THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
”01 JJ; 30 Rei 3 4  
# 
) S.S 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The first successful defense of Filipino freedom against Western imperialism and 
the first recorded triumph of Filipino arms over superior western firepower took place in 
the historic battle of Mactan four hundred seventy eight (478) years ago. This victory 
catapulted Lapu-lapu into the limelight of history as the first Filipino hero. 
An account told by the late historian Gregorio Zaide discloses that upon the 
arrival of the Spanish fleet under the command of Ferdinand Magellan in March 1521, 
most of the local chieftains had converted Christianity and accepted Spanish rule. For 
instance, Rajah Humabon of Cebu and even Zula, one of the two kings of Mactan, 
submitted to Spanish power and agreed to be subjects of Spain. 
Zaide then continues by observing that,inspired by his initial successes, Magellan 
ordered all other chieftains in Cebu and the neighboring islands to recognize Humabon 
as their king and kiss his hand as a sign of homage. 
Only one Filipino ruler dared defy Magellan. He was Lapu-lapu, the proud and 
lion-hearted king of Mactan. 
For his refusal to submit to Spain’s might, as well as, for fighting Zula, who was 
by then a subject and good friend of Spain, Magellan decided to subdue Lapu-lapu by 
force of arms. 
At dawn on April 27, 1521, Magellan invaded Mactan. His force consisted of 60 
armored Spanish soldiers in three big boats and 1, 000 Cebuan allies in his men to 
remain in their boats and just watch how Europeans fight, Magellan and his men waded 
in the shallow shores of Mactan. There they found Lapu-lapu calmly awaiting their 
attack with his warriors arranged in three battle columns. 
Despite Magellan’s ultimatum to submit peacefully Lapu- lapu replied: “ I  submit 
to no king and pay no tribute to any power. If our enemy have lances of iron, we have 
also lances of bamboo and stakes hardened in fire.” 
Magellan’s men, with their arquebuses, fired the first shots, but this proved 
ineffectual. The brave Mactans, fighting in the defense of their liberty and honor, firmly 
stood their ground. As the invaders came nearer they raised their war cries and hurled 
their javelins, arrows, flaming stakes and stones. 


In the fierce hand-to-hand fighting that ensued, the white invaders were soundly 
defeated. Magellan ordered a retreat, but this was too late. He died from several 
mortal blows, one of which caused him to fall face downwards on the beach of Mactan. 
Lapu-lapu’s victory at Mactan was a serious blow to European prestige. Western 
accounts of the battle written from the European point of view and naturally slanted to 
present Magellan’s defeat in a less disastrous light cannot disguise the fact that the 
Spanish invasion of Mactan was a total failure and that Lapu-lapu, by staging the first 
successful Filipino resistance to Western aggression on our soil, deserves no less than 
a hero’s recognition. 
At present, a small monument in Opon, Mactan is all that stands to honor Lapu- 
lapu, the hero’s conqueror of Magellan. By declaring a day in his memory we hope to 
give him the same honor we accord to our other national heroes. 
JERClTO ESTRADA 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) S.S 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY 
MAGALLANES IN THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF MACTAN ON APRIL 27,1521. 
TO DECLARE APRIL 27 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-WORKING 
OF LAPU-LAPU AND HIS MEN OVER THE SPANIARDS LED BY FERNANDO 
TO BE KNOWN AS LAPU-LAPU DAY OR ADLAW NI LAPU-LAPU. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The twenty-seventh day of April of every year is hereby declared as 
a special non-working holiday throughout the country to commemorate the victory of 
Lapu-lapu and his men over the Spaniards in the historic Battle of Mactan on April 
27, 1521 to be known as Lapu-lapu Day or Adlaw ni Lapu-lapu. 
SECTION 2. To ehsure meaningful observance of the holiday as herein 
declared, all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including 
government owned and controlled corporations as well as local government units, 
and employers in the private sector shall encourage and afford sufficient time and 
participate in any activity conducted in their respective localities to celebrate Lapu- 
lapu Day or Adlaw ni Lapu-lapu. 
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect three (3) days following its publication in at 
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulations or in the Official Gazette. 
Approved,