LAPU LAPU DAY

Lapu-Lapu Day, observed on April 27, honors Filipino hero Datu Lapulapu’s resistance against colonization. Celebrated in the Philippines and Canada, especially Vancouver, it features parades, dances, and food. The festival symbolizes Filipino pride and unity. A tragic SUV attack during Vancouver's 2025 celebration led to multiple deaths and injuries.

Last Updated on 30th April, 2025
2 minutes, 44 seconds

Description

Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy:  INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

A tragic SUV attack during Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day festival, celebrating Filipino heritage, resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.​

What Is Lapu-Lapu Day?

Lapu-Lapu Day celebrates the bravery of Datu Lapulapu, a Filipino chieftain who led the Battle of Mactan in 1521, defeating Spanish forces and killing the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan.Observed on April 27, the day honors Lapulapu’s resistance to foreign colonization and his legacy as a symbol of Filipino pride and unity.

In the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte declared April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2017, making it a special working holiday nationwide and a non-working holiday in Lapu-Lapu City, named after the hero. The city, located on Mactan Island, hosts month-long festivities, including parades, markets, and reenactments of the Battle of Mactan.

In Canada, British Columbia recognizes April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023 to honor the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the province’s largest immigrant groups. Vancouver, home to over 38,600 Filipinos (5.9% of the city’s population in 2021), hosts an annual Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party.

The event features Filipino food, music, cultural dances, parades, film screenings, markets, and basketball tournaments, celebrating Filipino heritage and community spirit. Organizers describe Lapulapu as a symbol of “the soul of native resistance” and the festival as a way to teach “the strength of a united people.”

Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The name "Lapu-Lapu" is historically significant in the context of:

A) The spread of Islam in Southeast Asia.

B) Early European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

C) Indigenous resistance to Spanish colonization in the Philippines.

D) The development of maritime trade networks in the Indian Ocean.

Answer: C

Explanation:

 Lapu-Lapu's historical significance lies in his leadership during the Battle of Mactan in 1521, where he and his warriors fought against the Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan, thus representing early indigenous resistance to Spanish colonization in the Philippines.

Free access to e-paper and WhatsApp updates

Let's Get In Touch!