Manny Pacquiao starred as Philippines hero Lapu-Lapu in a re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan last April 27, 2008 in Cebu, Philippines.

Wearing an ethnic undergarment (bahag) and holding a battle sword, Pacquiao battled it out with actor Dennis Trillo who portrayed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan at the Victory in Mactan (“Kadaugan sa Mactan" in Cebuano dialect) near the Lapu-Lapu shrine. Pacquiao’s wife Jinky played Lapu-Lapu’s wife.

The Victory in Mactan re-enactment is a tourist attraction for many decades now.

About Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-Lapu is regarded by many as the first National hero of the Philippines.

On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with only spears and shields, faced Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish soldiers. Magellan is known as the man who first successfully attempted to circumnavigate the Earth.

In what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed. Few of Magellan men's survived the battle, those who do are the first to successfully circumnavigate the earth. Most of those who returned to their homeland died in war or from disease.