opon

Opon is a historical locality name used for a municipality on Mactan Island in Cebu Province, Philippines. Located on the western side of the Mactan Channel opposite Cebu City, the area is part of the broader urban region surrounding the island’s transportation and port facilities.

Opon functioned as an independent municipality for several decades before being reorganized into the city of Lapu-Lapu. The change reflected broader administrative adjustments in the region, and the area formerly administered as Opon is now part of Lapu-Lapu City. The city’s name honors Datu Lapulapu, the local ruler who resisted the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, a historical association that appears in local history and commemorations.

Economy and features: The locality is today associated with urban development on Mactan Island, including tourism infrastructure, commercial centers, and transportation links. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located on Mactan Island and serves the area that once bore the name Opon, helping to anchor its economic activity.

Etymology and usage: The name Opon appears in historical records and older maps; in contemporary administrative usage the area is described as part of Lapu-Lapu City rather than as an independent municipality.

See also: Lapu-Lapu City; Mactan Island; Mactan-Cebu International Airport.