Philippines Timeline

History Hilites

22,000 B.C. Man inhabits the Tabon caves for about 40,000years.

960 A.D. Chinese start to trade in Philippines

1100 A.D. Chinese start to colonise coastal towns

1150 A.D. Ancient Filipinos build rice terraces.

1200 Islam is introduced in Mindanao, southern Phlippines

1521 Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines and claims the archapelago for the King of Spain

1571 Miquel Lopez de Legaspi takes possession of Manila and makes it the capital of the Philippines

1600 – 1617 The Dutch ttempt to take the Philippines and are repulsed by the Spanish navy

1762 – 1764 The British occupy Manila

1834 Economic development starts, Manila is open to world trade

1861 Birth of Jose Rizal, the natonal hero of the Philippines

1887 Rizal’s novel, ‘Noli Me Tangere’ is published. The novel exposes the Spanish atrocities in the Philippines.

1892 Andres Bonifacio starts a secret society called ‘Katipunan’. The aim of the society is separation of Philippines from Spain.

1896 August The Cry of Pugadlawin. Andres Bonifacio meets with his Katipunan leaders in Balintwak. They then proceed to Pugadlawin where they agree to fight the war until the end. December Dr Jose P Rizal is executed at Bagumbayan. This area is now called Luneta.

1897 A truce between Katipunan and Spain end the Filipino-Spanish hostilities.

1898 April The American Congress declares war with Spain May Commodore George Dewey destroys teh Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.

June Filipinos declare independence, Emilio F Aguinaldo becomes first President.

July The Pact of Biak na Bato establishes a republican government.

August Sapnish authorities surrender Manila to America. December The Treaty of paris ends the war between Spain and the united States. Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States, ending nearly 400 years of Spanish rule.

1899 The Philippine- United States war breaks out.

1901 General Emilio Aguinaldo, Philippine revolutionary leader is captured.

1902 Filippino armed resistance against United States ends.

1935 November 15 Manuel L Quezon is inaugurated President of the Commonwealth Government.

1941 Japanese bombers attack Philippines

1942 April The Fall of Bataan – Defenders of Bataan surrender to the Japanese. During the ‘Death March’, 70,000 prisoners walk 120 km to Capas Tarlac.

1943 Jose P Laurel is proclaimed President of a Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic/

1944 August Manuel L Quezon dies. October General Douglas MacArthur lands in Leyte October Sergio Osmena Sr becomes President

1945 Philippines is liberated from the Japanese

1946 July Manuel A Roxas inaugeated President of the Republic of the Philippines. Ending 48 years of Americal colonial rule.

1948 April President Roxas dies. Vice President Elpidio R Quirino assumes the Presidency.

1949 Elpidio R Quirino is elected President

1953 Ramon F Magsaysay elected President. He is acclaimed as a man of the masses.

1957 March President Magsaysay dies in plane crash. November Carlos P Garcia elected President. Formulates and implements the “”Filipino First”" policy.

1961 Diosdado P Macapagal elected President. Implements a Land Reform Program. Changes date of Philippine Independence from June 4 to June 12. correcting a historical error and recognising the heroes of the 1896 revolution.

1965 Senator Ferdinand E marcos elected President of Philippines 1969 Marcos is re-elected for a econd four year term as president of Philippines.

1972 Marcos declares martial law. </p><p>1983 Benigno S Aquino, opposition leader, is gunned down on arrival in manila.

1986 February 7 Despite wide-spread protest Marcos is proclaimed by National Assembly winner of a snap presidential election. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino is the losing contender.

February 25 “”People Power”". Marcos is deposed by massive show of people power. Corazon C Aquino becomes President of the Republic of the Philippines. Marcos leaves the Philippines. Aquino restores demoratic institutions in the country.

1992 Fidel V Ramos becomes President.

1998 June 12 The Philippines celebrate the Centennial of Philippine Independence

June 30 Joseph Ejercito Estrada becomes President. Sworn into office in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo becomes Vice President

2001 January “”People Power 2″” Estrada is ousted from office.

January 20 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo takes her oath of office as President of the Philippines in EDSA Shrine

2010 June 30 Benigno Aquino III elected President