<figure class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-28/miguel-lopez-de-legazpi.webp" alt="A 19th-century wood engraving describing the portrait of Miguel López de Legazpi. The subject is depicted as an elderly, bearded man seated in a high-backed chair, wearing a morion helmet with plumes and a breastplate over period clothing." loading="lazy"/>
<figcaption>
Portrait of Miguel López de Legazpi. A wood engraving by Celestí Sadurní i Deop, published in the Spanish illustrated magazine La Hormiga de Oro (Issue 16, p. 252) on April 16, 1887. The image depicts the first Governor-General of the Philippines in traditional 16th-century armor.
</figcaption>
</figure>

<h2>
The Background of Miguel López de Legazpi and the Mexican Connection
</h2>
<p>
To understand the success of the 1565 landing, one must look at the leadership of Miguel López de Legazpi. Born around 1502 in the Basque town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zumarraga,_Spain" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zumárraga, Spain</a>, Legazpi was not a typical soldier of fortune. He was a trained lawyer and a veteran civil servant who had spent nearly thirty years in Mexico City. This administrative background gave him a perspective that earlier military explorers lacked. He understood the importance of law, logistics, and steady governance.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
Legazpi's Early Life and Career in New Spain
</h2>
<p>
Legazpi moved to New Spain (modern-day Mexico) in 1528 after his parents died and his older brother inherited the family estate. In Mexico City, he worked in several high-ranking roles, including as a royal notary, the leader of the financial department council, and even the civil governor of Mexico City in 1559. He was known for being an honorable man of strong Christian character who was often willing to help soldiers and gentlemen in need. His marriage to Isabel Garcés, which produced nine children, further tied him to the wealth and social structure of the Mexican colony.   
</p>
<p>
When King Philip II decided to launch a new mission to the <b>"Islands of the West"</b> in 1559, Legazpi was chosen by Viceroy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_de_Velasco,_2nd_Viceroy_of_New_Spain" class="news-link-ext" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luis de Velasco</a> not for his combat experience, but for his judgment and ability to follow complex royal orders. The King wanted someone who would not just fight, but who would build a society.   
</p>

<div class="div-table">
<table>
<caption>
Professional Roles Held by Miguel López de Legazpi
</caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Position</th>
      <th>Location</th>
      <th>Years (Approx.)</th>
      <th>Key Responsibilities</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Councilor</td>
      <td>Zumárraga, Spain</td>
      <td>1526–1527</td>
      <td>Local municipal governance</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Royal Notary</td>
      <td>Mexico City</td>
      <td>1528–1534</td>
      <td>Legal documentation for the crown</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Principal Secretary</td>
      <td>Mexico City Council</td>
      <td>1534–1557</td>
      <td>Managing city administration</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Superintendent</td>
      <td>Treasury of New Spain</td>
      <td>Mid-1500s</td>
      <td>Oversight of royal finances</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Civil Governor</td>
      <td>Mexico City</td>
      <td>1559</td>
      <td>Leading the capital's civil affairs</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Governor-General</td>
      <td>Philippines</td>
      <td>1565–1572</td>
      <td>Establishing and leading the new colony</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h2> 
The Crucial Role of Andrés de Urdaneta
</h2>
<p>
While Legazpi held the political authority, the expedition's technical success depended on Father <a href="/articles/3102/andr-s-de-urdaneta-manila-acapulco-galleon-route-architect" class="news_link">Andrés de Urdaneta</a>. Urdaneta was an Augustinian friar, but before he took his vows, he had been a highly skilled navigator and soldier. He had participated in the failed Loaísa expedition in 1525, where he spent eight years in the Spice Islands (the Moluccas) and learned the geography and languages of the region.   
</p>
<p>
Urdaneta was the one who suggested that Legazpi should lead the mission. His primary goal was not just exploration, but the discovery of the Tornaviaje, or the return route to Mexico. He understood that the problem with earlier trips was that ships could easily sail west across the Pacific using the trade winds, but they could not find the right winds to sail back east. This kept the islands isolated and made permanent settlement impossible.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
Urdaneta's Vision for the Mission
</h3>
<p>
Urdaneta initially had moral and legal concerns about the trip. He believed the Philippines fell within the Portuguese half of the world according to the Treaty of Zaragoza. He argued that the expedition should focus on finding lost survivors and exploring New Guinea or <a href="/articles/3118/guams-history-and-deep-ties-to-the-philippines-and-filipinos" class="news_link">Guam</a> instead. However, the Spanish crown secretly ordered Legazpi to go to the Philippines regardless of Urdaneta's territorial concerns. Once at sea, Legazpi opened sealed orders that made the Philippines the clear and mandatory destination.   
</p>


<h2>
Fleet Preparation and the Crossing of the Pacific
</h2>
<p>
The expedition was prepared at the port of Barra de Navidad on Mexico's west coast. It was a massive financial and logistical effort. Legazpi used a significant portion of his own fortune to help pay for the voyage, showing his personal commitment to the King's goals. The fleet that sailed on <time datetime="1564-11-21">November 21, 1564</time>, was a mix of large and small vessels designed for different tasks.   
</p>

<div class="div-table">
<table>
  <caption>Composition of the Legazpi Fleet</caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Ship Name</th>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>Key Figures Onboard</th>
      <th>Role in Expedition</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>San Pedro</td>
      <td>Galleon</td>
      <td>Legazpi, Urdaneta, Felipe de Salcedo</td>
      <td>Flagship (Capitana); carried the main leaders</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>San Pablo</td>
      <td>Galleon</td>
      <td><a href="/articles/3120/mart-n-de-goiti-his-legacy-as-a-conquistador-in-the-philippines" class="news_link">Martin de Goiti</a></td>
      <td>Almiranta; second largest ship</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>San Juan</td>
      <td>Patache</td>
      <td>Juan de la Isla</td>
      <td>Smaller, faster ship for scouting</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>San Lucas</td>
      <td>Patache</td>
      <td>Alonso de Arellano</td>
      <td>Tender ship; separated early from the fleet</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>(Unnamed)</td>
      <td>Brigantine</td>
      <td>-</td>
      <td>Small craft carried on deck for shallow water</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<p>
The crew of around 380 to 500 men was ethnically diverse. More than half were from Mexico, including Criollos, Mestizos, and indigenous Tlaxcalan soldiers. These Tlaxcalans had previously helped the Spanish in the conquest of Mexico and were now being used to help conquer the Philippines. Their presence meant that many Nahuatl words eventually entered the Filipino languages as these soldiers settled in the islands.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
The Stop at Guam
</h3>
<p>
After 93 days at sea, the fleet reached the Mariana Islands in January 1565. They stayed at Guam for about eleven days. During this time, Urdaneta held daily Mass and explored the coast. He strongly urged Legazpi to build a settlement on Guam to serve as a base, but Legazpi decided to follow his secret orders and continue to the Philippines. While in Guam, the Spanish had several fights with the native CHamoru people, which ended in the burning of several native huts.   
</p>
<h2>
The Arrival at Cibabao: February 13, 1565
</h2>
<p>
In the afternoon of <time datetime="1565-02-13">February 13, 1565</time>, the expedition finally reached the shores of the Philippines. They dropped anchor in a bay on the island of Samar, which was called <b>"Cibabao"</b> in the Spanish records of the time. This specific date is remembered as the official arrival of the Legazpi expedition in the archipelago.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
The Geography of Cibabao
</h3>
<p>
At the time, the Spanish used several names for Samar, including Samal, Tandaya, and Ibabao. The name Cibabao specifically referred to the eastern or northern part of the island. Historians believe the bay where they anchored was likely near modern-day <b>Borongan</b> or <a href="/articles/3257/sentinel-of-san-bernardino-strait-palapags-hidden-history-of-strategy-and-revolt" class="news_link">Palapag</a>, though records from that period can be difficult to match perfectly with modern maps. The island was described as rugged and full of rivers, which is why the local name "Samad" (meaning a wound or cut) was later used to describe the landscape.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
The Tragedy of Francisco Gomez
</h3>
<p>
The arrival at Cibabao was not a peaceful event. While Legazpi wanted to follow the King's orders to be friendly and give gifts like mirrors and beads, the local people were very suspicious. They had seen foreign ships before and knew that these arrivals often led to trouble.   
</p>
<p>
One of Legazpi's men, a man named Francisco Gomez, went ashore to try and make a "blood-friendship" with the local people. This ceremony was a common way for groups in the Philippines to show they were at peace. In this ritual, two people would each draw a few drops of blood from their arm or breast, mix it into a cup of wine or water, and then both would drink it. However, while Gomez was preparing to draw his own blood, one of the local men suddenly stabbed him in the chest with a lance and killed him. This act showed that the people of Cibabao were not ready to trust the Spanish.   
</p>
<h2>
The Formal Act of Possession: February 15, 1565
</h2>
<p>
Despite the violence and the loss of Francisco Gomez, Legazpi stayed in the Cibabao bay for seven or eight days. On <time datetime="1565-02-15">February 15, 1565</time>, he performed a ceremony to officially claim the land for King Philip II of Spain. This ceremony was a formal legal requirement for European explorers. It involved planting a cross, raising the Spanish flag, and declaring that the territory was now part of the Spanish Empire.   
</p>
<p>
While this was a political statement, it was also a religious one. The Augustinian friars, led by Urdaneta, saw this as the beginning of their mission to bring the Catholic faith to the islands. From this point on, Samar (Cibabao) was considered a Spanish territory on paper, even though the Spanish did not yet have a permanent town or the support of the local people.   
</p>

<div class="div-table">
<table>
  <caption>Key Events During the Stay at Cibabao</caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Date</th>
      <th>Event</th>
      <th>Significance</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 13, 1565</td>
      <td>Anchor dropped at Cibabao</td>
      <td>Official arrival of the fleet in the Philippines</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 13–14, 1565</td>
      <td>Death of Francisco Gomez</td>
      <td>Highlighted the resistance and suspicion of the local people</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 15, 1565</td>
      <td>Act of Possession</td>
      <td>Legal claim of the Philippines for the Spanish Crown</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 20, 1565</td>
      <td>Departure from Cibabao</td>
      <td>Fleet moved south to find more food and allies</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h2>
Sailing South: From Samar to Bohol
</h2>
<p>
Legazpi soon realized that the bay at Cibabao did not have enough food for his hundreds of men. They found very little of value there and moved on. On <time datetime="1565-02-22">February 22, 1565</time>, the expedition reached another part of Samar and made a more successful blood compact with a chief named <b>Datu Urrao</b>.   
</p>
<p>
As they left Cibabao, Legazpi followed the coastline south until the land turned west. They found a straight channel between the islands and sailed through it. After traveling nearly thirty leagues, they reached the island of Tandaya and later moved toward the island of Leyte. In Leyte, the Spanish often had to use force to take food because the inhabitants were not willing to trade with them.   
</p>
<p>
The fleet eventually reached Bohol, where they found a more welcoming reception. It was here that Legazpi met two important leaders: <a href="/articles/3122/datu-sikatuna-a-legacy-of-friendship-and-leadership" class="news_link">Datu Sikatuna</a> and <b>Rajah Sigala</b>.   
</p>
<h3 class="my-h3">
The Blood Compact with Sikatuna
</h3>
<p>
In mid-March 1565, Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna performed a blood compact on the shores of Bohol. This event is one of the most famous in Philippine history and is often seen as a "treaty of peace" or a symbol of friendship between two different cultures. By drinking each other's blood mixed with wine, they became like brothers.   
</p>
<p>
Sikatuna provided Legazpi with vital information about the nearby island of Cebu, which was a major trading center. He even acted as a guide to help the Spanish find the best place to land.   
</p>


Miguel Lopez de Legazpi: 1565 Arrival at Cibabao


Trace Miguel López de Legazpi's 1565 arrival at Cibabao now Samar. Learn about the landing that began Spanish rule.


The Miguel López de Legazpi Expedition and the 1565 Arrival in the Philippines