Mactan, separated from Cebu by a narrow strait, is a flat island of fossilized coral, from which in colonial times blocks were hewn to build churches and dwellings.  The Santo Niño Basilica in Cebu City was built by Fray Juan de Albarran from coral blocks quarried at Mactan.  In the building industry coral block is called “Mactan stone.”

In 1521, the explorer Ferdinand Magellan died at a skirmish against the warriors of the ruler of Mactan, Lapu-lapu.

Located inside an enclosed park at Punta Engaño on the northern side of Mactan are two monuments one a hundred years older than the other commemorating the events of 1521.  When Spanish soldiers led by Magellan were quelled by islanders led by Lapu-lapu.  The monuments are along the road that leads to Shangri-la Mactan.

Heritage site: Ironically, a monument to the vanquished Magellan was built about a century ahead of one dedicated to the conqueror, Lapu-lapu.  Erected in the 1866 at Punta Engaño to honor Magellan at the spot where he is said to have died, the monument was part of a project in the 19^th century to restore the glory of Cebu.  When Legazpi moved the capital to Manila, and with it followed the lucrative international trade through the galleons, Cebu, the Philippines’ first capital, languished.  It was in economic doldrums until the 19^th century when Spain turned to the development of the islands as the galleon trade came to a close in 1815.  Spanish and Chinese mestizos were the most active in the local economy, owning large tracts of land and trading vessels, operating a network of agents in the Visayas and Mindanao, and offering loans and insurance.  Cash crops were farmed on a large scale and Cebu became an important regional port.  When in 1860, international ports were opened all over the Philippines, including Cebu, the economic stranglehold of Manila ended. The relative prosperity brought by new economic opportunities spurred Cebu’s elite to celebrate the Hispanic character of Cebu.  Around this time the octagonal kiosk that houses Magellan’s cross near the Santo Niño Basilica in Cebu was also built.

The Magellan monument consists of a plain obelisk on whose apex rests a sphere.  The obelisk is mounted on a tall plinth and the plinth rests on a tripartite structure: an octagonal base on which rests a tall quadrilateral structure, divided into two parts.  The lower part is decorated with high relieves of vases, and the upper part is pierced by narrow arches.  On the monuments are inscribed texts honoring Magellan.  A low fence surrounds the monument.

A heroic sculpture of the chief of Mactan who defeated Magellan, Lapu-lapu stands near the Magellan monument.  Lapu-lapu, sculpted with great realism, stands tall, with a shield held by his left and while a curved kampilan sword, drawn is held by his right.  The sculpture celebrates the readiness of the brave warrior to confront aggressors.

Comprising four-fifths of Mactan Island and the neighboring islands of Olango Island, Pangan-an, the two Caubians and Caohagan, Lapu-Lapu City encompasses the old settlement of Mactan, later called Opon, when it was founded as a town in 1730 by the Augustinians.  It was the seventh town they established in Cebu.  Opon was elevated to a chartered city on 17 June 1961 and named after the chieftain Lapu-lapu who valiantly led a resistance against Ferdinand Magellan and his soldiers.  The city is joined to Cebu Island by the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, named after a former justice of the Supreme Court.

The establishment of the parish is uncertain.  Galende (1996, 349) cites the following dates given by various authors, 1630 and 1711.  However, Opon became a visita of Boljoon in 1737 during a brief interim when the Augustinians lacking in manpower handed over some of their southern parishes to the Jesuits who run the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Cebu and the parish of Mandaue across the strait.  But in 1742, administration of the parishes temporarily assigned to the Jesuits were returned to the Augustinians,  The parish was dedicated to the Nuestra Señora de la Regla, a name referring to the vision  of St. Monica where she saw herself and her son Augustine standing on a rule.  This gave birth to the name Our Lady of the Rule (faith).  The title was spread from Africa to Italy and to Spain where a monastery in Cadiz was founded with the titular of Our Lady of the Rule.  This monastery produced many Augustinian missionaries who went to the Philippines.

A church, which survived World War II, is said to have been built in 1745, although other authors claim that Fray Francisco Aballe built the church in 1735.  He introduced the devotion to Our Lady of the Rule.  Unfortunately, the church was demolished and replaced by a more modern and spacious one.  The modern church stands incongruously beside a large bahay na bato type convento.

Heritage site: The elevated location of the Opon church invested it with drama not often found in colonial churches built near the sea.  The modern structure, however, strikes an incongruous note that detracts from the aesthetic quality of the older church, now demolished.

Some church artifacts rescued from the demolished church are in the San Carlos University Museum, Cebu City.  Most significant are parts of an old altar.  Still in the church are bronze bells: one dated 1772 with the inscription Nuestra Señora del Patrocino de Opon and another dated 7 December 1856, La Presentacion de Nuestra Señora.  The church is the site of a colorful fiesta celebrated in November.

Located seven kilometers from Lapu-lapu City and isolated by branching estuaries that make Cordoba like an island, the parish and town of Cordoba were established on 8 October 1864, in accordance with the decree of 22 May 1863.  The parish was formed from visitas of Opon.  The parish seems to have been under the Recollects for a while, but passed on to the Augustinian who built a new church to replace an earlier one damaged by the typhoon of 25 November 1877.  The church was completed in 1896 by Fray José Baztán; a convento was built earlier by Fray Pedro Medina in 1891.  The church of Fray Baztán was partly built of wood and tabique on a rubble base.

Heritage Site:  The present church shows evidence of modern construction, in particular the twin towers of reinforced concrete that flank the façade.  The external portico, however, alludes to the design of Nueva Caceres because it is divided into three vertical segments and uses neogothic motifs, especially evident in the triple pediment.  These pediments are pierced by trefoil oculi and decorated with relieves of the papal tiara and the symbol of the Sacred Heart.  Fluted pillars terminating in Corinthian capitals, add to the neogothic feel.  The three entrances to the church, corresponding to the portico’s tripartite division, use lancet arches.

Located south of Mactan, Olango, which is part of a cluster of islands, is a natural heritage site; a marine and bird sanctuary protected by the local people.  The islands are within the fly zone of migratory birds that rest for a while on the island in their long flights from northern Asia to the islands south, like Australia.  Bird migrations occur twice a year, the movement south during winter and the movement north during summer.  Birds change their plumage, sporting a dun winter and a colorful summer coat.  Tours to the island are arranged through hotels and travel agents.  An organization in the island runs the tours and provides a well-informed biologist as a docent.