PRESIDENT Aquino has declared June 17 as a special nonworking holiday in Lapu-Lapu City to mark the city’s 53rd founding anniversary.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Lapu-Lapu be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the President said in issuing Proclamation No. 582.
City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez said the celebration will start with a flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds. A simple program will follow at the Liberty Shrine in Mactan.
“It would be a fun and happy day for Oponganons,” Ybañez said.
The venue of the event is very relevant to the celebration as it is where the monument of Datu Lapu-lapu stands.
The city got its name from Datu Lapu-Lapu, a native chieftain who defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
Rep. Manuel A. Zosa authored the bill converting the former municipality of Opon into Lapu-Lapu City which was signed on June 17, 1961 by President Carlos P. Garcia. /USJ-R Masscomm Intern Mayfair D. dela Cerna