MCOnline: En route to the Spice Islands

1480-1521 Portugal. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain in 1519 with a fleet of five ships to discover a western sea route to the spice islands. En route, he discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan and became the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean. On March 6, 1521 the expedition landed on the island of Guam and ten days later the fleet dropped anchor on the Philippine island of Cebu. The rest is history and the Spaniards colonized the Philippines. The explorer was only 400 miles from the Spice Islands of Indonesia when he met with the Chief of Cebu and was hit with a poisoned arrow and left to die.

Next Blog: Modern Day Cebu

MCOnline: Magellan's Compass

Look for my new series titled Magellan's Compass, focusing on exploration of what I believe is the truly undiscovered Philippine Islands. I will bring to you lifestyle, adventure, cuisine, pop culture, spirituality and special events in the region. I am dedicated to bridging east and west and spotlighting stories that inspire, touch lives and bring interest back to the country.

Who am I? I am a writer, adventurer, entrepreneur, husband and father dedicated to bringing to the world the best the Philippines has to offer. I was born in the Philippines but lived in the United States since the age of 3. I returned to the Philippines when I was 26 to help build a resort on one of the worlds best beaches, Boracay Island. Now I'm excited and passionate about sharing the secrets of beauty, hospitality, serenity, adventure, spirtuality, and human stories that I have been fortunate to discover and learn from in the Philippines..... "sometimes a world away can as close as you want it to be".

Next Blog: How it all started.