Lapu-Lapu marks 52nd Charter Day

CEBU, Philippines - For their support to the city’s programs especially in the protection of the environment, a Japanese national and two youngsters received recognition from the Lapu-Lapu City government as the city celebrated its 52nd Charter Day anniversary yesterday.

Satoshi Toyoda, a Japanese national and a frequent diver, had uploaded on YouTube a video of a yellow submarine which shows it damaging corals in the seawaters off Lapu-Lapu City.

It was typical of Toyoda to be capturing marine life with his camera and did not expect the video the city would give him recognition for it.

He said he saw the submarine hitting corals and he said ‘this is not good.”

Toyoda, a technical diver and a frequent visitor to Cebu, runs a scuba diving business.

The operation of the yellow submarine was suspended for almost two months by the city government while an investigation was conducted.

Last week, the suspension of its business was lifted when the submarine company promised to shoulder the restoration of the damaged corals.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said Toyoda has pushed the city government to institute better measures to protect the seas.

Radaza said the two young charter day awardees are the perfect models to emulate.

John Rex Mariòas Tongco, more known as Dandoy Tongco, shows how to win the war against poverty.

He was once a school dropout and is now a Southeast Asian long-boarding champion.

Lhee Isabel Depiraine Taneo, visual art instills pride and inculcates a sense of identity.   

She expresses these in her shell mosaics.

Her portraitures of island folks helps the city preserve the identity of the people of Olango.

“Lapu-Lapu City became what it is today not just because of its leaders nor is it a product of the learned. It is the sum of the contribution of every Oponganon,” Radaza said.

She said the heroism in the battle of Mactan was not of Datu Lapu-Lapu alone and his warriors who fought with him.

The women also did their part in this act of heroism, she said.

 â€œEach one of them, men and women, young and old, contributed to the victory of that great battle,” she said. (FREEMAN)