Friar Andres de Urdaneta was born on 30th November 1498 in Villafranca de Oria, Spain, and he died on 3rd June 1568 (aged 70 years), in Mexico City. Friar Andres spent eight adventurous years in the Spice Islands (Moluccas) and then, in 1553, entered the Augustinian order in Mexico City. Philip II of Spain asked him to guide an expedition from Mexico to the Philippines and to find a return route. In April 1565, Friar Andres reached the Philippine island of Cebu, where he established a mission, and on 1st June 1565 he embarked on the return voyage.
Do you know: Friar Andres de Urdaneta was one of the few survivors of the Loaísa Expedition to reach the Spice Islands late in the year 1526, only to be taken prisoner by the Portuguese.
