He was in Cebu when he first heard about a well-supplied, fortified settlement to the north, and sent messages of friendship to its ruler, Rajah Matanda, whom he addressed as "King of Luzon.

"[1] In 1570, Legazpi put Martin de Goiti in command of an expedition north to Manila and tasked him with negotiating the establishment of a Spanish fort there.

He was initially well received by Maynila's ruler Rajah Matanda, who, as former commander of the naval forces of the Sultanate of Brunei, had already had dealings with the Magellan expedition in late 1521.

Some historians believe it is more likely that the fire was caused by Maynila forces themselves executing a scorched earth retreat which was a common military tactic in the Philippine archipelago at the time.

[1] De Goiti proclaimed victory, symbolically claimed Maynila on behalf of Spain, then quickly returned to Legazpi because he knew that his naval forces were outnumbered.