Lapu-Lapu

It took Sen. Richard Gordon, when he was Secretary of Tourism, a long time fighting for the construction of the Lapu-Lapu statue at the Agrifina Circle at the Rizal Park, popularly called Luneta. It was argued to Gordon that the park was only for the national hero, Jose Rizal. But the secretary insisted that was not so; the hero from Mactan is well deserving of a place at the national park — as well as in the Filipino nation’s consciousness. When the statue was finally constructed, the result was this 40-foot figure in bronze crafted by the Magsaysay sculptor awardee Sajid — standing magnificent and awesome in the middle of Agrifina Circle at the Luneta. Yes, a great monument to the first Asian, and the first Visayan Muslim, to repel invaders from the West — a solid testimony to a native’s love of country — on April 27, 1521, in Mactan.

Last Sunday, the senator, and one of the fiercest fighters in the Senate, led a program commemorating the 487th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan. Behind him, on the top of concrete steps, stood the monument, holding up shield and kampilan, and one can imagine hearing him declaring victory over a slain enemy. Gordon told a mixed audience of diplomats, government officials, representatives of Congress and the Red Cross, of which the senator is head; military officers and soldiers, teachers and barangay captains and NGO reps and media persons, that Lapu-Lapu “is personified in our national anthem by the verse ‘sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil’ and makes us proud to be Asia’s first to defeat a foreign invader. Lapu-Lapu should be an icon of our men in uniform who embodies the qualities of bravery, strength, honor, integrity and principles.”

Gordon secured a donation from the Korean Freedom League of P18 million for the erection of the statue in 2003. It was inaugurated on Feb. 5, 2005. Standing a few yards in front of the statue is a marker called Sentinel of Freedom, on which is inscribed a description of Lapu-Lapu as “the quintessence of a true Filipino — freedom-loving, peaceful, yet ready to fight those who trample on his cherished freedom.”

Consul Gen. Hong Sung Mog of Korea at the celebration thanked Filipinos for helping his countrymen fight for their freedom in the Korean War in the ’50s. That’s why it was easy for Gordon to ask the veterans’ league to finance the erection of the Lapu-Lapu monument.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who flew all the way from Cebu, said the Cebuanos “deeply appreciate that Senator Gordon valiantly, courageously and patriotically fought to put Lapu-Lapu in the national park. He has placed history in its proper place and the Cebuanos stand proud of him.”

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The senator continues to fight for the Visayan warrior by filing a bill seeking to have April 27 declared a national holiday as Adlaw Ni Lapu-Lapu or Lapu-Lapu Day.

Let it not be said that he glorifies the Visayan warrior over Dr. Jose Rizal, who rose to martyrdom four centuries after Lapu-Lapu dealt a deathly blow with his kampilan on the Portuguese-Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan. On Rizal he cites in the Sentinel of Freedom marker the words:

“Time elapsed and history identified a great number of our much laudable countrymen.

Henceforth, after four centuries came the brave who wielded his pen against the exploits of Spanish colonization — Dr. Jose Rizal.

His compelling writings howling for emancipation.

The first Asian to stir up within people’s hearts a revolution against colonial forces.”

The words of praise continue:

“Herewith we remember the fortitude of our noble countrymen —

With Rizal in the forefront

And Lapu-Lapu as a forerunner

Two Proud Sons of the Malay race

Symbols of harmony in diversity and respect for each other’s credo, strata and religion.

Both testifying that we, as a country should be united

Bear the seeds of their resolute valor

As we stand herewith to witness

The valiant legacy of our forebears.”

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The US Senate’s passage of the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 is good news for Senator Gordon — and the hundreds of Filipino World War II veterans.      

The veterans might finally receive $300 in monthly pension and benefits from the US government when the Senate voted for it 96 to 1.

The victory is not complete yet. The US Lower House has yet to approve it before the Act is carried through. But half of the battle has been won.

It was Senator Gordon who shepherded the passage of Senate Bill No. 142 amending Sec. 10 of Republic Act No. 6948 or an “Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents.” RA 6948 had been previously referred to in debates in the US Senate, as it forfeited the pension from the Philippine government should the US government give a similar pension.

On April 9, at the Araw ng Kagitingan rites held in Mt. Samat, Gordon thanked President Macapagal-Arroyo for her vocal support for more benefits for the veterans, and Representatives Carissa Coscolluela and Herminia Roman of H.B. 142.

Gordon said: “We can only be honored to have played a part in securing what may be final victory for our aging veterans. The US Senate’s passage of the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 finally settles a 60-year-old question of honor and justice long denied to our veterans who are mostly now in their eighties. Certainly, the expected benefits will provide comfort in their waning years, but what matters really is the American government’s recognition of their heroism, valor and sacrifice.”

Gordon thanked US Senator Daniel Akaka, sponsor of the Senate bill, Sen. Daniel Inouye and Rep. Bob Files. Gordon was assisted by Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa in his efforts to secure passage of the bill.

According to Gordon, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 expands the coverage of veterans’ benefits including a program of insurance for service-connected disability, expanded eligibility for retroactive benefits, traumatic injury protection coverage, housing benefits for those with severe burn injuries, and extension to two years and monthly educational assistance for apprenticeship and on-the-job training.

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