Lapu-Lapu City Representative Paz Radaza filed a bill that aims to stop the “dishonorable” use of Lapu-Lapu as a fish name.
The congresswoman filed House Bill 2223 or “An Act Rectifying the Dishonorable Use of a Great Filipino Name Lapu-Lapu to a Fish Species ‘Plectropomus leopardus’.
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In a statement, she said it was “ironic” that, while Filipinos valued his heroism, Lapu-Lapu’s name was also used to refer to a fish with the scientific name of Plectropomus leopardus.
“The bill aims to rectify, correct and give justice to the honorable name of Lapu-Lapu as a hero,” she added.
According to the bill, it is the responsibility of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), to implement this.
For the fish, instead of calling it Lapu-Lapu, she said Filipinos should be encouraged to call it “pugapo” instead.
“It is inappropriate, a defilement, and a violation, even if the fish could be the most sought-after, not only in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia,” she said.
She added it was “alarming that more and more Filipinos prefer to call it Lapu-Lapu, disrespecting a patriotic Filipino forebear.”
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