Cebu, Philippines Travel Guide
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Mactan Shrine
Mactan Shrine in Cebu
Overview: In the early 1500s, Chieftan Lapu-Lapu ruled Mactan Island – and life was good. On April 27, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan and his troops came tumbling in along the shores of Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island. Whether Magellan’s arrival came with good intentions – to baptize the locals or rule the island – Chieftan Lapu-Lapu saw Magellan’s encroachment as an invasion and the Battle of Mactan ensued.
The Mactan Shrine is a designated and closed off harbor area with numerous highlights, including the Mactan Shrine itself; a statue of Chieftan Lapu-Lapu; a panoramic canvas painting of the Battle of Mactan; a scenic harbor with piers and children playing in the water.
The Mactan Shrine is a monument that commemorates Magellan and reportedly stands where Magellan was slain. Close to the harbor and piers is a statue of the brave Chief Lapu-Lapu, the Philippines’ first hero, holding a bolo and shield. Nearby the Mactan Shrine is where you will find the panoramic painting depicting the Battle of Mactan. Souvenir shops abound in the gates of the Mactan Shrine area and outside in the parking lot.
Mactan Shrine in Cebu
Location: in Lapu-Lapu City 6015, near the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa on Punta Engano Road.
Cost: No formal charge. There is a donation box near the entrance.
Accessibility: Magellan’s Shrine itself is wheelchair accessible to see. There are a couple of steps to reach the statue of Chief Lapu-Lapu in the park. The painting of the battle is recessed back in its own pavilion. The pavilion has a step.
Getting There: Hire a cab for half a day or a cab just to the shrine on Mactan Island should cost P150 one way.