Lapu-Lapu City is a first-class and a highly-urbanized city in Cebu province. The city is located in Mactan Island, a few kilometers away from the mainland Cebu. It occupies almost all the Mactan Island, leaving a small portion for the Municipality of Cordova. It also occupies the Olango Group of Islands and other small islands.
The total land area measures 64.22 square kilometers with 30 barangays under its jurisdiction. These barangays are: Agus, Babag, Bankal, Baring, Basak, Buaya, Calawisan, Canjulao, Caw-Oy, Cawhagan, Caubian, Gun-Ob, Ibo, Looc, Mactan, Maribago, Marigondon, Pajac, Pajo, Pangan-an, Poblacion, Punta Engaño, Pusok, Sabang, Santa Rosa, Subabasbas, Talima, Tingo, Tungasan and San Vicente.
Being 1st class municipality, Lapu-Lapu City houses some of the country’s prominent structures such as the two bridges connecting Mactan and mainland Cebu: the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Marcelo-Fernan Bridge, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the country’s second busiest airport and the only public aquarium in Visayas and Mindanao.
Also, the Mactan Export Processing Zone is one of the most successful special economic zones in the Philippines. This is one of the reasons why the economic growth of Mactan is in constant escalation.
One thing for music aficionados should not be missed is its guitars. Lapu-Lapu has become the home of the majority of guitar makers in Cebu. Some factories actually let one see how these precious guitars are made.
History:
In the 16th century, the island was colonized by the Spaniards and the Augustinian friars founded the township of Opon in 1730. It was later converted into City of Lapu-Lapu through Republic Act 3134, signed by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia on June 17, 1961.
The city got its name from Lapu-Lapu, a native chieftain who defeated Ferdinand Magellan, a Portugese explorer and his men in the shores of Mactan on April 27, 1521. The shrine in Punta Engaño still stands as a witness to the triumph of Lapu-Lapu over Magellan.
This historical encounter were remembered up to these days in a re-enactment known as the “Kadaugan Sa Mactan”, featuring colorful attires in musical plays at the shores where the actual battle happened.
A booming economy, long stretches of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, rich marine life, Lapu-Lapu is being dubbed as the “Sunny Side of Mactan”. It is the home to the most-sought resorts in the Philippines and in the world. Among the resorts that offer excellent accommodations are Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Cebu Hilton Resorts and Tower and Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort & Spa.
The city received accolades as the cleanest and greenest city in Region VII as well as the Cleanest Public Market in 2004. In the research study entitling “Doing Business in the Philippines 2008”, Lapu-Lapu City snatched the 2nd overall ranking, next to Taguig City who got the top spot.
The abundance of the marine life makes its cuisine exceptionally fresh. Seafood delights are overflowing in hotels or in the sidewalks. The city also famous for its “sutukil”, a three-in-one seafood preparation: SUgba, TUla and KILaw. Also, its lechon is their number 1 specialty.
The tourism industry in the city is proven to be very promising. Recently, the city has signed MOA or a Memorandum of Agreement for the Mactan North Reclamation and Development Project. The project is aiming to transform the northern part of the island into an active megaport town in the Pacific.
Ten years from now, Lapu-Lapu City has all the possibilities of becoming a world-class city. It is envisioned to convert Lapu-Lapu City into a world-class Gateway of the Philippines.
How To Get There:
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport provide easy access to the interested tourists, both locals and foreign alike. Flights are available from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia to Cebu and vice versa, as well as domestic flights to other provinces throughout the country.
Or, one can take a trip to the city through two bridges connecting mainland Cebu and Mactan Island. The first bridge is the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge or the Mactan Bridge and the most recent is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, after Senator Marcelo Fernan. Buses, tais or private vehicles are welcomed to visit Lapu-Lapu.
Another option, for people who are money and time conscious, is to take the trip by the sea. Lots of ferry boats are available to convey passengers back and forth from Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City or vice versa.
