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Duterte honors pandemic frontliners as 'worthy heirs of Lapu-Lapu legacy'

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1672514" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV</em></div><p>MANILA— President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said health and essential frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic are &quot;worthy heirs of Lapu-Lapu’s legacy,&quot; as the Philippines marked 500 years since the datu’s defeat of Spanish colonial threat. </p><p>Lapu-Lapu and warriors of Mactan island on April 27, 1521 defeated western firepower and Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who began the supposed first trip around the globe. </p><p>Mactan&#x27;s warriors &quot;never cowered against the might of the enemy and they bled in defense of their homeland,&quot; said Duterte. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/18/21/duterte-says-philippines-must-give-lapu-lapu-greater-standing-among-heroes">Duterte says Philippines must give Lapu-Lapu &#x27;greater standing&#x27; among heroes</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/05/09/20/ready-to-see-an-aged-lapulapu-historians-say-warrior-hero-was-very-old-at-battle-of-mactan">Ready to see an aged Lapulapu? Historians say warrior hero was ‘very old’ at Battle of Mactan</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Today, we remember their gallantry by honoring the worthy heirs of Lapu-Lapu’s legacy: our medical and essential frontliners, who in face of danger caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to risk their lives, their own lives to ensure for the safety of their fellow Filipinos,&quot; the President said in a pre-recorded speech. </p><p>&quot;Let us draw inspiration from the heroes of the past and present as we overcome pandemic and rebuild a stronger and more resilient nation,&quot; he added. </p><p>The Philippines&#x27; total tally of COVID-19 cases <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/26/21/philippines-covid19-cases-1-million-april262021">breached the 1 million mark</a> on Monday. Active infections have strained hospitals and health workers. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/26/21/malacanang-action-philippines-1-million-covid-cases">Palace says managing variants &#x27;very well&#x27;, as PH COVID-19 case tally nears 1 million</a></li></ul><p>The government tightened quarantine measures in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces starting late March to stem a surge in infections blamed on more contagious COVID-19 variants. </p>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said health and essential frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic are "worthy heirs of Lapu-Lapu’s legacy," as the Philippines marked 500 years since the datu’s defeat of Spanish colonial threat. </p>

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said health and essential frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic are "worthy heirs of Lapu-Lapu’s legacy," as the Philippines marked 500 years since the datu’s defeat of Spanish colonial threat.