If I remember correctly the Philippines had been " discovered", as in by Europeans, from the other end. In fact the first person to go around the world was a Philippine member of magellan's crew, who had done so by the time they reached the Philippines, where Magellan died.I also believe that expedition did not cross into the northern hemisphere, but crossed the South Pacific, where they were a month or more without seeing land.
However, later the annual silver galleons sailed from Barra to Manila.