Timeline of Philippines

Chronology

21 events spanning the history of Philippines. BCE/CE dating.

1. 5000 BCE – 3000 BCE

   The "New Stone Age"

   Sea faring Malays from what is today Indonesia come to the archipelago. These new settlers bring with them polished stone tools, boat building, bark and animal skin cloth making, pottery, rice planting, the process of cooking food in bamboo tubes, the techniques of making fire by rubbing two sticks together. The Negritos begin to move out of caves and settle in a scattered manner along the coasts and rivers.

2. 5000 BCE

   Second wave of Malay immigrants

   Second wave of Malay immigrants arrives in the Philippines by sea.

3. 2500 BCE

   Ancient Negroid people immigrate to the Philippines

   Ancient Negroid people immigrate to the Philippines over a land bridge then still connecting the archipelago with the Asian mainland.

4. 200 BCE

   Malays in large numbers migrate to the Philippines

   Malays in large numbers migrate to the Philippines. They are the racial stock of the majority of today’s Philippine populace.

5. 1521

   Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippine Islands

   Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippine Islands and names them: Archipelago of San Lazaro, where he was killed by natives the following month.

6. 1542

   Spanish expedition

   Commandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the islands for Spain and names them “Philippines” after Prince Philip; later King Philip II of Spain. The Philippines becomes part of Spanish Empire.

7. 1898

   Emilio Aguinaldo declares the Philippines independent

   The US navy destroys the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Spain cedes the Philippines to the US under the Treaty of Paris in December, Philippines rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo declares the Philippines independent on June 12, which will be recognized in the future as the Philippines’ Independence Day.

8. 1902

   Insurrection ends

   Insurrection ends; Taft improves economic conditions, settles disputes over church ownership of land, establishes “Pensionado” program, allowing Filipinos to study in U.S., which helped modernize and westernize the country.

9. 1935

   Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine Commonwealth

   Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine Commonwealth with Manuel Quezon y Molina as the first president. The Philippines is promised full independence within 10 years.

10. 1941

    Japan attacks the Philippines

    Japan attacks the Philippines by air and invades two weeks later.