History of Lapu-Lapu Monument

One of the tourist spots in Lapu-Lapu City is the Lapu-Lapu Monument. According to my research the history of Lapu-Lapu shrine starts when the great conqueror Magellan was in Cebu. The brave spanish navigator and soldier,upon learning that some inhabitants on this tiny Island across Cebu refused to recognize the king of Spain,burned one of the villages. Lapu-Lapu was one of the native leaders who refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of Spain over the islands.      
   

When Magellan,with three boat-lands of Spaniards and twenty Boatlands of Cebuanos went to Mactan to help a friendly chief, Lapu-Lapu and his men armed with native fighting elements,wooden shields,bows and arrows,lances, met them. The invading Spaniards and Cebuanos were driven back to their boats,but their brave leader Magellan met the death in the hands of Lapu-Lapu on what is believed to the exact spot where Magellan fell and died now stands imposing Monument in honor of the gallant explorer.

The battle between Mactan island Chieftain Lapu-Lapu and the foreign aggressor Ferdinand Magellan occurred in April 27,1521. It depicts the hero holding a bolo in one hand and pestle on the other. The said weapon believed to have been used during his combat with Magellan. This Monument stands as a reminder of Filipino Bravery.  
                                                                               

Some natives believed that  final years,Lapu-Lapu did not die and has been turned into a stone and is forever guarding the seas of Mactan. Fishermen in the island city throw      coins at shaped like a man as a way of asking for permission to fish in the chieftain’s territory.