The Spanish conquest of the Philippines began in 1565 when Miguel López de Legazpi arrived and established the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu. The islands were strategically important for trade and military purposes, leading to further expeditions and the eventual colonization of the archipelago. Over the next few decades, the Spanish expanded their control, converting many Filipinos to Catholicism and integrating local cultures into their colonial administration. The conquest was marked by conflicts with indigenous groups, but by the late 16th century, most of the Philippines was under Spanish rule, lasting for over 300 years.