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1500
Pre - Colonial Age
Philippines, prior the settlement of the Spanish, already had their own system of communication through the use of alibata and baybayin which they have learned, most probably, from the Malays. -
Mar 16, 1521
The Arrival of The Spanish
The Spaniards have arrived in the Philippine Islands and by then started to spread their Western influence which was heavily reliant on the concepts of Christianity. They also have made use of the Christian Doctrine to spread the influence and religion. This has brought a change to the existing alibata/baybayin system that the Filipinos were adapting. -
First Newspaper Established in the Philippines
Due to language barriers brought about by the Spanish, there are still Filipinos who did not understand their language especially those who are less fortunate. By 1811, the first newspaper, Del Superior Govierno, was established. However, this was only limited to the social class who were literate in the Spanish language, thus not open for everyone. -
The First Strike
The first strike, through written means, for freedom was brought about by Jose Rizal. The first installment of his very eye-opening work was released and published in 1887 which was titled Noli Me Tangere. it is a novel revolving around the life of Crisostomo Ibarra and the people around him and exposed the real situation of the country, though in a creative prose. -
The Sparking Revolution
Due to the constant oppression which were not as noticed by most Filipinos, the fortunate ilustrado class started to establish a newspaper that would be open for every Filipino to read and understand. This was called La Solidaridad. This started to revolutionize the way Filipinos think, and make them aware that they are, indeed, oppressed. -
The Telephone Rings
A long time after the Spanish have granted the British company East Extension to place telegraph cables in the Philippine territory, the Philippines have finally adapted to the new technology. By then, the country has enjoyed this new form of communication. -
The Second Strike
After a few years, the second installment of Jose Rizal's revolutionary novel has finally been published and is made available to the Filipino readers. This was titled El FIlibusterismo. This was, again, another attempt to expose the truths about the Spanish motives in the Philippine territory. -
Philippines welcome the Cinematographe
Two years after the creation of the cinematographe by the Lumiere brothers, it made its way to the Philippines by the efforts of a Spanish soldier named Carlo Naquera. It showed short films and brief documentaries. As soon as they ran out of new ones, they'd film normal settings in the Philippines and show it to the people. -
Here Comes Uncle Sam!
By this time around, people were given more access to news as the one of the long-running newspapers, The Manila Times, was established. This was also the time when Americans became the new foreign influence in the country and ousted the Spanish. -
Another Newspaper For Everyone
Another long-running newspaper was established on 1900, which was Manila Bulletin. This is another newspaper that catered to all Filipino readers and making sure that Filipinos were in the know. -
Philippines Makes its First Film
A popular stage play at the time, Dalagang Bukid by Hermogenes Ilagan, was adapted into a film version under the direction of the "Father of The Philippines Cinema", Jose Nepomuceno. It starred Atang Dela Rama. Due to its artistic potentials, Philippines was believed to be the first in Asia to have established the film industry. -
Liwayway Magazine Established
Due to the liberation and new found knowledge of the English language and freedom of language use of the Filipino's choosing, people had more access to more information. Liwayway Magazine was a Tagalog weekly magazine established on 1922 that often contained and featured many different topics and articles such as lifestyle sections and poetry. -
First Radio Station Makes Waves
Henry Aleman, an American businessman, opned the first radio station in the Philippines. It was a small radio station at the time. It was named KZKZ which served as a product demonstration for his electric company, Electrical Supply Company. However, this did not last long and eventually closed. -
The Oldest Radio Station
The oldest surviving radio station, however, was established during 1939 as KZRH (which is DZRH as of today). It was a venture connected to the H.E. Heacock Company, a famous Department Store owned by an American. -
Comics for Entertainment
By this time, as Americans have brought to the Philippines almost everything American, they also introduced to the country their comics which were popular in their country. it usually featured superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. -
The Japanese Curse
Filipinos were enjoying the news liberation from the Americans along with the culture they have imparted; media forms, newspapers, education, and means of living. However, the entry of the Japanese had changed it all as they have ensured media censorship especially from some newspapers. -
Under the Japs
A film title "Dawn of Freedom" was produced by the Japanese, but cast Filipinos for most of the roles. This was more of a Japanese propaganda film to spread their aim which was "Asia for the Asians". It featured the darker side of the war torn Manila, which were mostly underdogs and low-class people. Fernando Poe Jr. starred in this film together with other famous Filipino actors of the time. -
The Dawn of Television
American Engineer James Lindenberg established Bolinao Electronics Corporation in 1946, yet he got his license for a television station around 1950. -
Filipino Film Goes International
The 1950s was highly considered as the Philippine's Golden Age in Cinema. A film named Genghis Khan, directed by Manuel Conde, brought the film to prestigious film festivals in Europe. This movie was also eyed upon by Hollywood and an American adaptation was made. -
The First Television Airing
DZAQ-TV Channel 3 aired the very first television broadcast in the Philippines. Originally this was owned by, the president, Elpidio Quirino. However, MERALCO owner, Eugenio Lopez wanted to acquire and showed interest for the said TV station. Lopez also established the radio company Chronicle Broadcasting Network, thus the creation of ABS-CBN as merged companies. -
Another TV Station For Filipinos
Former war-correspondent and radio entrepreneur, Robert Stewart, established DZTM-TV Channel 5 in 1962, which was originally a radio station. It is known today as GMA-7. -
Martial Law in the Philippines
By post-Japanese occupation, the Philippines were once again liberated and assisted by the Americans. They have rebuilt the country into something better, politics was exercised, press freedom was restored, and somehow the country came back to normal. It was under Former President Marcos' rule that the media was once again manipulated. -
Philippines, Once Again, Free
As President Marcos was ousted from power through the iconic People Power Revolution, Cory Aquino, the wife of the late Benigno Aquino who became president of the Philippines succeeding Marcos through snap elections, had made sure that the 1987 Constitution included the freedom and protection of the media. -
ABS-CBN Comeback
ABS-CBN was known to have its operations held during the Martial Law years. However, as they have returned to usual business, they have expanded their venture by including film around the 1990s. This was later on followed by GMA after a few years. -
The Dawn of Philippine Internet
Philippines have finally connected to the world through Internet in 1994, all made possible by the efforts of Philippine Network Foundation. The first Internet provider in the country was MosCom or Mosaic Communications. Email was introduced. -
Philippines As An Active Media User
With the evolution of the Philippine Media, present-day Filipinos are enjoying the freedom to create, contribute to, access, and use different media forms. The youth are often the most active users especially of social media, but older citizens are also trying to keep up and enjoy the freedom and innovation of better technologies for communication. Philippines was dubbed as the "Social Media Capital of the World" as 93.9% (according to a survey) are heavy Facebook users.
