Lapulapu

Datu of Mactan in the Visayas (fl. 1521)

apu-Lapu" redirects here. For the city named after him, see Lapu-Lapu City. For the 2001 film,
see Lapu-Lapu (film). For the fish also known as "lapu-lapu", see Epinephelus undulosus.
his Philippine name for indigenous people, this person is addressed by the sole name, Lapulapu
Lapulapu or Lapu-Lapu, whose name was first recorded as Çilapulapu, was a datu (chief) of
Mactan in the Visayas in the Philippines.
Quick Facts Datu of Mactan, Reign ...
ulapu is widely known for the Battle of Mactan On April 26, 1521, he and his men defeated the
Spanish forces, led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah
mabon and Datu Zula. Magellan's death ended his voyage of circumnavigation and delayed the
panish occupation of the islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de
azpi in 1564. Legazpi continued the expeditions of Magellan, leading to the colonization of the
Philippines for 333 years.
Modern Philippine society regards him as the first Filipino hero because of his resistance to
panish colonization. Monuments of Lapulapu have been built all over the Philippines to honor
pulapu's bravery against the Spaniards. The Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire
Protection use his image as part of their official seals.
sides being a rival of Rajah Humabon of neighboring Cebu, very little is reliably known about
life of Lapulapu. The only existing primary source mentioning him by name is the account of
ntonio Pigafetta, and according to historian Resil B. Mojares, no European who left a primary
ecord of Magellan's voyage/vessel "knew what he looked like, heard him speak (his recorded
words of defiance and pride are all indirect), or mentioned that he was present in the battle of
Mactan that made him famous." His name, origins, religion, and fate are still a matter of
controversy.