BIOGRAPHY OF

Ruy López de Villalobos

Ferdinand Magellan
Lapu-Lapu

APOSTOL, VERLYNE GIECHELLE ANN S.

1CED-ENGL

MR. FERDINAND MONTERDE

READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

 Ruy López de
Villalobos

Ruy López de Villalobos (ca. 1500 – April 4, 1544) was a Spanish explorer who sailed the
Pacific from Mexico to establish a permanent foothold for Spain in the East Indies, which was
near the Line of Demarcation between Spain and Portugal according to the Treaty of
Zaragoza in 1529. Villalobos gave the Philippines their name, after calling them Las Islas
Filipinas in honor of Philip of Austria, the Prince of Asturias at the time, who later
became Philip II of Spain. In 1542 he also discovered a Pacific group of islands, most
likely Hawaii, but the Spaniard kept the discovery secret. López de Villalobos was
commissioned in 1541 by the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza, who was the first
colonial administrator in the New World, to send an expedition to the Islas del Poniente,
meaning Islands of the West, now known as the Philippines. His fleet of six galleon ships, the
Santiago, San Jorge, San Antonio, San Cristóbal, San Martín, and San Juan, left Barra de
Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico with 370 to 400 men on November 1, 1542. Between January 6 to
23, 1543, the galleon San Cristóbal piloted by Gines de Mafra, who was a member of the
crew of the Magellan expedition in 1519-1522, was separated from the fleet during a severe
storm. This ship eventually reached the island of Mazaua, a place were Magellan anchored in
1521. This was the second visit of de Mafra to the Philippines, which is identified today as
Limasawa in the southern island of Leyte. The story of Limasawa was written in 1667 by a
Jesuit priest, Friar Francisco Combés. His documents on "Limasawa" has been translated by
historians. Between January 6 to 23, 1543, the galleon San Cristóbal piloted by Gines de
Mafra, who was a member of the crew of the Magellan expedition in 1519-1522, was
separated from the fleet during a severe storm. This ship eventually reached the island of
Mazaua, a place were Magellan anchored in 1521. This was the second visit of de Mafra to
the Philippines, which is identified today as Limasawa in the southern island of Leyte. The
story of Limasawa was written in 1667 by a Jesuit priest, Friar Francisco Combés. His
documents on "Limasawa" has been translated by historians.
 Ferdinand
Magellan

Also Known As: Fernando de Magallanes

Born: February 3, 1480 in Sabrosa, Portugal
Parents: Magalhaes and Alda de Mesquita (m. 1517–1521)
Died: April 27, 1521 in the Kingdom of Mactan (now Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines)
Awards and Honors: The Order of Magellan was established in 1902 to honor those who have
circumnavigated the Earth.
Spouse: María Caldera Beatriz Barbosa
Children: Rodrigo de Magalhães, Carlos de Magalhães

Ferdinand Magellan (February 3, 1480–April 27, 1521), a Portuguese explorer, set sail in September
1519 with a fleet of five Spanish ships in an attempt to find the Spice Islands by heading west.
Although Magellan died during the journey, he is credited with the first circumnavigation of the Earth.
Known For: Portuguese explorer credited with circumnavigating the Earth.
Since Magellan was a Portuguese explorer in charge of a Spanish fleet, the early part of the voyage to
the west was riddled with problems. Several of the Spanish captains on the ships in the expedition
plotted to kill him, but none of their plans succeeded. Many of these mutineers were held prisoner
and/or executed. In addition, Magellan had to avoid Portuguese territory since he was sailing for
Spain. Magellan mistakenly thought it would only take a few days to reach the Spice Islands, when it
instead took four months, during which time his crew suffered immensely. They began to starve as
their food supplies were depleted, their water turned putrid, and many of the men developed scurvy.
The crew was able to stop at a nearby island in January 1521 to eat fish and seabirds, but their
supplies were not adequately restocked until March when they stopped in Guam.
On March 28, they landed in the Philippines and befriended a tribal king, Rajah Humabon of Cebu
Island. After spending time with the king, Magellan and his crew were persuaded into helping the
tribe kill their enemy Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island. On April 27, 1521, Magellan took part in the Battle
of Mactan and was killed by Lapu-Lapu's army.
After Magellan's death, Sebastian del Cano had the Conception burned (so it could not be used
against them by the locals) and took over the two remaining ships and 117 crewmembers. To ensure
that one ship would make it back to Spain, the Trinidad headed east while the Victoria continued
west.
The Trinidad was seized by the Portuguese on its return journey, but on September 6, 1522,
the Victoria and only 18 surviving crew members returned to Spain, completing the first
circumnavigation of the Earth.
 Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-Lapu is a 51 years old Ruler of Mactan from . Lapu-Lapu was born on January 01, 1491 (died on
January 01, 1542, lapu-Lapu was 51 years old) Mactan an island in the Visayas Philippines who is
known as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. He was also
responsible for the death of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. He is now regarded
retroactively as the first Filipino hero. A poet in the 17th century called him Cali Pulacu. In the 19th
century Lapu Lapu as referred to as Kalipulako by Mariano Ponce, who wrote primarily propaganda.
The Declaration of Independence for the Philippines refers to Lapu Lapu by this name and goes so far
as to call him King Kalipulako of Mactan. Lapu Lapu lived on Mactan Island and soon became the
chief of his people - a chief who helped his people stand on their own and fight for independence:

During his time as chief, many foreign countries tried to claim the island and the islands which were
to become the Philippines as their own, including the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

While Magellan was conquering the neighboring island of Cebu, the explorer learned of the
existence of the island and the small group of people who lived there.

Magellan attempted to conquer the island by bringing troops and some of the soldiers from Cebu.
However, he was met with a great amount of resistance by the Mactan people; this resistance was
headed by their leader, Lapu Lapu.

The Mactan people armed themselves with native weaponry and won the battle against Magellan in
order to maintain their independence. Lapu Lapu and the Mactan killed Magellan and many others
during this battle, which has become known in Philippine history as the Battle of Mactan.