MACTAN by Virginia B. Licuanan

A messenger from the Spaniards came
That day in fifteen twenty‐one;
He came in in Magellan's name
To the island of Mactan.
To Lapulapu who was the chief
That on Mactan did reign
He said “I ask in our leader's name
A tribute name for the king of Spain.”
“A tribute for a foreign king?”
He heard proud Lapulapu say.
“Tell your leader not tell a thing
Will the of this island pay.

“We and their fathers before
Have on this island live:
We owe no tribute to any king,
And no tribute shall we give.”

“if you do not give what we ask”
Was the messenger's reply
“The Spaniards will come with swords and guns
And you and your men shall die.”

“If they have guns,”Lapulapu said,
“So have we our weapons too;
If the Spaniard to our island come,
They shall see what bamboo spears can do.

“The Spaniards sword are made for steel
And their armors are strong and bright
Against all weapons we shall win
While we are in the right.”

Lapulapu's eyes flashed as he repeated ,
And his voice did proudly ring:
“We are freemen and will pay
No tribute to a foreign king.”

When Magellan heard Lapulapu words
He said with all disdain
“How dare this little chief affront
His Majesty of Spain.

“Our guns and this man's
False pride will break,
If he will not tribute give,
Then tribute we will take.

Well show this chief that our words
We can follow with our deed
Prepare three ships and sixty men
And I myself will lead.
For the island of Mactan
The Spaniards did set sail,
Their and swords are in great display
To make the enemy quail.
Their ships and armor were glittering show
Of military might
Never had the peaceful Mactan waters,
Mirror was a warlike sight
And when they anchored dropped
Off the palm‐fringed Mactan shore ,
“I'll teach this chief a lesson,:
The Spanish leader swore
He lead his soldier to the beach
In full battle array.
“My men, for our king ' Magellan said
“Let us make this a proud day.”

We have guns and armor
Our enemy has none
Our sword against those bamboo spears.
The fight as good as won.

But Lapulapu stood proudly
As the Spanish drew near
“No Spaniards armor
Will save them from my spears.

“Aim true !” he told his men
“when your spears fling
Remember the freemen do not bow
To any foreign king.

Steel sword against bamboo spears
It seemed an uneven fight
And the Spanish armor
Increased each Spaniard might.
But Lapulapu and his brave men
Into the battle led
And soon the blue‐green Mactan waters
With the Spaniard blow red
“Fight on my men “Magellan cried
“Fight for gracious Majesty.......”
“Fight on ,men in Mactan.”Lapulapu said,
“Fight for our liberty.

The Cause of the Liberty lent more strength
Than the Spanish steel and lead
And soon Magellan lay dying ,
And his soldiers all had fled.
And Mactan is an island
That lives in history
Where man brave men died for a king
And another lived for liberty.