Tourists who attended the annual re-enactment of the Kadaugan sa Mactan lauded the presentation, with tourism officials expecting a larger turnout next year.
“The play was really good,” said Sten Dahl, 70, a first time spectator from Sweden. Christian, a Spanish media practitioner, attended the event out of curiousity.
“I just came here to watch. It’s my first time to watch the victory in Mactan,” he said.
Regional Director Rowena Lou Montecillo of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Lapu-Lapu City should be congratulated for staging the event despite the earthquake and supertyphoon that struck Cebu last year.
The “Kadaugan sa Mactan”, a re-enactment of the victory of chieftain Lapu-Lapu over explorer Ferdinand Magellan drew an estimated 15,000 spectators.
Model Daniel Matsunaga portrayed the role of Lapu-Lapu while beauty queen Venus Raj was Reyna Bulakna and actor Carlos Agassi was Magellan.
“It’s a different feeling to play a historical figure,” Raj told reporters. Matsunaga, who’s of Brazilian and Japanese descentm said he was honored to portray Lapu-Lapu./ Interns Irish Maika R. Lam, Xavier University and Rosemarie Cananea, CNU)
Locals act as Spaniards who were with Ferdinand Magellan when they first set foot in Mactan island. (CDN PHOTO/ IRISH MAIKA LAM)
Japanese-Brazilian model Daniel Matsunaga (second from left) who act as Lapu-Lapu celebrates their victory for killing Ferdinand Magellan played by Carlos Agassi during the re-enactment of Kadaugan sa Mactan. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
Daniel Matsunaga who plays Lapu-lapu lead the procession of the body of Magellan played by Carlos Agassi (carried) after he was killed during the battle of Mactan. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
Venus Raj plays the role of Lapu-Lapu’s wife Bulakna. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
The main cast of the 493rd Kadaugan sa Mactan pose for a souvenir photo after the re-enactment. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)