Lapu-Lapu council allocates additional P500T for 27th Kadaugan sa Mactan

After finding out that only few sponsors gave cash donations for the upcoming Kadaugan sa Mactan, the Lapu-Lapu City Council yesterday approved a fund allocation of an additional P500,000 for the said activity.

Councilor Damian Gomez, chairman of the committee on tourism at the city council told his colleagues during their regular session yesterday that the cash donations they have received so far is quite dismal.

Gomez said one possible reason for this is that many business establishments and private individuals have given donations to the victims of the Guinsaugon tragedy in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte.

The councilor said the city government had allocated P1.2 million for this activity but they expect to spend at least P2.3 million, wherein the remaining amount will be solicited from sponsors.

This year's 27th Kadaugan sa Mactan, (literally, "Victory at Mactan") used to be called Bahugbahug sa Mactan (literally, "Melee at Mactan"). It was initially staged in 1981 and is among the significant events in Philippine history and serves as testimony to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Filipinos.

The Kadaugan sa Mactan, during which the explorer Magellan was slain by the forces of the local chieftain Lapulapu, is reenacted annually at its site on the beach of Barangay Mactan. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan