Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines in March 16, 1521 while leading a Spanish expedition around the world. He first landed on Limasawa Island where he met the Waray people, then went to Cebu Island where he began converting locals to Catholicism through baptism. However, when Magellan tried to Christianize and colonize Mactan Island, he was defeated and killed in battle by the local chief Lapu-Lapu, preventing the Spanish from colonizing the Philippines at that time.