andrés de urdaneta (1508 – june 3, 1568) was a maritime explorer for the spanish empire of basque heritage, who became an augustinian friar. at the age of seventeen, he formed part of the loaísa expedition to the spice islands where he spent more than eight years. around 1540 he settled in new spain and became an augustinian friar in 1552. at the request of philip ii he joined the legazpi expedition for a return to the philippines. in…