In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator working for the King of Spain,

arrived in the Philippines, seeking the spice islands. Upon landing on Cebu island,
he befriended native chief Rajah Humabon, who, along with his warriors, embraced
Christianity and were baptized. Magellan planted a cross to mark the event, though
the original is now encased in wood due to its perceived miraculous powers.
Tragically, Magellan met his demise at the hands of Chief Lapu-Lapu on nearby
Mactan Island. Nevertheless, his legacy endures through landmarks like the
Magellan Cross in Cebu. It wasn't until 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived,
that Cebu became the capital of the Spanish colony Las Islas Filipinas, marking a
new chapter in the Philippines' colonial history.