Did Lapulapu kill Magellan?

For many Filipinos, the Battle of Mactan was where natives fought Spanish forces and killed their leader, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

But was Mactan leader, Lapulapu, the one who dealt him his final blow?

As reported on #KuyaKimAnoNa on “24 Oras” Friday, historian Xiao Chua said sources did not mention who exactly killed the Portuguese.

“Ang sources ay walang binabanggit kung sino talaga ’yung direktang pumatay kay Magellan doon sa labanan sa Mactan,” he said.

Chua said it was considered a group effort from the warriors of Mactan. Even if Lapulapu wasn’t there, it didn’t matter, he added. “Kasi si Lapulapu ang sinabi na leader noong mga taga-Mactan na nanalo.”

It was also said that Lapulapu’s name had many versions, among them “Cilapulapu,” as documented by Magellan’s chronicler Antonio Pigafetta.

Centuries later, Jose Rizal said the “ci” or “sri” in his name was a title which meant “your highness.”

Rizal proposed to drop the title and address the Mactan leader as Lapulapu. – RC, GMA News