CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City lone district Rep. Aileen Radaza has filed a bill which seeks to declare April 27 every year as a special non-working holiday in the city.
Aileen’s father, former congressman Arturo Radaza filed the same bill, known as House Bill 00645 or an Act declaring the 27th of April of every year as a special non-working holiday in the city of Lapu-Lapu, but the House of Representatives and the Senate failed to approve the bill.
April 27 is reserved for the “Kasaulogan sa Kadaugan sa Mactan.â€
The date celebrates the defense Mactan put up against foreign aggression instigated by Ferdinand Magellan in the historic Battle of Mactan.
Rep. Radaza filed the bill last July 1.
Radaza said it is important to further honor the patriotic act by declaring the day a holiday, considering that Lapu-Lapu is considered the country’s first hero for having killed Ferdinand Magellan in the historic “Battle of Mactan†in 1521.
Several personalities have assumed the role of Lapu-Lapu in the yearly reenactment of the battle, among who was boxing champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao.
The annual event called “Kadaugan sa Mactan†has always been declared by Malacañang as a special non-working day for the city.
Malacañang cites the event as a testimony of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Filipinos.
National holidays consists of commemorations of defeats such as the “Fall of Bataan on April 9, now known as “Araw ng Kagitingan†and the death of Jose Rizal on December 30.
“There is none in the calendar where it marks a national holiday that commemorates a significant victory in the history of the nation,†it stated. (FREEMAN)