Where to, Lapu Lapu?

The 40-foot bronze statue of Datu Lapu-Lapu stands proud at the Teodoro Valencia Circle at the Rizal Park in Manila.

The Lapu-Lapu monument had stood there holding his kampilan  perpendicularly stumped to the ground not just as a symbol of patriotism, but also of the truly national nature of the anti-colonial struggle. The chieftain of Mactan Island who killed the Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan has been the symbol of bravery of the people of the south – the Visayans.

Although some historical bigots from the National Historical Institute (NHI) have questioned Lapu-Lapu’s place in Bagumbayan – the place where nationalists and revolutionaries were executed by the Spanish Guardia Civil – the issue had long been resolved.

Since its unveiling on February 5, 2004, the Lapu-Lapu monument has gained acceptance and in fact has become a strong symbol of the need to recognize his contribution to Philippine history. It reinforces the need to recognize him by assigning a national holiday in his honor – April 27 – the Battle of Mactan.

Then tourism secretary Richard Gordon had the issue settled when he said during the unveiling of the monument 10 years ago that “Lapu-Lapu is our first national hero. It is only fitting that we give him a place in Luneta, our national park.” His bravery, according to Gordon, and role in repulsing Spanish invaders long ago dramatized the capability of the Filipino to “rise above adversity, fight for their freedom and rights.”

Mayor Paz Radaza’s wanting to bring the 40-foot bronze statue of the great Oponganon and installing it in Punta Engaño, is hard to understand.

Why Mayor Radaza is resurrecting the long repudiated claim by some officials in the NHI about Rizal Park’s exclusivity is also not easy to decipher.

It can be recalled that one of the earliest bills filed by her daughter and incumbent Lapu-Lapu Rep. Aileen Radaza is to have April 27 declared a national holiday. This bill should be supported until it is approved in Imperial Manila.

But Mayor Radaza’s advocacy to bring Lapu-Lapu’s monument to Mactan has been mute about the Lapu-Lapu national holiday bill. So what’s the ruckus about? Why can’t the monument of Lapu-Lapu stay in Rizal Park even just to remind our brethren in Imperial Manila that the Visayans had the balls to kick out colonizers.

Putting up Lapu-Lapu’s monument offshore barangay Punta Engaño, like the Statue of Liberty in Staten Island off New York, is a wonderful idea.

But should Rizal Park’s Lapu-Lapu be migrated for this? The casting of bronze monument, we recall, was funded by the Korean Freedom League.

It should stay there in Rizal Park where it found acceptance.

If Mayor Radaza really wants to have Lapu-Lapu stand proudly to inspire Oponganons, making another, even bigger monument should not be a problem.

There surely is no shortage of bronze and talent to build bronze statues. Looking at the modern Lapu-Lapu, there certainly is no shortage of Koreans who may again donate funds for another monument, if the local government scrimps on spending for the worthy project.