Volume 6, Issue No. 48
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
Our latest as of Friday, May 2, 2025
~ The tragic event in Vancouver, BC last week in which 11 persons were killed and at least 20 injured overshadowed the historical significance of the man the Filipino community there was celebrating for fighting foreign aggressors - the16th century tribal chieftain known as Lapulapu, the Philippines' first national hero. Over five centuries ago, he figured in what's now known as the Battle of Mactan or Victory of Mactan where he annihilated the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who had embarked on conquering the islands that later became the Philippines.
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THE PHILIPPINES' FIRST NATIONAL HERO
Tragedy in Vancouver Gives Rise to Lapulapu
A Community Celebration Turned Tragic
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle." - Norman Schwarzkopf
TORONTO - Of all the 10 provinces and three territories of Canada, British Columbia, the third largest in area after Quebec and Ontario, is the only one that recognizes and celebrates the 16th-century Filipino tribal chieftain named Lapulapu.
In Ontario where the largest Filipino population resides, the community has three monuments honoring national hero Jose Rizal - one life-sized by artist Ignacio "Mogi" Mogado in Markham, and two busts in the cities of Toronto and Brampton.
Vancouver, BC thus stands out in acknowledging Lapulapu who, according to then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, must be afforded "greater standing among the pantheon of Filipino heroes."
(Note that in an executive order issued in 2021, Duterte changed the hero's name from the hyphenated "Lapu-Lapu" to the single word "Lapulapu" and enjoined government and non-government entities to adopt "Lapulapu" in all references to him).
Lapulapu rose to world prominence after the epic tragedy in Vancouver last week which resulted in the death of at least 11 people and injuries to more than 20 revelers attending the festival named in his honour, the "Lapu Lapu Day '25 Block Party."
Festival organizers called Lapulapu "the first national hero of the Philippines," a reiteration of the official recognition by the province of British Columbia of the man former President Rodrigo Duterte had elevated to the ranks of Philippine national heroes.
On behalf of the Filipino community, Philippine Consul General in Vancouver Arlene T. Magno received the proclamation of Lapulapu Day on April 27, 2023, the very same day 502 years ago (April 27, 1521) when Lapulapu killed Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer credited with "discovering" the Philippines for Spain, in what is marked as the Battle of Mactan, also called Victory of Mactan.
The provincial proclamation was "a testament to the enduring legacy of Datu Lapu-Lapu," according to the Filipino Canadian Community & Cultural Society of BC (or Filipino BC), organizers of the event. (More info: https://lapulapuday.com/pages/join-filipino-bc)
Before the tragic event of April 26, not much is known about Lapulapu. Among many Filipinos, the name is identified with a species of grouper fish, also called Lapulapu in the vernacular.
Most mainstream accounts of that day were about a festive Filipino celebration, typically with lots of food, music, song and dances - thus a "cultural event" - basically downplaying Lapulapu's historical significance.
In fact, the day was to honour Lapulapu, the very first indigenous (the islands were not called the Philippines yet until 22 years later) chieftain who rose up in arms and resisted Spanish colonizers led by Magellan. (More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapulapu).
"Datu Lapu-lapu's legacy," according to Filipino BC, "is not just that of a solitary hero, but the embodiment of a united spirit, a people's unyielding resolve to defend their land and culture against foreign intruders.
"He represents the soul of native resistance, a powerful force that helped shape the Filipino identity in the face of colonization. Lapu-lapu, though unconventional in the traditional sense of a hero, remains an enduring symbol of inspiration for all Filipinos.
"He teaches us that the strength of a united people, bound by a shared commitment to their heritage, can withstand any challenge. His story reminds us that even against overwhelming odds, the flame of resistance can burn brightly, lighting the way for future generations to proudly carry forward their cultural heritage and independence."
And so it is against this backdrop that on April 26, 2025 (which fell on a Saturday), or 504 years later, Filipinos and Canadians of Filipino descent, their friends and extended families in Vancouver joined festivities commemorating Lapulapu's heroism.
Meanwhile here in Canada's largest city and capital of Ontario, no more than two dozen familiar faces gathered at Earl Bales Park, a traditional picnic ground, lighted candles and offered prayers at the foot of Jose Rizal's bust monument for the victims of the deadly attack.
Looking at the images posted to social media by attendees, the "candlelight vigil" appeared more like a photo op than a somber tribute to the fallen victims in Vancouver. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).
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