactan) Festival is celebrated to honor Lapu-Lapu’s victory. Its main highlight is a reenactment of the battle where the battle is said to have taken place.
While Cebu is home to this historic battle, it is also a solemn place for Catholic devotees.
A HOLY PLACE The Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the country
A short drive away from Mactan in Cebu City lies Magellan’s Cross just beside the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú, one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the country. Magellan’s Cross stands as a marker of the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines after Magellan arrived and converted Raja Humabon and his wife Reyna Juana. An image of the Sto. Niño was then presented as a gift, over which Reyna Juana was said to have felt such immense joy that she danced around it, leading other natives to follow suit. Many pinpoint this as the act that would lead to the celebration of the Sinulog Festival, a large feast celebrated on the third Sunday of January, the feast of Santo Niño de Cebú.
THE BIRTH OF PHILIPPINE CATHOLICISM Magellan’s Cross was erected following Magellan's arrival in Cebu on April 21, 1521
Finally, for music lovers, Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan is often referred to as the guitar capital of the Philippines.
Alegre Guitar Factory has made a name for itself not only in the Philippines but internationally. Its guitars are sold as far as Canada, Australia, and the US. Entering the factory, guests are given a brief look into how each guitar is made and the different types of wood that can be used for crafting the instrument. It’s inspiring to see just how much meticulous work goes into creating a single guitar. The salesmen are also proficient players, easily able to demonstrate and explain each instrument on display.
HANDCRAFTED TO PERFECTION A worker from the Alegre Guitar Factory adds finishing touches to a guitar he made
If you’re considering a place to stay during your visit, consider booking a stay at the Belmont Hotel Mactan.
With over 550 guestrooms and suites, the Belmont Hotel Mactan is the perfect place for business or leisure purposes. Each suite comes in three categories, Superior Deluxe (up to 26 square meters), Deluxe Premier (up to 36 square meters), and Junior Suites (up to 50 square meters). All rooms are fully equipped with essential amenities, such as an in-room electronic safety box, wall-mounted TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar, and a wireless Internet connection. Other amenities include four function halls perfect for business meetings or celebrating events, a fitness center with top-notch gym equipment, and a swimming pool area replete with a poolside bar.
BLEISURE PERFECTION The Belmont Hotel Mactan is the perfect hotel for business and leisure, with over 550 guestrooms and suites, and four function halls for meetings or celebrations
The Belmont Hotel Mactan is also located within a 30-hectare township development, The Mactan Newtown, Megaworld’s first-ever township outside of Metro Manila and within a beach. It is also home to two of the largest annual celebrations in Cebu, the Cebu Lechon Festival celebrated in August and the Cebu Mangoes Festival in May. It also hosted the Megaworld Ironman 70.3 Philippines last year, bringing in over 2,000 triathletes from all over.
For those considering a more permanent stay, Mactan Newtown is also home to residential condominiums, over 1,655 units and counting. It is a booming business district with about 81,000 square meters of leasable office spaces in eight office towers hosting top BPO companies and multinational firms. Education is a priority, so there’s the Newtown School of Excellence, an academic institution supervised by the La Sallian Schools of Supervision Office (LASSO), offering academic programs from pre-school up to Grade 7. The Mactan Alfresco offers a wide selection of restaurants offering local delicacies and specialty cuisines. It even hosts a live lechon roasting, where visitors can see how the iconic dish is made.
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