The Conqueror Got Conquered

Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese and considered as the greatest explorer of all time, embarked on an adventure in the early 16^th century under the Spain flagship  that would later led to European’s rule over the world. He was the first seafarer to have discovered a westward route to the East, discovering many lands in Asia and in the Americas.

He led the 270-men expedition that achieved the first circumnavigation of the world, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, passing the southern tip of South America, conquering the Pacific and then going back to Spain. Ironically, Magellan did not complete the voyage; he was killed by the natives of Mactan island in the Philippines on April 27, 1521.  Only 17 men survived and aboard in Victoria, the only surviving ship, arrived in the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, Spain on September 1522.

Magellan’s men failed to recover his dead body even after offering jewels and merchandise to the native.  To honor their great leader, they put a marker of stones on the very spot that he fell down and died.  Today, the marker is now part of a heritage park popularly known as the Mactan Shrine.