Lapu-lapu City

Brief History

Mactan Island is the site of the famous "Battle of Mactan" where Datu Lapulapu successfully repelled the Spanish invaders headed by Ferdinand Magellan. In this battle, Magellan met his untimely death on April 27, 1521.

In this year 1690, the town of Opon was created. It was the first town in the island of Mactan and one of the greatest towns in the Province of Cebu.

On June 17, 1961 the status of Opon was changed from a municipality to a chartered city under Republic Act No. 3134 signed in law by President Carlos P. Garcia. The new city was named Lapu-lapu as a tribute to the man whose valor, exemplary leadership and lofty ideals of nationalism made him the nation’s first hero.

Lapulapu City’s land area is 6,423 hectares with a population of about 160,000/25 persons per hectare.

Geography

Distance from Manila : 365 miles ( 1 hour travel )
Distance from Cebu Island : 350 meters at the narrowest portion of the Mactan Channel accessible through the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Topography

The area is generally flat with slopes of 0-3%. There are rivers or creeks in the island.

Climate

Average Annual Rainfall     1,638 mm
Temperature Range          65-95 ° F

Dry Season                       February – May
Rainy Season                    June – January

Trade, Industry and Tourism

Mactan Economic  Zone (MEZ) Exports

MEZ exports increased by 21.0 percent to compromise 63.35 percent of the total exports and exceed its projected share to regional exports by 1.35 percentage points. Value of exports of non-MEZ enterprises registered to US$ 3.59 million. Manufacturing activity at the MEZ increased as manifested in the significant rise in employment at 10.0 percent. As of the first quarter of 1998, the processing has 130 locators/foreign companies doing business in the zone employing 36,000 people with a monthly payroll of P150 million.

Tourist Spots

Guitar Factories
Lapu-lapu City Parish Church ( Birhen sa Regla )
Lapulapu Monument Muelle Osmena
Magellan Monument
White Sand Beaches
World-class Beach Resorts

Transportation and transport Facilities

This is the country’s second international airport and the most important transport facility in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Domestic Destinations : serviced by Philippine Airlines, Grand Air, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific, and Mindanao Express.

International Destination : serviced by PAL and other airlines, Direct flights to the following points are available.

• Bangkok, Thailand
• Brunei
• Hongkong
• Malaysia
• Narita, Japan
• Singapore
• Sydney, Australia

• Taipei, Taiwan

In-City and Cebu transport

Land : Jeepneys, tricycles, taxicabs, buses, cars for hire
Sea : Metro ferry, pumpboats, barges ( across Mactan Channel )

Wharves

Public : Muelle Osmena
Private : Seven( Owned by various establishments )

Communications

Philippine Long Distance Company and ISLACOM with national and international direct dialing facilities.

Hospitals

Two public hospitals with 85 bed capacity and one private hospital and various other private clinics.

Peace and Order

Lapulapu City is generally peaceful with a relative low crime rate. Protection services are provided by the City’s Police Force, Fire Department and Barangay Tanods.

Beaches

Lunch is never a dull moment in Marigondon. Vendors selling all sorts of native foods like kinhason, takobo, and tihi-tihi continuously "patrol" the area, making sure you know what you're missing if you don't buy anything.

Nighttime at Parker's is when you see barong-clad professionals unwind after a long day at the office. You see them arrive by the carloads from far-off workplace starting at nine. Indeed, there's nothing more soothing than a beer or two after a day's work while watching the waves roll only two meters away from you.

Beside Parker's is a string of nipa huts reportedly owned by the Tiongco and Gochan families although nobody really knows which family. The place is unnamed, yet, you can rent a "cottage" consisting of either a small wooden table with nipa roofing or a bamboo structure with a tiny cubicle for a dressing room. Nearby, sari-sari stores make sure everything you need is within reach. Stray dogs probably account for half of the entire population here.

The lack of control over passers-by, however, poses a security drawback. As here is absolutely nothing in sight resembling an entrance gate, the sea breeze may not be the only one free to come in and go out.

Farther down the line is a place called Palmyra, a sprawling jungle of wooden structures disguised as a beach resort with no access for vehicles. It has beachfront cottages, a mess hall sing-along bar, restaurant and private rooms all squeezed together in a little more than a hundred square meters of coral based elevated land area. Using every inch of available space, it has even small cottages in the only little strip of white sand below. Palmyra is definitely a must-see for potential scrap buyers.

Vano beach resort sits like a royalty surrounded by commoners. Vano has been a popular weekend venue for big company-sponsored beach parties since the late Sixties. Renovated recently, it has done away with those ugly bamboo cottages of old and in its place are parasols all lined up along a white-sand beach.

Vano is a pretty convenient place for family relaxation. It has ample parking space, a concrete fence and uniformed security guards. Coconut and Talisay trees abound in the entire property, providing a fresh relief in an otherwise barren landscape.

Like the other resorts in the area though, tap water at Vano has to be bought by container. Also, only the bungalow-type structure designed for company functions are equipped with private comfort rooms.

True to its name, Rock Island Beach Resort in Marigondon, Lapu-lapu City, has nothing really soft to offer. Sure it has a white-sand beach, but the sharp coral-based terrain leading there is certainly not pedicure-friendly. Treacherous sea urchins lurking beneath its tempting blue waters may also increase your chances of dveloping hydrophobia.

Rock Island has been a favorite weekend destination for people of working-class origin. What it lacks in amenities, it certainly compensates in afordable prices. Its popularity is hinged more on principles of simple economics rather than on its own merits as a place where one can relax, swim and have fun.

Recreation, after all, is a basic right not exclusively reserved for the haves. The have spots are wvey much entitled to go to the beach in this sweltering season just like every bonafide member of a classy club. Besides, getting paid for beach-hopping isn't exactly such a bad arrangement.