Legazpi's expedition to the Philippines

Timeline

1. 1564–1565Port of Navidad · JaliscoLegazpi sailed west from Navidad with the San Pedro, San Pablo, and the pinnaces San Juan and San Lucas, carrying about 380 men. After sailing, the sealed instructions were opened, confirming the target as the Philippines rather than New Guinea. The San Lucas dropped out of the formation en route. The fleet resupplied at Guam in January 1565 and performed a ceremony of possession over the Mariana Islands on 26 January.
2. 1565Bohol · BoholThe fleet reached the east coast of present-day Samar on 13 February, then sought supplies around Leyte and Limasawa. On 16 March Legazpi and the Dapitan chieftain Sikatuna held a blood compact at Bohol, trading alliance for food and guides. In April a council of officers decided to found a settlement at densely populated Cebu, which had prior contact with Magellan.
3. 1565Cebu · CebuOn 27 April the expedition landed at Cebu, defeated Rajah Tupas, and established Villa del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús with a wood-and-stone fort, becoming Spain's first permanent outpost in East Asia. On 1 June Urdaneta sailed north aboard the San Pedro to find the westerlies, reaching Acapulco on 8 October and completing the first reliable voyage from the Philippines back to New Spain, laying the route foundation for trans-Pacific resupply and trade.