This painting was featured in the LAKBAY (Voyage) show in Manila in February of 2025. The subject depicts Magellan’s landing in Cebu and his subsequent battle with the local chieftain Lapu-Lapu’s tribesmen on Mactan Island. Magellan (the figure on the left) was speared through the ankle and died from infection, preventing his return to Spain after discovering an eastern route to the Spice Islands. His wounded, booted foot is shown above, stepping onto a map of Cebu, symbolizing the beginning of 380 years of colonial oppression by Spain. The hibiscus and mango are decorative elements used to unify the composition of the painting.
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