Cover image via tinypic.com
Lapu-Lapu was a ruler of Mactan in Visayas, who defeated Magellan in 1521. Modern Philippine society regarded him as the first Filipino hero because he was the first native to resist Spanish colonization.
We've made pictures in our mind that he is this fit, six-packed Derek Ramsey body double — that we based from Philippine history books that we grew up with since we were kids.
BUT WE WERE WRONG
Historian Ambeth Ocampo, who was recently named as the recipient of this year's Fukuoka Academic Prize, noted in his newspaper column in Inquirer on Wednesday that Lapu-Lapu "was not a handsome, gym-fit warrior" when he defeated Magellan at the Battle of Mactan.
The historian also cited a chapter from Danilo Madrid Gerona's book Ferdinand Magellan: The Armada de Maluco and the European Discovery of the Philippines, which is based on primary sources in Spain and Portugal.
Ocampo stressed that Lapu-Lapu was already 70 years old at the time.
"Lapu-Lapu was, like President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, 70 years old. He was not in the battle himself. Another textbook fairy tale down the drain."
In a Facebook post, Ocampo said Lapu-Lapu "probably had the features of Humabon who was short and fat."
Here's a screencap from [Inquirer](http://www.inquirer.net/) stating facts about Lapu-Lapu:
