F M

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who worked for the Spanish empire, his expedition was the first to sale from the atlantic into the pacific ocean and I have been interested in him because his expedition led him to Cebu Philippines where he eventually died in the Battle of Mactan.  Cebu is part of the Visayan Islands, my grandparents both grew up on the nearby island of Bohol and i have family on both Bohol and Cebu.  Cebu is a pretty important place for the Philippines because its the birthplace of christianity within the country and while we were there everyone was preparing for Sinulog which is celebrated on the third Sunday of January.  This Fiesta is a celebration of that christianization and the feast day of Santo Nino (baby jesus) a venerated statue that is believed to be miraculous, which leads back to Ferdinand Magellan who had the image presented to Queen Juana after herself and Rajah Humabon had been baptised.  Shortly after this Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan, he had wanted one of the leaders of the Island Datu Lapu-Lapu to convert like Humabon to Christianity but Lapu-Lapu was having none of this and when Magellan led a small attack force onto the island Lapu-Lapu and his army were waiting for them.  After this there was not another Spanish expedition to the Philippines for 44 years until Miguel lopez de legazpi arrived in Cebu February 13, 1565.  This is when the Santo nino was rediscovered and the colonisation proper began...............