Lapu-Lapu City marked its 65th year of transformation from the town of Opon into a chartered city through Republic Act 3134, signed into law by President Carlos Garcia in 1961. The city is named after Datu Lapulapu, who defeated Ferdinand Magellan of Spain in the 1521 Battle of Mactan.
Early History and Development
With its barren terrain, the town might have been ignored by Spanish colonizers if not for being the site of Magellan's death. In the 1730s, a church was built for the Birhen Sa Regla, which became the town's patroness. In 1866, a monument for Magellan was erected at his death site.
Because the land was unsuitable for agriculture, Oponganon residents primarily relied on fishing, carving, guitar-making, and boat-building. After the Spaniards left, the Americans, led by Dean Worcester, established the Visayan Refining Company, which became the country's largest coconut oil producer by 1920. Another major business was the Cebu Shipyard and Engineering Works, both providing main sources of employment for locals.
Education also flourished under American rule, with Saint Alphonsus Catholic School opening in 1916.
World War II and Post-War Progress
World War II halted progress. As Japanese forces suppressed economic activities, many Oponganons became guerrilla fighters. They monitored an aircraft landing strip built by the Japanese.
After WWII, Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr., elected Cebu governor in 1951, envisioned moving the airport from growth-constrained Lahug in Cebu City to the landing strip in sparsely populated Opon. President Ramon Magsaysay approved the proposal in 1955 but did not see its completion after his plane crashed into Mt. Manunggal, Balamban, in 1957.
Construction of what was then called Mactan Alternate Airport continued under President Garcia, whose wife, Leonila Dimataga, was from Opon. Her brother, Mariano Dimataga, was the mayor at the time.
Infrastructure and Economic Growth
Initially used mainly for military purposes, the airport shared facilities with the Mactan Air Base. Another project proposed by Serging Osmeña, the Mandaue-Opon Bridge, was completed under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1973, making commercial aviation more feasible.
In 1979, Marcos and City Mayor Maximo Patalinjug Jr. opened the Mactan Economic Zone for multinational investment companies. The Tambuli Beach Resort also began operations, launching Cebu's tourism branding as an “Island in the Pacific.” The Mactan-Cebu International Airport soon became the tourism backbone of the Philippine South.
Modern Developments and Future Plans
Since then, the airport has expanded, two massive bridges and two economic zones have been added, along with more world-class hotels, beach resorts, convention facilities, tertiary schools, training centers, shopping malls, banks, telecom facilities, hospitals, and other amenities.
International events like ASEAN and APEC have chosen the city as their meeting place.
Mayor Cindi Chan, Vice Mayor Celsi Sitoy, and Congressman Junard Chan have assured that more developments are in store for Lapu-Lapu City. While facilities are upgrading, projects such as the Lapu-Lapu Expressway, the 4th Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, North Reclamation Area Development, socialized housing, coastal road, sports oval, and a new city hall building are already in the pipeline.
With unwavering faith in the Birhen sa Regla and a steady resolve for progress, Lapu-Lapu City's future looks bright and promising. After all, 65 is still a very young age for a city.
