14T witness Kadaugan; Lapu execs lobby for holiday anew

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated 14,000 people trooped to Lapu-Lapu City yesterday for the 493rd "Kadaugan sa Mactan," an annual event that commemorates the historic battle in the island, the first victory of Filipinos against Spanish invaders.

Lapu-Lapu Police chief Armando Radoc provided the official crowd estimate and said no untoward incident occurred during the reenactment of the battle.

The beachfront where the reenactment was carried out also remained peaceful even with just 60 policemen deployed to keep watch.

In her speech, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza said April 27 should be declared Lapu-Lapu Day. "Dapat nga mag hiusa ang mga katawhan sa Pilipinas ug atong i-selebrar ang atong kadaughan," she said.

Charles Baylosis, a consultant to the mayor, called on the Senate to pass the bill to declare April 27 a national holiday.

"Sa akong nabantayan lang gyod no, Filipinos man gud, fun of celebrating defeats, like sa Rizal Day, Ninoy Aquino's day nga assassination. Mao nang I hope, mapasar na gyod katong bill," Baylosis said, adding, that the commemoration has become bigger and bigger through the years.

This year's reenactment cast, for one, was helmed by television personalities Daniel Matsunaga who played Lapu-Lapu, Venus Raj who played Lapu-Lapu's wife Rayna Bulkna, and Carlos Agassi who played Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Matsunaga's participation raised several eyebrows considering his nationality but he told reporters yesterday he is Filipino by heart. "Filipino ako by heart. They said I am not a Filipino but I am now," he said.

Raj, the fourth runner-up in the 2010 Miss Universe, said she was amazed by how organizers continue to give life to an event that happened  many hundreds of years ago.

"It is really an honor na mapili bilang Bulakna for this year. I know the re-enactment that Mactan is doing for several years. Iba pala yung feeling na ikaw yung nandoon at ikaw yung gumaganap talaga," Raj said.

Agassi, for his part, said their participation was not only for the event itself but also for those that continue to support it every year. He shared that Matsunaga agreed to extend their fight scene to satisfy the audience.

"Yung mga tao na sinisigaw yung pangalan mo from afar, nakaka-lift ng spirit at nakakakilabot. Nakakatuwa rin nung nakita ko yung mga tao na nasa tubig," Agassi said.  (FREEMAN)