LAPU-LAPU City’s tourism commission agreed to include swimming and a boat-paddle race across the Mactan Channel as one of the highlights of the “Kadaugan sa Mactan” this April.
Organizers said the activity will depict the native Filipinos’ way of life during the time of Datu Lapulapu, Mactan’s chieftain.
City Councilor Damian Gomez, chairman of the tourism commission, said those who will join the two competitions will have to cross the Mactan Channel, from the Muelle wharf on the Lapu-Lapu City side to the Ouano wharf in Mandaue City.
The race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on April 22.
The commission will decide on the number of participants and the amount of the cash prizes during their meeting this Monday.
“Our ancestors would just swim or paddle small boats to cross the channel during their time, so we will show that during the Kadaugan sa Mactan,” Gomez said.
Earlier, Mayor Arturo Radaza cut the budget for the commemoration of the Kadaugan sa Mactan by P200,000. Only P791,000 was allocated for the snacks, meals, props, honoraria and transportation allowance of the performers.
The number of performers was also reduced by half, from 40 performers last year to only 20 this year.
But tourism officials assured that the reduction in the number of performers would not lessen the entertainment and historical value of the event because they have prepared scenes that were not shown in previous “Kadaugan sa Mactan” celebrations.
The organizers said they intend to make the reenactment more interesting and memorable so as not to bore the audience who has been watching the festivities year after year.
Gomez said they are also discussing plans to invite six-year-old Justin Daniel Junio to show his skills in swimming before the start of the competition on April 22. Organizers might ask the young swimmer to cross the Mactan Channel all by himself for the second time.
Junio showed his strength and stamina by swimming across the 10-kilometer stretch from Hilutongan Channel to a private resort in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City in November last year. (AIV)
