The Discovery Of The Philippines. In 247 Words.

It all started with an adventurous guy looking for spices.


A Portuguese man, named Ferdinand Magellan, wanted to prove the existence of a "Spice Island." One day, armed with his navigation and battlefield skills, he went to the King and asked for a fully sponsored exhibition from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean. The King, as expected, disagreed.

Magellan, not losing any sign of hope, turned to the Spaniards - his country's rival! King Charles V, thought that this would open a "spice route", without damaging the relations with the Portuguese. So, "Why not?" he thought.  In1518, five ships and about 234 men sailed through Canary Islands, Rio De Janerio, Argentina, and Guam. In April 7, 1521, after three long years, the crew set foot in the island of Cebu, Philippines. Magellan met the Malay natives and was warmly received. But he tried to convert all of them to Christianity, which was opposed by a minority, ultimately causing his death.

The casualties suffered in the Philippines left the expedition with too few men to sail the remaining ships. They had to escape to Brunei, where they discovered gold, advanced cannons, porcelain and eyeglasses (a technology still only developing in Europe). After finally reaching the Maluku Islands (the Spice Island) they attempted to return to Spain by sailing westwards.


Magellan did not originally plan to circumnavigate the world, but he was the one who found the secure way through which the Spanish ships could navigate the Spice Islands.


But more importantly, (for us, here) they found the Philippines.


The name Philippines is from that of King Philip II of Spain. They introduced to us Christianity, the code of law, the oldest Universities, and the first education in Asia, among others. During the Spanish period, the unification of almost the whole archipelago was achieved, which was previously just independent kingdoms and communities. The Spaniards occupied our country for 333 years.


(Now that's what you call "accidentally" discovering a country. Too bad there isn't such a thing in 2010.)


What do you think? Do you know the story behind the story of your country's discovery?