LapuLapu was ruler of Mactan in the Philippine archipelago. He is revered to be the first Filipino hero and known to be the first Filipino to resist Spanish colonization. He refused to give tribute to Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in his island and Lapu-Lapu and his soldiers waged battle with Magellan's crew in a skirmish known as the Battle of Mactan. Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the battle.
Legacy[]
The victory of Lapulapu has said to have delayed the Spanish colonization for more than 4 decades. Retroactively, Lapulapu is considered to be the first Filipino hero.
On 2017, Rodrigo Duterte declared April 27 as "Lapu Lapu day", in commemoration of the hero's victorious battle in Mactan. A type of grouper and a city were also named in honor of the hero.