PGMA in Cebu to attend 'Kadaugan sa Mactan'

President Gloria Arroyo will be in Cebu today to attend, among other events, the re-enactment of the 485th Battle of Mactan, now known as the Kadaugan sa Mactan, at the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City.

Arroyo is expected to arrive at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base at 10 a.m. and will immediately proceed to the Liberty Shrine, the former Mactan Shrine, where the event will be held.

Governor Gwen Garcia and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza will lead local officials in welcoming Arroyo.

Security measures will be tightened during the President's visit and Cebu Provincial Police Office director, Sr/Supt. Vicente Loot told The Freeman yesterday that all policemen have been directed to implement.

The Police Regional Office-7, under director Eduardo Gador, has not given yet any orders on the matter but it has operational control of all policemen and support units. Loot said there will be heightened alert today and more policemen will be deployed to secure the areas.

Loot said the security preparations have been in coordination with the Presidential Security Group and other support units.

After the Kadaugan celebration, Arroyo will attend the inauguration of the Naga-Toledo road improvement project, then the inauguration of the Can-asujan small-reservoir-irrigation project in Carcar town.

Mrs. Arroyo has been scheduled also to visit barangay Dumlog in Talisay City to inspect the on-going construction of first batch of low-cost housing units, and the turnover rites of the 3.3-hectare San Pio Village project for low-income people.

The President will later attend the grand launching of the Marco Polo Hotel in barangay Lahug.

Before she left for Bacolod City tomorrow, Mrs. Arroyo will attend the briefing on the preparation of ASEAN Summit this December.

Lapu-Lapu City councilor Damian Gomez and other city officials have invited the public to witness the re-enactment of the historic battle between Datu Lapu-Lapu and Portugese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

Movie actors Alfred Vargas will play as Lapulapu, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez as Magellan, and sexy star Criselda Volks as Bulakna, the wife of Lapulapu.

Kadaugan sa Mactan (literally, "Victory at Mactan") was once called Bahugbahug sa Mactan (literally, "Melee at Mactan"), which was initially staged in 1981. It is among the significant events in Philippine history that served as testimony to the cultural and historical heritage of the Filipinos.

This year's re-enactment, directed by Raje Palanca, will be performed on the shores of barangay Mactan, near the Liberty Shrine and will include some of ancient local rituals.

Gomez said the city has allocated P1.2 million for this activity but they expect to spend at least P2.3 million, which some sponsors will be giving. - Jose P. Sollano, Mitchelle P. Calipayan and Norvie S. Misa