History

The past

When you ask Filipinos about their history, you either learn a bit about the very recent history, going back to maybe José Rizal or maybe to Ferdinand Marcos.

But more often you hear stories about "Kaiba-an", "Balang" and "Aswang", ghosts, phantoms and witches.

 

If you look for more scientific sources, you have to read lots of very thick books. But we found Wolfgang Bethge's website "Literaturbrücke Philippinen" in which the history of the Philippines can be found in form of 3 chronological tables.

We thank Wolfgang Bethge for his excellent work and are grateful that he allows us to use his history tables.

 

The 3 chronological tables are: First, from prehistoric era to the end of the Spanish colony. Second, from the beginning of the American colony to the end of the second world war. And third, from 1945 up to now.

The tables contain cultural, natural, social and political events. Key events are in red color.

1 - From prehistoric era to the end of the Spanish colony

Prehistoric era

Date	Year	Cultural, natural, social and political events
-	250 000 BC	Tool findings in the Cagayan Valley (Northern Luzon)
-	50 000 BC	Manufacture of stone tools in the Tablon Cave in Palawan. A skull finding is dated about 30 000 BC.
-	40 000 BC	Australoids (ancestors of today's Negritos) begin to immigrate to the Asian continent on the remaining land bridges (not proven). They are collectors and hunters (archers), have stone tools, and live mostly in caves.
-	7.000 - 5000 BC	First waves of immigration of "Malays" which originally came from southern China. They come in boats ("barangays" or "balangays") from Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. They control fire, the manufacture clothing made of bark and animal skins, pottery and cultivate rice.
-	3 000 BC	Rock art of Angono - the oldest artifact of the Philippines with the artistic representation of human and animal figures
-	3000 - 1000 BC	Immigration of old Malay and other tribes. They are the ancestors of today's Ifugao, Bontocs and Mangyans. They know the cultivation of dry rice and manufacture of glass. They lived in huts on stielts and made tools of copper, bronze and iron. Animism, shamanism and a pronounced death cult to determine the religious life.
-	from 200 BC	Immigration of young Malay tribes from today's Indonesia. They are the ancestors of the vast majority of today's Filipinos. They are known for their wood carvings and jewelry making.
-	0 BC	Start of construction of the rice terraces with sophisticated irrigation technology in and around Banaue, the "Eighth Wonder of the World"

Pre-colonial era

Date	Year	Cultural, natural, social and political events
-	900	Copper plate inscriptions (Laguna) show settlements in and around Manila
-	1000	Begin of trade with Chinese porcelain. Chinese traders set up bases in the Philippines.
-	1200 - 1300	Wave of immigrants from Borneo. Islam reaches the southern Philippines.
-	1240	Islamic missionaries in Sulu. Relatively peaceful mission among the tribes in the southern Philippines because islamic missionaries widely tolerate the traditions of the indigenous tribes .
-	1250	Legislation written by Datu Sumakwei on Panay island
-	1380	Sharif Makdon builds the first mosque on Sulu island
-	1433	Datu (chief) Kalantiaw of the island of Negros also publishes a law code. The Datu is at the head of the ruling aristocracy, followed by the honorary citizens (Maharlikas), the free citizens (Timaguas) and two groups of slaves (Alipin)
-	1450	Establishment of a Muslim sultanate on Jolo under Sultan Sharif ul-Hasim Abubakr
-	1475	Islam is spreading in Mindanao. Later it spreads up to Central Luzon
-	1494	By the Treaty of Tordesillas, Pope Alexander VI. divides the world between the two competing maritime powers Portugal and Spain.
-	1511	Portuguese conquer Malacca (now Malaysia) and establish an important trading post

Spanish colonial period (1521 - 1898)

Date	Year	Cultural, natural, social and political events
March 16	1521	Ferdinand Magellan lands with three ships ("Conception", "Trinidad" and "Victoria") on the small island of Homohon (east of Samar).
March 29	1521	Magellan On the island Limasawa, Magellan establishes a friendship treaty with the chief Rajah Kulambo
March 31	1521	First Catholic Mass held in Limasawa
April 27	1521	Magellan dies in battle of Mactan island against the later national hero - chieftain Lapu-Lapu.
February 2	1543	Captain Ruy de Villalobos Lopez lands in the archipelago and names the islands after the Spanish Crown Prince Philipp II
February 2	1565	Miguel Lopez de Legaspi reaches the Philippines with four ships and 380 men. In Cebu, he establishes the first permanent settlement of the Spaniards. He is the first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. The following is a quick hand in hand walking of Christianity and Hispanization in large parts of the sparsely populated country (estimated population: 750,000)
-	1569	Beginning of the Galleon's trade (1569 - 1815) between China and Mexico. Manila is the hub of this trade of Mexican silver coins and Chinese silk, porcelain objects, pearls and spices.
June 24	1571	Manila is proclaimed capital of the Philippines. Intramuros is the fortified part of town.
-	1574	The Chinese pirate Limahong attacks Manila twice, until he is defeated.
-	1574	Lakandula initiates first short-term revolt against the Spanish.
-	1576	Chinese are allowed to immigrate to the Philippines, but are still discriminated and expelled (riots against Chinese and others in 1603, 1639, 1662 and 1782)
-	1590	The Jesuits found the Colegeo de Manila, later called the "Universidad de San Ignacio"
-	1600 -1670	Several unsuccessful attempts by the Dutchmen, to conquer parts of the country
-	1603	Rise of the Chinese in Manila
-	1611	Opening of the Universidad de Santo Tomas, the oldest Catholic university in Asia
-	1622	Several revolts against the forced levy in Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Panay. Francisco Dagohoy is the leader of the revolt in Bohol which lasts over 85 years (1744-1829).
September 22	1762	6800 British soldiers with 13 ships attack Manila and takes it.
-	1762	In the province of Ilocos a revolt starts under Diego Silang because of the compulsory levy. The uprising is initially successful. The "independent and free Ilocos" is proclaimed. Silang is killed a year later by a former friend. His wife continues the fight, but is defeated and hanged along with other companions in 1763.
-	1763	Treaty of Paris ends the British occupation of parts of the Philippines (1764).
-	1774	Filipinos may become priests.
-	1787	Moro pirates plunder Bacolod on Negros Island. The attack on Bacolod is only a representative for many others. Until the first half of the 19th Century, Moro pirates attack villages in southern Luzon and the Visayas.
January 22	1809	The Philippines become an integral part of Spain and Filipinos are given the Spanish nationality and a right of representation in the Spanish Parliament (1810-1837). Iin 1812, the liberal Cadiz constitution is adopted. Napoleon cancels this integration in 1816.
-	1820	Increasing agricultural production (tobacco, sugar cane, abaca)
-	1828	Strong earthquake which destroys buildings and churches in Manila.
-	1835	The first Philippine bank is established.
-	1838	The epic poem "Florante at Laura" by Francisco Balagtas is published
June 19	1861	José Rizal is born in Calamba (Laguna Province). Rizal studied medicine, philosophy and literature at the Ateneo de Manila and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.
-	1863	Reform of the education system. It allows now the Filipinos higher school qualifications. Wealthier families can finance studies in Spain. A numerically small, liberal-minded, educated middle class developes slowly. Also a small elite group of "Illustrados" is established.
-	1863	A powerful earthquake destroys most of the buildings in Manila (except the San Augustin church).
-	1869	The opening of the Suez Canal allows permanent maritime links between the Philippines and Spain.
-	1873	The German ethnologist Feodor Jagor published his book "Travels in the Philippines"
-	1880	First underwater telegraph cable to the Philippines
-	1887	Rizal's novel "Noli me tangere" is published in Madrid.
-	1891	Rizal's novel "El Filibusterismo" is published
June 26	1892	Rizal returns to the Philippines
July 3	1892	José Rizal founds the politically moderate, but anti-clerical "Liga Filipina". Andreas Bonifacio joins this elite league.
July 7	1892	Rizal is arrested because of the creation of the "Liga Filipina. Without any court ruling he is sent in exile to Dapitan.
July 8	1892	Bonifacio founds the secret society Katipunan. The covenant is based nationalist ideas and wants an to end the Spanish oppression. Unlike Rizal, the Katipunan accepts also the use of force.
August 19	1892	The Katipunan-conspiracy is uncovered. Individual members are arrested, , however, most of them can take refuge in the hills of Balintawak.
August 23	1896	Bonifacio anounces the Revolution ("Cry of Balintawak"). The followers burn their Spanish identity papers.
August 30	1896	The outcry of the Katipunan spread across eight provinces. The Spanish general governor declares the state of war.
September 2	1896	Rizal is falsely accused of having been the founder of the Katipunan.
December 30	1896	José Rizal is executed. He becomes the national hero of the Philippines for future generations
April 29	1897	Aguinaldo is elected President of the Katipunan. Bonifacio is elected minister of war. Bonifacio does not accept Aguinaldo position.
May 8	1897	The Katipunero leaders accuse Bonifacio of sedition and treason and sentence him to death.
December 14	1897	Because of the Spanish supremacy, Aguinaldo decides to negotiate with the Spaniards. In the pact of" Biak-na-Bato" the Katipuneros are commited to lay down their weapons if the Spanish authorities carry out reforms and respect the human rights. For a fee of 800,000 pesos, Aguinaldo agrees, to leave the Philippines with his companions for exile in Hong Kong.
February 8	1898	The U.S. government asks Aguinaldo for support them in their struggle against the Spanish government. Aguinaldo agrees, because the Americans promise the independence of the Philippines for the help in the fight against Spain.
February 12	1898	The United States of America declare war to Spain.
June 12	1898	The Philippine's independency from Spain is proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite. Manila is still held by Spanish troops. The new Philippine flag is hoisted and the new national anthem being played. Tthe first Philippine Republic is born.
June 23	1898	On the advice of Apolinario Mabini, the "dictatorial" government is converted in a "revolutionary" one, the "Malolos Republic".
July 17	1898	The Americans, under General Wesley Merritt E. strengthen their military presence in the Philippines. Their attitude towards Filipinos changes and becomes worse.
December 10	1898	In the Treaty of Paris, Spain sells the former Philippine colony for 20 million dollars to the Americans. This is the end of the Spanish colonial period of 333 years.

forward to second page