Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines: An Industrial Bid

Lapu-Lapu City is an industrial center in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is a historic site and a key city in the region and is bidding to become economically strong in the coming years. Here’s an overview of the many unique details about Lapu-Lapu City.

Lapu-Lapu City is located in the province of Cebu. It is on Mactan Island and is named after the island’s chieftain who, back in 1521, is believed to have killed Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator. Lapu-Lapu City was known then as Opon.

In 1886 a monument to Ferdinand Magellan was erected on the site of the battle at Lapu-Lapu City. You will also see a monument erected to Chief Lapu-Lapu on Lapu-Lapu City’s plaza.

Lapu-Lapu City is part of the Cebu metropolitan area and is connected to the rest of Cebu through the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. This bridge connects the island of Cebu to Lapu-Lapu City and the rest of the Mactan Island.

Lapu-Lapu City is a growing industrial center. It hosts a port that accommodates a variety of sea vessels. Lapu-Lapu City is also well noted for the thermal installations that supply energy for its growing economy. Corn mills and flourmills are found in the area, as well as a host of guitar shops make up Lapu-Lapu City’s industries — that also includes fishing.

The Mactan International Airport, one of the international airports of the Philippines, is located at Lapu-Lapu City. In 1979, an industrial tax-free zone was opened to cater to various business ventures and is known today as the Mactan Export Processing Zone. A lot of these business ventures are Japanese-owned, though there are still Filipino and jointly owned ventures catered there as well.

Lapu-Lapu City also draws in a number of local and foreign visitors making tourism an important part of the city’s economy. Lapu-Lapu City boasts of excellent beaches and dive spots that is home to corals and other marine life.

Two of the many famous tourist spots in Lapu-Lapu City are the Magellan Market and the Lapu-Lapu Monument. The Magellan Marker is located in Punta Engano, Lapu-Lapu City. Magellan crossed the channel to Mactan Island to spread the Christian faith in the Philippines. Before he reached the island’s shores he and his men were killed in a battle dated April 27, 1521. Magellan’s body was never recovered from the natives in spite of efforts to buy it from them. The marker was erected in 1866 on the spot where the explorer died.

Also located in Punta Engano, Lapu-Lapu City, is the Lapu-Lapu Monument erected in honor of the chieftain who defended the island people’s freedom. The monument stands as a reminder of the bravery of the Filipino people.

To get to Lapu-Lapu City we either go by ship or by air. The airfare to Lapu-Lapu City from Manila would cost an average of Php 4,000 (flights scheduled daily). The travel by ship from Manila to Lapu-Lapu City would also cost as much as Php 4,000 for a luxury suite. Hotel accommodations at Lapu-Lapu City range from US $60 to US $100.

Lapu-Lapu City is a great bid for a wonderful holiday and an interesting place to start a business. The many opportunities presented by the city makes it a growing competitor in the economy of the Philippines.

[Tags]Lapu Lapu, Cebu, Magellan, Philippines[/Tags]

One Response to “Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines: An Industrial Bid”

Ruby said:
My favorite city and my Mother’s home town..hope to spend xmas there next year!! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!

Posted on December 30th, 2008 at 11:52 pm