SOLO: Mactaaaannnn !!!!
ALL: 1521 !!!
ALL: A messenger from the Spaniards came
That day fifteen twenty – one;
He came in Magellan’s name
To the island of Mactan.
GROUP M: To Lapulapu who was the chief
That on Mactan did reign
He said,
Messenger: “I ask in our leader’s name
A tribute for the king of Spain.”
Lapu-lapu: “A tribute for a foreign king?”
GROUP L: He heard proud Lapulapu say.
Lapu-lapu: “Tell your leader that not a thing
Will the chief of this island pay.”
GROUP L: “We and our fathers and their fathers before
Have on this island lived:
We owe no tribute to any king,
And no tribute shall we give.”
Messenger: “If you do not give what we ask,”
GROUP M: Was the messenger ‘s reply,
Messenger: “The Spaniards will come with guns and swords
And you and your men shall die.”
Lapu-lapu: “If they have guns,”
GROUP L: Lapulapu said’
“So have we our weapons too;
If the Spaniards to our island come,
They shall see what bamboo spears can do.
GROUP L: “The Spanish swords are made of steel
And their armor strong and bright.
Against all weapons we shall win
While we are in the right.”
GROUP L: Lapulapu’s eyes flashed as he repeated,
And his voice did proudly ring:
Lapu-lapu: “We are freemen and will pay
No tribute to a foreign king.”
GROUP M: When Magellan heard Lapulapu’s words
He said with all disdain,
Magellan: “How dare this little chief affront
His Majesty of Spain?
GROUP M: “Our guns and swords this man’s
False pride will break
If he will not tribute give,
Then tribute we will take.
Magellan: “We’ll show this chief that our word
We can follow with our deed.
Prepare there three ships and sixty men,
And I myself will lead.”
ALL: For the island of Mactan
The Spaniards did set sail,
Their guns and swords in brightly display
To make the enemy quail.
ALL: Their ships and armor were a glittering show
Of military might;
Never had the peaceful Mactan waters,
Mirror such a warlike sight.
ALL: And when they anchored dropped
Off the palm-fringed Mactan shore,
Magellan: “I’ll teach this chief a lesson,”
The Spanish leader swore.
ALL: He led his soldiers to the beach
In full battle array.
Magellan: “My men, for our king,
GROUP M: “Magellan said,
Magellan: “Let us make this a proud day.”
GROUP M: “We have or guns and armor;
Our enemy has none.
Our swords against those bamboo spears –
The fight’s as good as won.”
GROUP L: But Lapulapu stood proudly
As the Spanish troops drew near.
Lapu-lapu: “No shining Spanish armor
Will save them from my spear.”
Lapu-lapu: “Aim true!”
GROUP L: he told his men,
Lapu-lapu: “When your spears you fling,
Remember that freemen do not bow
To any foreign king.”
GROUP L: Steel sword against bamboo spear –
It seemed an uneven fight,
And the Spanish armor
Increased each Spaniard’s might.
GROUP L: But Lapulapu and his brave men
Into the battle led.
And soon the blue-green Mactan waters
With Spanish blood grew red.
Magellan: “Fight on my men.”
GROUP M: Magellan cried,
Magellan: “For His Gracious Majesty….”
Lapu-lapu: “Fight on, men of Mactan,
GROUP L: Lapulapu said,
Lapu-lapu: “Fight for our liberty.”
ALL: The cause of liberty lent more strenght
Than Spanish steel and lead;
And soon Magellan lay dying,
And his soldiers all had fled
ALL: And Mactan is an islands
That lives in history,
Where one brave man died for a king
And where another lived for liberty.
