Ferdinand Magellan set out from spain in 1519 on the first voyage to circumnavigate
the globe with five ships and a complement of 264 crew. Three years later in 1522, only
the one ship, the Victoria, returned to Spain with 18 men.

Magellan was welcome by two Rajas, Kolambu and Siagu. He named the islands the
Archipelago of San Lazaro, erected a cross and claim the lands for Spain. The friendly
Rajas took Magellan to Cebu to meet Raja Humabon. Humabon and 800 Cebuanos were
baptized as Christians. Magellan agreed to help Raja Humabon put down Lapu-Lapu, a
rebelious datu on the nearby island of Mactan. In abattle between Spanish soldiers
and Lapu-Lapu warriors, Magellan was killed on April 27, 1521. Disputes over women
caused relations between Raja Humabon and the remaining Spaniards, deciding to resume their
explorations, departed cebu.

Four more expeditions followed between 1525 1542. The commander of the fourth
expeditions, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, named the island after Philip, heir the Spanish
throne(r. Philip II 1556-1598).

The Philippines was not formerly organized as a Spanish colony until 1565 when Philip
II appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi the first Governor-General. Legazpi selected
Manila for the capital of the colony in 1571 because of its fine natural harbour and the
rich lands surrounding the city that could supply it with produce.