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Philippine
history written from a Western viewpoint tends to begin with the
discovery of the islands by Spain. But archaeological evidence points
to continuous inhabitation of the area for thousands of years before
contact with the West, and contact with Asian countries may date
back as far as 500 BC. The
islands lie at a natural crossroad for trade. Early business partners
included Javanese, Sumatran, Chinese, and Arab traders. In
addition to trade contacts, waves of immigration over the centuries
brought new people groups and new concepts to the Philippines. Different
sources cite differing timelines of immigration—in fact, theories
regarding Philippine pre-history and proto-history can be quite
controversial! But perhaps it is safe to say that Indonesian settlers
arrived in the islands around 500 BC, bringing with them the Bronze
Age as well as techniques for rice cultivation. About three hundred
years later, the Iron Age arrived along with incomers from Malaysia.
They introduced
new ideas and skills in the areas of metalworking, weaving, and
pottery, and they introduced the Malayan systems of government,
religion, and writing. The first Spaniards arrived in
the Philippines in March 1521, when Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan
claimed the islands in the name of his Spanish sponsor, King Charles
I (also known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V). Ten days after
landing, Magellan was killed in a fight between rival war parties.
Later the islands were named after Charles’s successor, Philip
II, and Spanish occupation began in 1565. During three
centuries of Spanish colonization, many Filipinos converted to Catholicism.
Today more than 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, making
the Philippines Southeast Asia’s only predominantly Catholic
country. The
execution in 1896 of national hero Dr. José Rizal served as the
catalyst for a Philippine revolt against Spain. The revolution failed,
but freedom from Spain finally came at the end of the Spanish-American
War. At that time, 1898, America took charge of the country. In
1935 the Philippines received commonwealth status, to be followed
in ten years by national sovereignty. But the next decade brought World War II, and Japan occupied the islands from 1942-1945. When the Allies regained control the Philippine Commonwealth was re-established, and in 1946 the Philippines became an independent republic. Emilio Aguinaldo was the republic’s first president. In 1986 Corazon Aquino was elected the country’s first woman president, following 21 years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand Marcos. >> top of page |
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