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The Philippines / Pilipinas A History of Resistance and Assimilation |
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“If by rebellion you need to hope and desire, to labor and struggle by every peaceful means for the liberties of my country, and if for that you demand the penalty of death, then gladly, willingly shall I die.” -José Rizal (1896)- |
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The Philippine Timeline of Significant Events |
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March 16, 1521- Ferdinand Magellan lands at the port of Samar on the coast of the Philippines. Magellan named the islands the Archipelago of San Lazarus. A portrait of Ferdinand Magellan in Portugal 1542- The military orders of Spain declare the archipelago for King Philip II who renames the islands the “Philippines” after himself. 1886- José Rizal becomes one of the first Filipinos to publish an anti-Spanish novel when he publishes Noli Me Tangere. A picture of the memorial to José Rizal outside his 19th century jail cell in Spain December 30, 1896- Rizal is gunned down by the Spanish Military in Manila for instigating insurrection. 1898-1899- Spain cedes Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines over to the United States. The Treaty of Paris is signed officially ending the Spanish-American War and Filipinos declare their independence. Emilio Aquinaldo is recognized as the first president of the Philippines and he leads a resistance against the United States. The Malolos Constitution was also established. March 23, 1901- Aquinaldo is captured by United States forces and William Howard Taft is established as governor of the Philippines. The same year the United States reached an agreement with the Philippines establishing United States colonial rule. A picture of Emilio Aguinaldo prior to his capture by U.S. forces in 1901 1934- The Tydings-McDuffie Act is passed by the United States saying the Philippines will be an independent nation in 1946. 1941- Japanese begin invasions in the Philippines where they succeed in defeating General Douglas MacArthur of the United States in the cities of Bataan and Corregidor. 1944-1945- MacArthur once again sets foot on the shores of the Philippines and in 1945 liberates Manila and establishes Sergio Osmeña as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. This is a famous image of MacArthur landing on the beaches of Manila in 1945 July 4, 1946- Philippines become an independent nation once and for all with Manuel Roxas y Acuña as their first president under the new republic. 1965- Ferdinand Marcos is elected president of the Philippines and is immediately surrounded by rumors of corruption. This picture displays a much lighter side of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos September 21, 1972- Marcos declares martial law over the Philippines and nearly 30,000 politicians are arrested under suspicion of conspiracy against the president. 1981- Marcos lifts martial law while Benigno Aquino is sentenced to death for accusations of subversion after already serving 5 years in prison. Benigno was a key opposition leader against Marcos. However, he was exiled to the United States after developing heart disease. A picture from the memorial to Benigno Aquino Obtained with permission from Wikipedia Fair Use August 23, 1983- After returning from exile, because of martial law, Senator Benigno Aquino is shot and killed upon arrival at Manila Airport. His widow Corazon Aquino leads the EDSA revolution upon his death. 1986- Marcos fraudulently defeats Corazon Aquino for the presidency through ballot tampering. Riots then ensued in the Philippines forcing Marcos to flee into exile. Aquino then goes about reestablishing the constitution of the republic of the Philippines. A painting of Corazon Aquino after her inauguration as the president of the Philippines 1992- Corazon Aquino’s former defense secretary Fidel Ramos wins the election for presidency. The same year the United States surrendered Subic Bay (a U.S. Naval Base) to the Philippines which ended all United States militant presence there. 2001- After winning the presidency in 1998, former Filipino movie star Joseph Estrada is impeached and forced to resign under charges of corruption. |
