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Mar 1, 1521
Arrival of Ferdinand Magellan
It marked the beginning of Spanish interest in the Philippines as several Spanish expeditions followed. -
Jan 1, 1565
Landing of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Cebu
This marked the beginning of Spanish dominion in the Philippines as Legazpi later established the seat of Spanish colonial government in Manila. -
Surnames for Filipinos
Governor Narciso Claveria y Zaldua issued a decree that provided for the use of Spanish surnames by Filipinos to facilitate census, tax collection and administration. -
Founding of the Katipunan
Andres Bonifacio, Ladislaw Diwa and Teodoro Plata composed the first triangle of the secret society. -
Battle of Manila Bay
The American naval fleets led by George Dewey fought against the Spanish fleet under General Patrocinio Montojo. This signaled America’s colonization of the Philippines. -
Japanese invasion
Japanese bombers attacked Clark Air Base and other American camps in Baguio City, Manila and Davao. This signaled the beginning of the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. Which lasted until 1945. -
Martial law
President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081 declaring martial law to "save the Republic" from crime and violence. Marcos abolished the Congress and created the semiparliament Batasang Pambansa. It caused the takeover of many private businesses by the government, exile, disappearances and imprisonment of individuals critical of the government. -
Assassination of Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino
The senator was assassinated at the Manila International Airport, now named in his honor. His widow would later become one of the greatest leaders in Philippine history. -
Military mutiny & Oath-taking of Corazon C. Aquino, the senator’s widow, and Salvador H. Laurel as President and Vice-President of the Philippines
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Vice Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos defected from the Marcos administration. People gathered at EDSA to protect them from pro-administration soldiers. Two days after, President Marcos went on exile to Hawaii. Followed shortly by the oath-taking of Corazon Aquino. -
Biggest case of corruption
Former first lady Imelda Marcos was convicted for the first time of corruption and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Few days earlier, the remains of former President Marcos who died in 1989 in Hawaii was finally entombed at their family mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Sur. -
Death of Corazon Aquino
after one and a half year battle with colon cancer, the 76 year-old Aquino died at the Makati Medical Center at around 3:18 a.m. due to complications of cardiorespiratory arrest.