1) Ferdinand Magellan led the first circumnavigation of the globe from 1519-1522 while trying to find a western route to the Spice Islands. 2) Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521 during a battle with Lapu-Lapu, but Juan Sebastian Elcano eventually completed the journey, becoming the first to circumnavigate the globe. 3) Spain then sent several expeditions to colonize the Philippines between 1525-1564, with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi finally succeeding in 1565 by establishing settlements in Cebu and Manila with the help of alliances with local leaders.