THE statue of local hero Lapu-Lapu might be raised in Cebu’s version of Luneta Park.
This was revealed by National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman Rene Escalante, who said his office is planning to put up a “quincentennial park” at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City with the monument of the Mactan chieftain, who fought and defeated foreign explorers led by Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan during the “Battle of Mactan” in 1521.
The park is planned to be constructed as part of the preparations for the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
The NHCP is negotiating with the Cebu City Government for the project, Escalante said.
During his meeting with Mayor Edgardo Labella, Escalante said the mayor is willing to donate a piece of SRP lot for the park.
“It will be similar to Luneta Park (in Manila), but our hero here is Lapu-Lapu,” Escalante told reporters on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019.
Based on the NHCP’s plans, the quincentennial park will feature Lapu-Lapu’s national monument and a museum.
The NHCP might construct a grandstand for big events if the City would donate a large area at the SRP.
The NCHP sees the need to celebrate Lapu-Lapu’s “big role in the history of Cebu, as well as of the country,” according to Escalante.
“We really want to elevate the status of Lapu-Lapu to the national and international levels,”
he said.
Escalante said it was too early to reveal their plans for the park; but with Labella’s supportive stance, he is confident the plan will be realized. (JJL)