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Nestled on an island adjacent to mainland Cebu, this city is the first to greet you as you touchdown in the province. The name of the city and the island is embedded in Filipino psyche because the first battle between Filipinos and conquistadors happened along its sacred shores. And beyond the stories of courage and strength, it has grown to become a bustling resort city where you can enjoy a vibrant tropical atmosphere with a pinch of history. This is the city of Lapu-Lapu, on the island of Mactan.  The city where the first Filipino hero stood against colonization. Welcome to the City of Lapu-Lapu. Originally called Opon, the City of Lapu-Lapu serves as the gateway of Cebu Province. It is a place where natural beauty and history perfectly fuse in a tropical vibe. It prides itself with the first resistance against Spanish colonization with the 1521 Battle of Mactan that resulted to the death of Ferdinand Magellan along its shores. Fast forward to the present, Lapu-Lapu City, or Lapu among locals, is now a bustling highly urbanized resort city. Its coast is dotted with beach resorts that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. But there’s more to Lapu than meets the eye and that is what we are about to find out. Crab Island and Baliwis Rock Unless you are checked in to one of the resorts in Lapu-Lapu City, finding a public beach spot can be a challenge. There are two reasons for this - first, most beach fronts are within the premises of a resort or hotel and, second, there are only a few spots along its coast that has a natural sandy shoreline. BUT Lapu locals know a spot or two that would surprise you. My first Lapu beach spot find - Crab Island.  Crab Island is a local public beach spot in Lapu. Crab Island is a beach camping spot favorite of locals. I think it got its name because of the small red crabs that you find in the area. The spot gets “cut-off” from the mainland during high tide because sea water floods into the mangrove areas between the “island” and mainland Mactan. I guess that is the reason why it was named Crab Island. One needs to tread carefully along the foundations of the remains of a land bridge, that connects Crab Island to mainland Mactan, to get to this hidden spot in Lapu-Lapu.  The land bridge that connects Crab Island and mainland Mactan Island. As soon as you enter the area, a fork along its trail will lead you to two distinct spots - Crab Island and Baliwis Rock. My two kid-guides brought me to Baliwis Rock first. The area is a rock-cliff spot where you get to enjoy the views of Hilutungan Channel and the nearby Olango Island. There are no tourist facilities in the area so you simply find your own spot on the area’s natural covers. Be careful when exploring the area because the limestone rocks are sharp and falling on these rocks will get you scratched. There are small coves at the edge of the waters but you would have to scramble down the rocks to get to enjoy the waters underneath. It is more peaceful to stay here since it gets less visitors compared to Crab Island.
Crab Island, on the other hand, is where most of the actions happen. The place was streaming with locals and a few foreigners for a quick Sunday escape. The area is grassy thus making it a more ideal for a daytrip or an overnight camp. Be watchful though because there are no guards in the area. The area is where you will also find a sandy beach strip making it a good spot to swim. There were others who braved the waters and swam towards a rock formation just a few meters from the shore to try jumping off its cliffs.
The spot because of its ruggedness was able to give a more local vibe in the midst of the touristy coastline of Lapu-Lapu. It was a refreshing break where you get to be a local for a day and enjoying a lesser-known spot. It had the crowd and the vibe was pumping with the Lapu energy. You can find your own spot to enjoy the sights and sounds of Crab Island or Baliwis Rock alone and even with friends. It was a good spot for a quick and easy beach trip without going too far from the city. Marigondon Public Beach Marigondon Public Beach is another public beach spot in the city of Lapu-Lapu. It has a beach strip that the public can access that sits adjacent to its dock. Unlike Crab Island, the beach strip in Marigondon has tourist facilities like restaurants and hotels that is accessible to members. But the main draw of this beach is that it is the jump-off point of boat tours around the area.
We had the chance to enjoy a day of swimming and exploring the waters of Hilutungan Channel. You can rent a boat that could fit 20 to 25 people for a day of boat excursions in the waters near Olango Island. There are a number of operators that would offer water activities like jet skiing, parasailing, and banana boat rides. Boatmen would also approach your bangka to offer fresh seafood that you could grill for lunch. We had fun jumping into the blue waters and enjoying a quick dip in Lapu-Lapu City. Alegre Guitars Cebu is home to many great musicians. In fact, one of the cottage industries that Cebu is known for is the manufacturing of the Filipino Guitars and the City of Lapu-Lapu is at the center of it. These world-class instruments are known for its design, quality, and sound. It was the Spaniards who introduced guitar-making to locals of Opon (former name of Lapu-Lapu) since they used it during worship. The superb craftsmanship of the locals made Filipino Guitars popular both here and abroad.
The Alegre Family is one of two families that pioneered the guitar-making industry in Lapu-Lapu. Their factory/workshop is open to visitors where you could get a preview of how these guitars are made. Think of it like a live museum where you walk through each step of the process from start to finish. At the end, you walk inside their shop where you can see different stringed instruments produced by Alegre. You can also purchase a guitar as a souvenir from Lapu-Lapu. Olango Island Olango Island is the island across the Hilutungan Channel and it is under the jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu City. The island is one of the favorite easy beach destinations that is close to Cebu City because it only takes 15 minutes to cross to the island by boat from Mactan. It is interesting how the short boat ride can easily transport you to a provincial vibe that is relaxing and serene. It is weekend spot where you can enjoy soaking in the sun while enjoying nature.  Olango Island is another weekend destination to explore in Lapu-Lapu. The island is home to the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary that serves as a transit home to many migratory birds. Its diverse coastal ecosystem and its mangrove cover make it a perfect refueling stop of migratory birds. The sanctuary has built pathways to its two birdwatching stations where bird guides will help you in catching a glimpse of these birds. It is home to the largest concentration of migratory birds in the country.
There are also beach spots on this side of Lapu-Lapu. Olango Island is also a great spot for a weekend camp where you can enjoy a nice provincial evening vibe while enjoying the city views on the horizon. If you are up for just a quick day trip, Olango Island is a perfect destination that will give you that chill vibe without having to travel far. Mactan Shrine At the heart of the city’s history is the Mactan Shrine. This sprawling historical park, along the mangrove coastline of Magelllan Bay, marks the approximate location where the Battle of Mactan happened. The park is home to two monuments dedicated to the two prominent personalities of the battle - Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan.  History and progress of Lapu-Lapu City in one frame. The Ferdinand Magellan Monument is a three-tier stone obelisk made of coral stones that was built in 1866. It stands to honor Magellan who led the Spanish fleet to be first to circumnavigate the world. This placed the Philippines in global prominence early on. Unfortunately, he was not able to complete the voyage because Magellan died in the hands of Datu Lapu-Lapu’s men along the shores of Mactan.  The two monuments at Mactan Shrine honoring Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. At the center of this park is the 6-meter bronze monument of Mactan’s very own hero - Datu Lapu-Lapu. He led his warriors to a victory that would delay the colonization of the Philippines for 42 years. Lapu-Lapu’s statue stands in a defiant stand and on guard, watching over the coast of Lapu-Lapu. He is considered the first Filipino hero who made a more advance army bend their knees because of his leadership and tactical strategy.  The Lapulapu Monument honoring the datu for defending his land against foreign intrusion. From a humble park when I first visited it, the park is getting a more refreshing look. A new memorial was set that celebrated the 500th year anniversary of Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. Future plans include a museum that would give guests more insights to the city’s rich past. With the Mactan Newtown buildings in the background, it gives the park the vibe where the past fuses with the present. Plaza Rizal Originally called Opon Plaza, it was acquired by the church in 1908 and was given a facelift in 1928. It was a public park that featured a monument of its local hero, Lapulapu. The image which was erected in 1933 was armed with a bow and arrow that was aimed at the old municipal hall of Opon. Interestingly, three mayors died in the office which people associated to the bow and arrow aimed at the building. It was replaced by a staff in 1938 and, interestingly, paved the way to the Mariano Dimataga serving the municipality for 30 years.
The monument stands to this day at the plaza but the plaza has undergone a major facelift. A new city hall building was relocated at a different location. The plaza was renamed to Rizal Park and was given a revitalized look with dancing fountains, playgrounds, and exercise areas. The park gives locals and visitors another open space to enjoy and relax at the center of the city’s bustling center. Virgen de la Regla National Shrine The Virgen de la Regla National Shrine is the center of faith of Lapu-Lapu locals. The devotion to the miraculous image of the Cebuanos stands next to their devotion to the Santo Nino de Cebu. It was in 1735 that the locals first saw the revered image and was chosen by the locals to be their patroness. They had an image made and placed in the altar of the church which led to stories of miracles happening among devotees.  The Virgen de la Regla National Shrine is the center of the Catholic faith in Lapu-Lapu City. The church stands at the heart of Lapu-Lapu’s Catholic faith. The simple facade stands majestically in Opon. The belfry stands adjacent to the church dominating the skyline of Opon. The white-washed facade was a real beauty with the sunset glow striking its walls. You can really feel the devotion of the Cebuanos during the mass that was being held when I visited the church. A striking image of the Virgin in stained-glass window in front of the church stands beautifully from the church ground.  Second to the Cebu Sto. Nino, the Virgen de la Regla is also revered by Cebuanos. The interior of the church was grand. The stained-glass windows atop the church walls were appealing to the eyes. The altar catches your attention with its arched backdrop and the image of the Virgen de la Regla at the top. The simplicity of the backdrop contrasts to the intricate design of the image. It gives off the vibe of a homy sanctuary where you can seek spiritual refuge. Muelle Osmena Did you know that you can take a ferry from Lapu-Lapu to Cebu City? Yes… there is a ferry that connects the two cities with a relaxing and scenic 20-minute ride over the Mactan Channel. The ferry terminal is located just behind the Virgen de la Regla National Shrine. It provides an alternative route if you are heading to downtown Cebu.  The Muelle Osmena Lighthouse was built in 1910 and was named after Cebuano's own, President Osmena. At the center of this port is the Muelle Osmena Lighthouse. The historic lighthouse was built in 1910 from coral stones. It stands at 10 meters and serves as one of the guides for ships and boats traversing the Mactan Channel. It was named after President Osmena who is a native of Cebu. POST TRAVEL NOTES Engraved in history, the City of Lapu-Lapu has progressed from a simple seaside town to a bustling resort city. It is a destination that has fused its stories into its progress. It is where you get that tropical vibe while immersing in its history and culture. It enriches you from its popular spots to its nooks and crannies that only locals know.  We GOT something exciting coming up next. It is interesting how you can find spots that seem to go unnoticed by most travelers. Engaging with locals allow you to explore a different side of place. You get to see beyond the usual tourism sites and you get a different kind of joy from exploring the trails less travelled. It gives you a better insight of the place and the stories that bind its culture. Like what I always say… go and explore beyond the usual. Watch out for the release of my Lapu-Lapu adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel soon. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from major airports of the country. From the airport, you can take a taxi to any destination in Lapu-Lapu. You can hire a tricycle to get around the city. Tricycle contact number: Kuya Jamsi - (0965) 378 4513. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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