NQC wants April 27 declared holiday for victory of Mactan commemoration

CEBU, Philippines —  To give all Filipinos the opportunity to celebrate the victory of Mactan, the National Quincentennial Committee is pushing for the declaration of April 27, 2021 as a national non-working holiday to mark the 500th anniversary of the historic battle of Mactan.

Dr. Rene Escalante, chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Executive Director of the National Quincentennial Committee, is hopeful the president would also declare April 27, 2021 as special non-working holiday like the commemoration of the first baptism in Cebu City.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Durterte declared April 14 as a special non-working holiday in Cebu City, allowing city residents to participate in the historic religious event.

 Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the City Council through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Queenie Ahmann has also requested Duterte to make the declaration.

It was stated in the resolution that a declaration of national holiday would open the doors to every Filipino to search and study the commendable and exemplary life of Datu Lapulapu and the historic battle of Mactan 500 years ago.

Meanwhile, Escalante said the NQC is planning to build a museum at the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City. He said the museum will showcase Lapulapu and the pre-colonial culture of the Philippines so that this part of history will remain in the memory not only of the present generation but also of the generations to come.

The NQC is also expecting the two terminal buildings of Mactan Cebu International Airport to be named after Lapulapu before the year ends. The proposal was already approved by the House of Representatives for third and final reading. A counterpart bill in the Senate is also underway. Escalante said it is now being deliberated by the Senate committee on transportation. — FPL (FREEMAN)