Mactan

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Mactan
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Mactan from above
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Mactan in red
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Mactan
Location in Visayas
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Mactan
Location in Philippines
Geography
Archipelago Visayas
Adjacent to
Area65 km2 (25 sq mi)
Highest elevation6 m (20 ft)
Administration
Philippines
City and Municipality
Largest settlement Lapu-Lapu City (pop. 497,604)
Demographics
Population527,071 (2020)
Pop. density8,109/km2 (21002/sq mi)
Ethnic groups Visayan (Cebuano) and other ethnic groups.

Mactan is a densely populated island located a few kilometers (~1 mile) east of Cebu Island in the Philippines. The island is part of Cebu province and it is divided into the city of Lapu-Lapu and the municipality of Cordova. The island is separated from Cebu by the Mactan Channel which is presently crossed by three bridges: the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), the Mactan–Mandaue Bridge, and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. The island covers some 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi) and has a population of 527,071 as of 2020, [1] making it the nation's most densely populated island. Along with Olango Island Group, the isles are administered by a city and a municipality covering 75.25 square kilometres (29.05 sq mi).

Contents

Mactan–Cebu International Airport is located on the island.

Etymology

The modern name Mactan descended from an earlier form, Manctan. However, evidence of this earlier form is scant as, even as early as the 17th century, the island was already named Mactan. This form is attested in the original copy of the Philippine Declaration of Independence, where Lapu-Lapu was mentioned as the king of "Manktan". [2] This is supported by oral histories, which claim that the name Mactan evolved from the name Mangatang. The name means "pirate" (lit. "those who lie in wait"), and was acquired during a period where the island's population would prey on passing trade ships on the way to the harbors of Sugbu. The ancient name of the island in precolonial times is Opong, which became the name of the Spanish settlement of Opon (renamed to Lapu-Lapu in 1961). [3]

History

The island was already a thriving settlement before it was colonized by Spain in the 16th century. It was a strong ally of the Lakanate of Lawan, a prosperous kingdom in Samar. Datu Hadi Iberein ruled the Lakanate of Lawan. He was described by historian William Henry Scott as a "Samar datu by the name of Iberein was rowed out to a Spanish vessel anchored in his harbor in 1543 by oarsmen collared in gold; while wearing on his own person earrings and chains." Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the island in 1521 and became involved in warfare among the kingdoms only to be killed in battle by the warriors of Datu Lapu-Lapu, the sovereign in the island. However, oral tradition also dictates that the island where the Battle of Mactan might have taken place in is Poro Island in the northeast instead.[ citation needed ] The oral tradition is backed by recent[ when? ] archaeological evidence of such a battle taking place in Poro island during the 16th century.[ citation needed ]

By 1730[ citation needed ], the Catholic Augustinian friars established the town of Opon. It was later renamed as the city of Lapu-Lapu by means of the Republic Act 3134, signed by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia on June 17, 1961. Congressman Manuel A. Zosa, the representative of the Sixth District of Cebu, sponsored the Bill converting the former municipality of Opon into the present day City of Lapu-Lapu. [4]

Economy

Apart from the airport, today the island is known for its industrial factories, which are some of the most successful industrial ventures in the Philippines. Many of them are located at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), an industrial tax-free zone opened in 1979 that includes over 35 business ventures, about 50 percent of which are Japanese-owned.

Also important to the island is its high-class tourism industry and the production of furniture, as well as guitars, ukuleles and other musical instruments.

On April 27, 2024, Marcos with Junard Chan, led the capsule-laying for Megaworld Corporation's PHP1.5-billion Mactan Expo Center project. [5]

Tourist attractions

Being one of the major tourist islands of Cebu, Mactan Island boasts of a diverse collection of tourist spots and attractions. Being a coral island, Mactan offers some of the best diving, snorkeling, island hopping, jet ski, sailing and cultural activities of any island in the Philippines.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebu</span> Province in Central Visayas, Philippines

Cebu, officially the Province of Cebu, is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas (Region VII) region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu Province is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity importance in the Coral Triangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Mactan</span> 1521 battle between Ferdinand Magellan and Lapulapu

The Battle of Mactan was fought on a beach in Mactan Island between Spanish forces led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan along with local allies, and Lapulapu, the chieftain of the island, on the early morning hours of April 27, 1521. Magellan, a Portuguese-born commander serving the Spanish Empire who led an expedition that ultimately circumnavigated the world for the first time, commanded a small Spanish contingent in an effort to subdue Mactan led by Lapulapu under the Spanish crown. The sheer number of Lapulapu's forces, compounded with issues on the location and armor, ultimately resulted in a disastrous defeat to the Europeans and the death of Magellan. Surviving members of Magellan's crew continued the expedition under the command of Juan Sebastian de Elcano, who completed the journey in September 1522.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Samar</span> Province in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Northern Samar, officially the Province of Northern Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar. To the northwest, across the San Bernardino Strait is Sorsogon; to the east is the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean and to the west is Samar Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapulapu</span> Datu of Mactan (fl. 1521)

Lapulapu or Lapu-Lapu, whose name was first recorded as Çilapulapu, was a datu (chief) of Mactan, an island now part of the Philippines. Lapulapu is known for the 1521 Battle of Mactan, where he and his men defeated Spanish forces led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. Magellan's death in battle ended his voyage of circumnavigation and delayed the Spanish occupation of the islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapu-Lapu City</span> Highly urbanized city in Cebu, Philippines

Lapu-Lapu City, officially the City of Lapu-Lapu, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 497,604.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandaue</span> Highly urbanized city in Cebu, Philippines

Mandaue, officially the City of Mandaue, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 364,116 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samar</span> Third-largest island in the Philippines

Samar is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided into three provinces: Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These three provinces, along with the provinces on the nearby islands of Leyte and Biliran, are part of the Eastern Visayas region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordova, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Cordova, officially the Municipality of Cordova, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 70,595 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laoang</span> Municipality in Northern Samar, Philippines

Laoang, officially the Municipality of Laoang, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 61,607 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcelo Fernan Bridge</span> Bridge in Metro Cebu

Marcelo Fernan Bridge, also known as Second Cebu–Mactan Bridge and the Second Bridge locally, is an extradosed cable-stayed bridge located in Metro Cebu in the Philippines. It crosses Mactan Channel connecting Mandaue in mainland Cebu to Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island. It is currently the second-longest cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines after Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway which also crosses the Mactan Channel. Before it was named the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, it was also called the Consolacion Bridge, owing to its proximity to the municipality of Consolacion, which is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from the north end of the bridge. It is one of three bridges crossing Mactan Channel, the others being Mactan–Mandaue Bridge and the aforementioned Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Cebu</span> Metropolitan area of the Philippines

Metropolitan Cebu, or simply Metro Cebu,, is the main urban center of the province of Cebu in the Philippines. Metro Cebu is located along the central eastern portion of the island including the nearby island of Mactan. It accounts for 19.9 percent of the land area and 61.5 percent of the population of the entire province of Cebu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legislative districts of Cebu</span> Legislative district of the Philippines

The legislative districts of Cebu are the representations of the province of Cebu in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. At present, the province is currently represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines by its seven congressional districts, with their respective representatives being elected every three years. Locally, the districts are also allotted two seats in the Cebu Provincial Board, with board members also being elected every three years.

The Mactan Channel, also known as Opon Channel, is a channel in Cebu, Philippines. It runs between mainland Cebu island and the smaller island of Mactan. The body of water is located within Metro Cebu, separating the localities of Mandaue and Cebu City in mainland Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan. It is one of the three channels that connect the Cebu Strait to the Camotes Sea — the other two being the Hilutangan Channel and the Olango Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangubat (surname)</span> Surname list

Mangubat (Mang-gubat) ; is a Hispanic Filipino surname of Mactan Island origin which means " TO WAGE WAR " in Cebuano language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Visayas</span> Administrative region of the Philippines

Central Visayas is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. It consists of four provinces: Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. The region also has three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue.

Calle Mangubat or C. Mangubat Street is a historic street and one of the two oldest roads now in Mactan Island in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway</span> Longest bridge in the Philippines, connecting Cebu City and Cordova, Cebu

The Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), also known as the Cebu–Cordova Bridge and the Third Cebu–Mactan Bridge, is an 8.9-kilometer (5.5 mi) toll bridge expressway in Metro Cebu, Philippines. The bridge connects the South Road Properties in Cebu City in mainland Cebu, and Cordova, on Mactan island. Crossing the Mactan Channel, it is the third road link between Cebu and Mactan islands, and the first between Cebu City and Cordova. It is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the Philippines, surpassing the 2-kilometer (1.2 mi) San Juanico Bridge between Samar and Leyte, as well as Marcelo Fernan Bridge as the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines. It also surpassed the 5-kilometer (3.1 mi) Candaba Viaduct of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) connecting the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan for being the longest bridge in the Philippines upon its inauguration on April 27, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mactan–Cebu International Airport</span> Commercial airport located on Mactan Island, Philippines

Mactan–Cebu International Airport is an international airport serving Cebu and serves as the main gateway to the Central Visayas region in the Philippines. Located on a 797-hectare (1,970-acre) site in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan, it is the second busiest airport in the Philippines. Opened on April 27, 1966, the airport serves as a hub for Philippine Airlines, and as an operating base for Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mactan Shrine</span> Public park and memorial in Mactan, Philippines

Mactan Shrine, also known as Liberty Shrine, is a memorial park on the island of Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines. It hosts two monuments, namely the Magellan Monument, which is dedicated to Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the Lapu Lapu Monument, a bronze statue which commemorates Lapu Lapu, a native leader who defeated Spanish soldiers led by Magellan in the 1521 Battle of Mactan.

References

  1. ↑ "PHILIPPINES: Administrative Division".
  2. ↑ Acta de la proclamación de la independencia del pueblo Filipino (in English and Spanish) from Wikisource.
  3. ↑ Celestino C. Macachor (2011). "Searching for Kali in the Indigenous Chronicles of Jovito Abellana". Rapid Journal. 10 (2). Archived from the original on July 3, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Dr Who and Mexicans". Lindsey Michelle Susdorf "Future Dating Political Documents".
  5. ↑ Saavedra, John Rey (April 27, 2024). "Young arnis practitioners reenact Lapulapu victory in Mactan". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved April 27, 2024.

10°18′N123°58′E / 10.300°N 123.967°E / 10.300; 123.967

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