Chronological Timeline of Philippine History (Prehistory to Present)

Pre-Colonial Philippines: Early Migrations, Kingdoms, and Cultural Foundations

• c. 30,500 BCE — Ancestors of the Aeta (Negrito) peoples migrate to the islands via land bridges

• c. 3,000 BCE — Austronesian seafarers arrive in the archipelago using balangay outrigger canoes

• c. 1 BCE — Construction of the Banaue Rice Terraces begins in Ifugao

• 900 CE — Laguna Copperplate Inscription records a debt acquittal, showing literacy and trade links

• c. 1280–1380 CE — Islam spreads into the southern Philippines through traders and missionaries

• 1450 — Sultanate of Sulu is established by Sayyid Abu Bakr

Spanish Colonial Period (1521–1898)

• 1521 — Magellan lands; killed by Lapu-Lapu at the Battle of Mactan

• 1543 — Villalobos names the islands “Filipinas” in honor of Prince Philip (later Philip II)

• 1565 — Legazpi founds the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu; Christianization expands

• 1571 — Manila is established as the capital of the Spanish East Indies

• 1593–1815 — Manila–Acapulco Galleon Trade connects the Philippines to global commerce

• 1762–1764 — British occupation of Manila during the Seven Years’ War

• 1872 — GOMBURZA executed; Filipino nationalist sentiment intensifies

• 1892 — Rizal forms La Liga Filipina; Bonifacio establishes the Katipunan

• 1896 — Philippine Revolution begins; José Rizal executed (Dec 30)

American Era and World War II (1898–1946)

• 1898 — Treaty of Paris: Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States

• 1899 — First Philippine Republic inaugurated in Malolos; Philippine–American War begins

• 1901–1902 — Aguinaldo captured; U.S. consolidates rule and expands English education

• 1935 — Philippine Commonwealth inaugurated; Manuel L. Quezon becomes president

• 1941–1945 — Japanese occupation during WWII; liberation begins with MacArthur’s return (1944)

Independence and Modern History (1946–Present)

• 1946 — Independence granted on July 4; Third Republic established

• 1972 — Ferdinand Marcos declares Martial Law

• 1983 — Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. assassinated

• 1986 — People Power (EDSA) Revolution; Corazon Aquino becomes president

• 1991 — Mount Pinatubo erupts; U.S. bases at Clark and Subic close soon after

• 1992 — Fidel V. Ramos elected; “Philippines 2000” economic program launched

• 2001 — EDSA II: Joseph Estrada ousted; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo takes office

• 2010 — Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III elected president

• 2013 — Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastates the central Philippines

• 2016 — Rodrigo Duterte elected; “War on Drugs” launched

• 2022 — Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. elected president