Press Release
May 20, 2009

Gordon seeks national holiday to commemorate Lapu-Lapu's heroism

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today reiterated his proposal for a national holiday to commemorate the heroism of Lapu-Lapu, the first Asian to defeat the colonial invaders.

Gordon, during the Senate hearing on Senate Bill 2162, said that the measure seeks to pay tribute to the courage, bravery and integrity displayed by Lapu-Lapu and his men in the Battle of Mactan by declaring April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day or Adlaw ni Lapu-Lapu.

"Lapu-Lapu displayed great courage when he led his men to fight foreign oppressors. It is fitting that we as a nation and as a people celebrate this historic event which is the first victory of our nation against colonial invaders," he said.

"Lapu-Lapu had the traits of a true hero, he fought for his people, he had strong principles, he could not be bribed. He is personified in our national anthem by the verse 'sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil'. He embodies the qualities of courage, bravery and integrity," he added.

Lapu-Lapu was the King of Mactan who refused to submit to the rule of the Spanish invaders. Together with his men, Lapu-Lapu faced Spanish soldiers led by Ferdinand Magellan. Victory was on the side of the people of Mactan.

When he was tourism secretary, Gordon fought for the construction of the Lapu-Lapu statue at the Luneta, which the senator prefers to call by its original name Bagumbayan.

The 40-foot statue of the first Filipino hero was donated by members of the Korean Freedom League as a gift to the Filipino people in recognition of Filipino soldiers who had come to their country's aid and gave their lives during the Korean War.

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