by Dianne Sanchez

We travel and get stuck on the idea that when traveling, we need to go somewhere far. So when our means of traveling to distant places are indeterminate, we tend to feel suffocated and imprisoned. Today, we are forced to stay within the walls of our home. We may go out if necessary, but the borders still limit our desire to travel far. I thought that this may be a great time to notice and appreciate the things that are always there but we tend to overlook because our eyes are locked elsewhere.

I am quarantined in my hometown—the last place on my list. It is the place I always claim to be the origin of heavy traffic and the place I am at as I reminisce the days that I was in some other city or town. This is not sadness. I just miss the excitement of being in new places, being surrounded by strangers, and doing new things. However, while I am feeling indifferent, I thought that maybe, somebody somewhere longs to be here in my place instead.

Just how much have I taken for granted? What have I been missing all this time? With this in mind, I started to find words to define and properly acknowledge my hometown, Lapu-Lapu City—the Historic Resort City located in the Island of Mactan.

The Grand

I start with the place where almost all travelers here begin their journey; the airport. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority is the second busiest airport in the whole country and is located in Mactan Island. Although home to a world-class airport, our city is often considered as a mere landing site for tourists who seek adventure in either the northern or southern part of Cebu province. It provides the most convenient gateway for travelers with Dumaguete, Siquijor, and other close islands on their list as well. Nevertheless, some tourists prefer a relaxing vacation and opt to stay in the city’s known resorts and hotels. Our city is often the destination of rich individuals as they seek peace and solitude in some of the 5-star hotels that offer the privacy they need.

Yes, it is easy for wealthy people to book the most expensive rooms and witness jaw-dropping views from there, but our city does not limit the visitors to whom it caters, because by grand, I also mean the experience of hopping from one island to another one that offers the same beautiful view and sceneries on most parts of the city. Take, for example, Olanggo Island, where you can rent a bicycle, tour around the whole island, and do various activities, such as snorkeling, diving, and visiting sanctuaries despite a very limited budget. It is not easy to believe that such a wide range of experiences is offered not only for tourists but also for residents in a small island like Mactan. This is made possible by the great geography of the whole island, which is uniquely situated and wonderfully designed by nature.

The Progress We Are Making

With its beaches being more popular through the years, the city is also catching up in terms of economic progress. Many investors are drawn to the city’s rising economy and are considering its great potential. A nearby town, Cebu City, is the most advanced city in Eastern Visayas. People looking for opportunities would flock there. Thus, it is getting more crowded as years go by.

Recently, however, huge manufacturing buildings, condominiums, subdivisions, and office towers were developed and built in Lapu-Lapu City, perhaps to resolve the matter. This opened new opportunities for individuals seeking employment and for businessmen seeking growth in new areas. This has mitigated some issues the city faced, and as years pass, the economy continues to grow. This goes to show that no growth should be harmful to the environment as progress and preservation are not the opposite of each other. While it is important to keep up with the development others are making, it is equally essential to take care of the environment. That, I say, is real progress, right there.

The Town That Raised a Hero

When a word becomes too familiar, you tend to forget what it signifies. Now, when I hear “Lapu-Lapu,” the next words that come to my mind are “home” and “residence” —so factual and plain. I am pretty sure that when other Filipinos are asked if they know “Lapu-Lapu,” they would have answered that Lapu-Lapu is a hero.

Lapu-Lapu is, in fact, the first hero of the Philippines who resisted Spanish colonization. Along with his warriors, who only had bows, iron swords, and bamboo spears as weapons, he defeated Magellan and his army. The city is named after this remarkable hero who was born and raised in same land—the land that has long been grand and yet is still progressing.

Now, I end this article where almost all travelers’ journey ends—the airport. Every time I step foot in the airport, I can’t help but feel sentimental, thinking about how my journey to another land has ended. However, when I come to think of it, I am walking on the land that where it all started—the land that was first discovered and defended, the city that was named after a hero, and the town that actually raised a hero.

So how much have I taken for granted? What have I been missing all this time? Just the honor of being born and raised in exactly the same land as a hero. Now, I am just grateful to remember that I am home in the land of the great, and so, I’ll try to be great.