On 16 March 1521, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, sailing under the Spanish flag, reached the shores of the Philippines, marking a pivotal moment in maritime history.
His expedition, driven by the quest for new trade routes and territorial expansion, brought European influence to the archipelago for the first time. Magellan and his crew were received by local chieftains, forging alliances that would soon unravel into conflict.
Though his journey across the vast Pacific had been a triumph of navigation, his fate in the islands would prove far less fortunate, culminating in his demise at the Battle of Mactan.
Yet, his arrival laid the groundwork for Spain’s eventual colonisation of the Philippines, altering the course of its history forever.
