Covid-19 front-liners ‘worthy heirs’ of Lapulapu’s legacy: PRRD

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte likened the country’s medical and essential front-liners to Philippine warrior Lapulapu in celebrating the quincentennial commemorations of the Victory of Mactan amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a pre-recorded speech aired on Tuesday, Duterte remembered how his “idol” Lapulapu and the brave warriors of Mactan “fearlessly fought off foreign invaders who threatened their cherished way of life.”

“They never cowered against the might of the enemy and they bled in defense of their homeland,” Duterte said.

He said the occasion celebrates not only the gallantry of the country’s pre-colonial ancestors but also new heroes whom he described as “worthy heirs of Lapulapu’s legacy.”

“Our medical and essential front-liners who in face of danger caused by Covid-19 pandemic continue to risk their lives, their own lives to ensure for the safety of their fellow Filipinos,” he said.

Duterte also enjoined the nation to join hands in efforts to overcome the pandemic by drawing inspiration from past and present heroes.

“Let us draw inspiration from the heroes of the past and present as we overcome pandemic and rebuild a stronger and more resilient nation,” he added.

Last year, Duterte signed Executive Order 103 calling for a “Filipino-centric” point of view in the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan, the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world, and other related events, collectively known as the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP).

Under the EO, Filipino-centric emphasizes the Filipino point of view in commemorating the said milestone.

The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), on its website, said it maximized the worldwide commemoration to underscore the fact that the country’s pre-colonial ancestors have had flowering civilization upon the arrival of Magellan in 1521.

Instead of the arrival of the Magellan-Elcano expedition, it should be 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world—not “discovery” of the Philippines nor “arrival” of Magellan, the NQC added.

While the NQC is in charge of spearheading the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on Tuesday and the 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world (March 16-October 28, 2021), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is leading the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.