(lost during World War 2), found in Mactan, demonstrating the area as having been Hindu and
Indianized. The island was already a thriving settlement before it was colonized by Spain in the 16th century. It was a strong ally of the Lakanate of Lawan, a prosperous kingdom in Samar. Datu Hadi Iberein ruled the Lakanate of Lawan. He was described by historian William Henry Scott as a "Samar datu by the name of Iberein was rowed out to a Spanish vessel anchored in his harbor in 1543 by oarsmen collared in gold; while wearing on his own person earrings and chains."
Portuguese explorer
Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the island in 1521 and became involved in warfare among the kingdoms only to be killed in
battle by the warriors of
Datu Lapu-Lapu, the sovereign in the island. However, oral tradition also dictates that the island where the
Battle of Mactan might have taken place is
Poro Island in the northeast instead. The oral tradition is backed by recent archaeological evidence of such a battle taking place in Poro island during the 16th century. By 1730, the Catholic
Augustinian friars established the town of Opon. It was later renamed as the
city of Lapu-Lapu by means of Republic Act 3134, signed by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia on June 17, 1961. Congressman Manuel A. Zosa, the representative of the Sixth District of Cebu, sponsored the bill converting the former municipality of Opon into the present day City of Lapu-Lapu. ==Economy==