How Did Lapulapu Win the Battle of Mactan?

Epic Strategy by Araullo

Battle of Mactan (April 27, 1521)

 The battle if Mactan happen on the island of Mactan (april 27, 1521).
 The Visayan Ruler (Datu Lapu Lapu) and his warriors defeated Spanish
conquistadors led by Ferdinand Magellan (a.k.a. Fernao de Magalhaes/
Fernando de Magallanes).
 In less than 1 hour, the indigenous warriors of Mactan decimated and defeted
Magellan and his forces.

What exactly led to the battle? (Ano ang kinahinatnan)

 Magella
 Magellan’s aim was not to sail around the world
 Magellan aims to reach the spice island (also known as Moluscas)
located to South east Mindanao.
 Why he (Magellan) was there?
 To expand Spanish empire
 He was doing these for warfare and diplomacy
 Rajah Humabon (King of Sugbu (cebu))
 He want to take advantage on their newly found European allies
(Magellan)
 He was the brother in law of Lapu Lapu

 Reason 1: The one who refuses to submit to both Rajah Humabon and the
Spaniards was Lapu Lapu. So Magellan saw Lapu Lapu as enemy (an enemy
he shared with Rajah Humabon)
 Reason 2: Magellan was eager to make an example of Lapu Lapu that he was
eager to engage Lapu lapu in battle.

What happen to the Battle?

 Magellan’s Side
 Magellan wants to attack with only 50 of his men and their canons because they
were confident that their canon would protect them.
  Magellan wants to lead the attack and be on the front line despite of the advice of
the others for him to stay in the ship and lead the battle from the safer distance.
 Magellan was so confident that they would easily overpower the visayans
 Magellan refuses to the help of Rajah Humabon and his forces(ended they were
watching from distance)

 Lapu lapu’s Side

 Lapu lapu used wooden indigenous shield that deflect the European’s
weapons. (Guns and arrows of Europeans were no match to wooden shields
of visayans)
 Lapu Lapu and his warriors are wearing armors.
 Lapu Lapu took advantage of their island in defeating Europeans (Magellan) –
“Home court Advantage”
 Lapu Lapu tricked Magellan into a trap (Lapu Lapu requested to delay the
battle by sevral hours into the morning of April 27,1521 instead of fighting the
Europeans on April 26, 1521
 Magellan agreed to the request of Lapu Lapu
 Europeans laughed at Lapu Lapu’s request (because it is an amateur or
childish move)
 Lapu Lapu chosen the Beach of Mactan as the location of the battle
 Why did he choose beaches of Mactan?
 It is shallow for the European to enter and it made the european’s
canons useless – the ship didn’t reach the target – but Magellan still
pushed forward without the protections of canons (kasi sabi nya may
armor at superior weapons naman daw sila)
 It was filled of rocky coral – the shallow water and rocky corals acted
as a trap – the armors of europeans did not help because it’s too
heavy – in short, the Europeans was stranded and vurnerable
 Because of it, the Europeans was slaughtered in juts less than 1 hour by the
visayans led by Lapu Lapu
 Lapu Lapu’s forces was organized
 They were Lined up in squadrons and behind three rows of trenches
 While the Europeans was being slaughtered, the warriors of Rajah Humabon of
Cebu felt bad and took pity as they watched from afar. They try to rescue the
Europeans but no avail.
 After the battle, Rajah Humabon offer and attempted to retrieve/to recover
Magellan’s body but Lapu Lapu refuse
 Lapu lapu ang his warriors decided to keep Magellan’s body as a token for the
victory
 Just a few days later, on May 1, 1521, Rajah Humabon and the cebuanos plot to
kill off remaining conquistadors by tricking them into a feast.
 As a result, Europeans desperately rushed to get out of visayas

 According to official Spanish/European’s account

 They said that Lapu Lapu have 1,500 warriors against 50/60 Spanish
conquistadors.
 Visayans
 They were capable of strategic warfare
 They are not weak who only won because if their bigger number
 They won because of their skill, better strategy, and they did not let their ego
get in the way of battle.
