WE have honored the vanquished but not the victor. We have enshrined in our annals our defeats but not our victories. One example is the historic battle of Mactan and Raha Lapu-Lapu, 483 years ago.
Four hundred eighty-three years ago, the battle of Mactan was fought between the Spanish forces led by Magellan and the native forces led by Lapu-Lapu. The battle was historic in many ways. It was the first battle in recorded Philippine history where the Filipinos won in defense of their freedom and sovereignty. Magellan, the famous conquistador and explorer, was killed and his forces were defeated, thus belying the Spanish claim of invincibility. Lapu-Lapu's victory showed that a battle can be won even with inferior arms through use of superior tactics and strategy.
Our problem in this historic events is Lapu-Lapu's true identity. He remains unknown to the Filipino people. Pigafetta's account describing Lapu-Lapu as the chief of Mactan is inadequate.
One Sulu oral history provides many interesting details about Lapu-Lapu. He was called Iliji Rajiki (rajiki – a minor raja), a Muslim Tausug, an expert in Silatan (Tausug martial art of swordsmanship), and a warrior of the sultan of Sulu. Mactan was the seat of the kingdom and he was the Sultan's representative ruler in the Visayas area.
The battle of Mactan should be commemorated every year and our Muslim brothers should be proud that the first hero of the Filipino people is a Muslim – a Tausug – the famous fierce defender of freedom and sovereignty.
