Philippines' History
Ferdinand Magellan
March 16, 1521 - Arrival of Magellan's expedition to one of the Philippine Islands. Laurence Bergreen's Over the Edge of the World details the landing "they headed to Suluan and dropped anchor for a few hours of respite." Suluan is a small island in the province of Eastern Samar. They then next dropped anchor at Homonhon, another small island in the province of Eastern Samar. They were detected by the boats of Rajah Kolambu who was visiting Mazaua.
April 7, 1521 - Cebu
April 27, 1521 - Death of Magellan participating in the Battle of Mactan.
Spanish Colonization (1565 - 1821)
1565 - Expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived, Legaspi established first permanent Spanish settlement on Cebu, became first Spanish General-Governor
1571 - Legaspi established Spanish Colonial Government in Manila; proclaimed it the capital of the colony.
1580 - King Philip II of Spain became King of Portugal, ended Portuguese harassment of Philippines. Forced labor of all males aged 16 to 60 instituted by Spanish.
1603 - In the Luzon Tragedy, over 30,000 Chinese merchants were killed, along with officials and civilians by Spanish chieftain.
1621 - 1683 - Revolts and uprisings against religious customs and Spanish rule occurred throughout the Philippines .
1744 - Dagohoy Revolt in Bohol lasted 85 years, provided independence from Spanish rule.
1754 - Towns of Lipa, Sala, Tanauan, Talisay destroyed by eruption of Mt. Taal.
1762 - During Europe's Seven Years War, British attacked and occupied Manila.
1763 - British occupation of Philippines ended when Treaty of Paris signed by England, Spain and France; Manila was returned to Spain.
1808 - French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte installed brother Joseph as King of Spain.
1812 - Cadiz Constitution established and implemented Manila.
1816 - Spanish Parliament rejected Cadiz Constitution, Philippine representation abolished.
American Colonization(1910 - 1945)
1911 - The Taal volcano erupted and 1,335 people were killed.
1916 - Aug 29, The US Jones Law (Act of Congress of August 29, 1916), also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, replaced the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 that earlier served as a constitution for the Philippine Islands. Manuel Luis Quezon (1878-1944), Resident Commissioner to Washington, D.C. since 1909, pushed the passage of the Jones Act.
1920 - Jose Garcia Villa was suspended from law school for publishing erotic poems. A Manila court fined him for obscenity.
1921 - 1927 - General Leonard Wood served a governor-general of the Philippines.
January 12, 1933 - US Congress recognized the independence of the Philippines.
May 7, 1934 - World's largest pearl (6.4 kg) was found at Palawan, Philippines.
May 14, 1935 - A plebiscite in the Philippines ratified a independence agreement.
November 14, 1935 - Manuel Luis Quezon was sworn in as the first Filipino president, as the Commonwealth of Philippines was inaugurated. Pres. Roosevelt proclaimed the Philippine Islands a free commonwealth.
December 8, 1941 - Japan attacked the Philippines. The United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan, a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
January 2 ,1942 - The Philippine capital of Manila and the US Naval base at Cavite were captured by Japanese forces.
January 7, 1942 - The World War II siege of Bataan began.
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January 18, 1942 - General MacArthur repelled the Japanese in Bataan.
April 1943 - Magdaleno Sanchez Duenas, Philippine guerrilla fighter, (1914-2005) assisted in the escape of 10 US servicemen from the Davao Penal Colony.
June 19, 1944 - The Battle of the Philippine Sea (Battle of the Marianas), called the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," began when Japanese naval forces attacked the stronger U.S. naval forces. 280 Japanese planes were shot down by U.S. carrier- based planes and anti-aircraft fire from U.S. ships. Americans shoot down 220 Japanese planes while only losing 20.
October 20, 1944 - Gen. Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore on A-Day (attack day) at Leyte in the Philippines, 2 1/2 years after he'd said, "I shall return." He landed with Sergio Osmena, the president-in-exile, and Gen’l. Carlos Romulo, who later served as foreign minister.
February 6, 1945 - MacArthur reported the fall of Manila, and the liberation of 5,000 prisoners.
Japanese Colonization (1942 - 1960)
September 20, 1943 - the KALIBAPI- under the leadership of its director general, Benigno Aquino Sr. held a party convention to elect 54 members of the National Assembly.
October 14, 1943 - The new republic was inaugurated on October 14 1943 on the front steps of the legislative building in Manila.
September 21, 1944 - From Australia, Allied forces slowly advanced toward the Philippines, bombing several Japanese strongholds until they regained control of areas previously occupied by the enemy.
August 1944 - Sergio Osmeña was Part of MacArthur’s group. He had taken over Manuel L. Quezon as president after the latter past way at Saranac Lake, New York on August 1944.
January 9, 1945 - The Japanese, meanwhile, secured other area where their thought other American units would land. Nevertheless, US liberation forces successfully docked at Lingayen Gulf
December 8, 1944 - President Laurel and his cabinet moved to Baguio upon orders of Yamashita, who is also known as the tiger of Malaya. The Japanese forces retreated to Yamashita line a jungle battlefront stretching along the Sierra Madre Mountains from Antipolo, Rizal to Appari Cagayan.
July 4, 1945 - Gen. MacArthur continued to liberate other parts of the country. And finally proclaim general freedom from the Japanese
Modern Period (1960 - Present)
1965 - Ferdinand E. Marcos is elected by a big majority as president.
1972 - Martial Law was declared by President Marcos.
1983 - Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino returns from exile and is assassinated on arrival at Manila International Airport; Aquino's widow Corazon leads the "People Power" protest movement.
1986 - Marcos was declared winner in a presidential election beating Corazon Aquino amid charges of fraud; demonstrations erupt; Marcos flees to Hawaii; Aquino is declared president and forms a new government.
1992 - Endorsed by Aquino, her Secretary of Defense Gen. Fidel Ramos wins presidential election. U.S. Philippine congress rejects a new treaty with the U.S. and Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Field returns to Philippine government, ending American military presence in the Philippines.
1996 - The government of Ramos agrees to greater autonomy for southern island of Mindanao. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ends the guerrilla war with the government.
1998 - Former movie actor Joseph Estrada is elected president.
2000 - On charges of corruption, the lower house impeach Estrada.
2004 - Presidential election takes place. Arroyo's closest rival (a dear friend of Ex-President Estrada) is film actor Fernando Poe, Jr. Arroyo narrowly defeats Poe, taking 39.5% of the vote to Poe's 36.6%.
2007 - Former President Joseph Estrada is convicted of plunder, the first ever in the history of the Philippines.
