Historical Timeline of Spain and the Philippines

YEAR 1521

 1521, Mar 1 A Spanish expedition, sailing across the Pacific Ocean from east to west,
and led by the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan (died Apr 27, 1521) lands on Homonhon
Island east of Samar with three small ships, named the Concepcion,
Trinidad and Victoria. Magellan calls the place San Lazaro Island since March 16 is
Saint Lazarus day.
 On March 28. Directing his ships southwest ward, Magellan reaches Limasawa
Island, south of Leyte. It is ruled by Rajah Kulambo, who becomes Magellan's friend.
 The next day March 29, has seal the friendship between Magellan and Rajah Kulambo,
they solemnize a blood compact. This is the first recorded blood compact in Philippine
history.
 March 31 that year also, The first mass on Philippine soil is celebrated on Limasawa or
Masaoin some reference book.
 April 7. After sailing to Cebu Island, Magellan enters a new blood compact with the local
chieftain, Rajah Humabon.
 Twenty days after April 27. Magellan dies in a battle with Lapu-Lapu, chieftain of
Mactan, an island near Cebu.

YEAR 1525

 1525. Spain sends an expedition under Juan Garcia Jofre de Loaysa to the
Philippines. The expedition expects to find gold and spices but fails to do so. Loaysa
and many members of his crew die in the Philippines.

YEAR 1526

 After a year, Spain sends a third expedition to the Philippines under the leadership of
Juan Cabot. This expedition never reaches the archipelago as three years are wasted
in South America, trying to find a new route to the East.
YEAR 1527

 Another year passed by, the fourth expedition has sent by Spain to The Country under
the command of Alvaro de Saavedra. It is the first Spanish expedition starting from
Mexico. It reaches Mindanao but on the way to Cebu Saavedra's ship is carried by
strong winds to the Moluccas.

YEAR 1529

 Two years after, Saavedra's expedition returns to Spain without Saavedra who died on
the way home.

YEAR 1529

 The Loaysa expedition returns to Spain. One of its survivors is Andres de Urdaneta, its
chronicler.

YEAR 1543

 On Febeuary 2, 1543 the leader of the most successful Spanish expedition

after Magellan, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos (died Apr 4, 1546) arrives in the archipelago.
He names the islands the Philippines in honor of the son of King Charles I, Philip II
(1556-1598) of Spain. Villalobos reaches Sarangani Island off the eastern coast of
Mindanao and settles there for 8 months. But because of the scarcity of food, the
expedition is forced to leave the place and sails to the Moluccas where Villalobos dies.

YEAR 1565

 After 22 long years, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrives in the Philippines on February 13,
1565 together with four ships and 380 men.
 On May 8, The Island of Cebu is surrendered to Legaspi by its ruler King Tupas.
Legaspi establishes the first permanent Spanish settlement on Cebu and becomes the
first Spanish Governor-General. By his order, tributes are collected from all
Filipino males aged 19 to 60.
YEAR 1568

 The Portuguese, under the command of General Gonzalo de Pereira, attack Cebu and
blockade its port.

YEAR 1570

 Two years after, the Portuguese again attack the colony and are repulsed.
The series of attacks stems from Portugal's claim to the territory based on
the provision of the Treaty of Tordisillas entered into by Spain and Portugal on June
7, 1474, in which their respective spheres of influence, trade and conquest were
defined. The Portuguese believe that the Philippines falls within their sphere.
 1570, May. Legaspi sends an expedition under the leadership of Martin de Goiti to
Manila. Manila is ruled by Rajah Suliman, whose friendship is won by de Goiti.

YEAR 1571

 A a year after, May 19,1571 Rajah Suliman wages war against the Spaniards due to a
move by de Goiti which he mistakes for an assault. De Goiti's army defeats
Suliman's troops and occupies the town.
 Jun 24. Legaspi establishes his government in Manila and proclaims it the
capital of the Philippines, calling it the "distinguished and ever loyal city".

YEAR 1572

 On August 20,1572 Legaspi dies and Guido de Lavezares (died 1575) succeeds him as
governor. Lavezares extends colonization to the Bicol region.

YEAR 1574

 After a year, November 23, 1574, The Chinese pirate captain Limahong attacks
Manila but the Spaniards win with the help of the Filipinos.
 On December 2 that year, Limahong again attacks Manila, this time with 1,500
soldiers, but cannot conquer the city.
 That year on December, Tondo (now a district of Manila) Lakandula leads a
short revolt against the Spanish.

YEAR 1580
  The Spanish King Philip II receives the throne of Portugal upon the death of the
Portuguese King Sebastian. This puts an end to the Portuguese harassment of the
Philippine archipelago.
 On that year also, The Spaniards institute forced labor on all male natives aged 16 to
60.

1583, Aug.?A greatfirein Manila

which starts from the candles around
the bier of
governor Penalosa.
1589.The Spaniards establish the
first school in the Philippines,
theCollege of San
Ignacio.
1600.TheDutchattack the
archipelago in a tactical offensive
during the European
war between Spain and the
Netherlands.
1600.Governor Sebastian Hurtado
de Corcuera begins collecting
thebandalafrom
the natives. Bandala is an
annual quota of products
assigned to the natives for
compulsory sale to the government.
1600.TheGalleon tradebetween
Manila and Acapulco, Mexico begins.
But Manila
serves merely as a transshipment
port for the exchange of goods
betweenSpainandMexicoon
the one side andChinaon the
other. Silver from
Mexico is traded for any kind of
Chinese merchandise. Because of the
Galleon trade's
quick returns, Spain lacks interest in
developing the Philippine economy
during the
first 200 years of its occupation.
1603.Chinese insurrection in
Manila.
1622.An early revolt takes place
inBohol. It is headed byTamblot,
a babaylan or
priest of the native religion. Revolts in
Leyte, Samar and Panay follow, all
protesting
the collection of tributes.
1744.One of the most successful
revolts in Philippine history breaks
out, once more
inBohol, and provides the island a
kind of independence from the
Spaniards for the
following 85 years. The first leader of
the revolt isFrancisco Dagohoy.
1754, May 15. Mt Taal emits magma
and destroys the towns of Lipa, Sala,
Tanauan
and Talisay.
1762, Sep 22.In a side encounter of
the EuropeanSeven Years War, the
British
attack Manila with 13 vessels and
6,830 men under the command of
General William
Draper and Admiral Samuel Corning.
The British win the battle and occupy
the city.
1762, Oct 5.The British take
control of the Philippines
andDarsonne
Drakebecomes Governor-General.
The British open the colony to
international trade
and ultimately change its economic
life.
1762, Dec 14.A revolt under the
leadership ofDiego Silang(Dec 16,
1730 - May
28, 1763) breaks out in the Ilocos
region.
1763, May 28.The revolt ends as
Diego Silang isassassinatedby his
former friend
Miguel Viscos.
YEAR 1583
  August that year, A great fire in Manila which starts from the candles around the bier of
governor Penalosa.

YEAR 1589

 The Spaniards establish the first school in the Philippines, the College of San Ignacio.

YEAR 1600

 The Dutch attack the archipelago in a tactical offensive during the European war
between Spain and the Netherlands.
 In that year also, Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera begins collecting the
bandala from the natives. Bandala is an annual quota of products assigned
to the natives for compulsory sale to the government.
 This year also happens, The Galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico
begins. But Manila serves merely as a transshipment port for the exchange
of goods between Spain and Mexico on the one side and China on the other.
Silver from Mexico is traded for any kind of Chinese merchandise. Because of the
Galleon trade's quick returns, Spain lacks interest in developing the Philippine economy
during the first 200 years of its occupation.

YEAR 1603

 This year happens to be the Chinese insurrection in Manila.

YEAR 1622

After 19 long years, An early revolt takes place in Bohol. It is headed by Tamblot, a babaylan or
priest of the native religion. Revolts in Leyte, Samar and Panay follow, all protesting the
collection of tributes.

YEAR 1744

 One of the most successful revolts in Philippine history breaks out, once more in Bohol,
and provides the island a kind of independence from the Spaniards for the following 85
years. The first leader of the revolt is Francisco Dagohoy.
  May 15 on the same year, the Mt. Taal emits magma and destroys the towns of Lipa,
Sala, Tanauan and Talisay.

YEAR 1762

 Sep 22, 1762. In a side encounter of the European Seven Years War, the British attack
Manila with 13 vessels and 6,830 men under the command of General William Draper
and Admiral Samuel Corning. The British win the battle and occupy the city.
 On the same year, October 5 The British take control of the Philippines and
Darsonne Drake becomes Governor-General. The British open the colony to
international trade and ultimately change its economic life.
 December 14. A revolt under the leadership of Diego Silang (Dec 16, 1730 – May 28,
1763) breaks out in the Ilocos region.

YEAR 1763

 The revolt ends as Diego Silang is assassinated by his former friend Miguel Viscos on
May 28,1763.
 February 10 that year, The Treaty of Paris between England, Spain and France is
signed, ending the Seven Years War in Europe as well as the British
occupation of the Philippines.

YEAR 1774

 Nov 9. Parishes are secularized by order of King Charles III of Spain. Natives are also
permitted to enter the Catholic priesthood.

YEAR 1808

 1808, May. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte installs his brother Joseph as King of
Spain. French-influenced liberals support the king but the people do not.

YEAR 1809
  As an effect of the appointment of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain, all Spanish
colonies including the Philippines are made integral parts of Spain by the Spanish
Central Junta. Filipinos are given the privileges of Spanish citizenship as well as
representation in the Spanish Cortes (parliament) happened on January 22 that year.

YEAR 1812

 Mar 19. The Spanish Cortes promulgates the Cadiz Constitution. It is a

liberal constitution, vesting sovereignty in the people, recognizing the equality of all men
and the individual liberty of the citizen, and granting the right of suffrage, but providing
for a hereditary monarchy and for Catholicism as the state religion.
 Sep 24. The first Philippine delegates to the Spanish Cortes, Pedro Perez de Tagle and
Jose Manuel Coretto take their oath of office in Madrid, Spain.

YEAR 1813

 Mar 17. Spain officially implements the Cadiz Constitution in Manila.

 October 16 to 19. The Battle of the Nations near Leipzig, Germany; it ends with
Napoleon and the French defeated.
 October that year, Following the French defeat at Leipzig, the British General
Duke of Wellington drives the Napoleonic forces out of Spain.

YEAR 1814

Ferdinand VII, son of Charles IV, is recognized as King of Spain.

YEAR 1815

 June 18. Napoleon Bonaparte is defeated in a battle with another multi-

national army under Wellington at Waterloo, Belgium.
 October 15. Bonaparte is exiled toSt. Helena's Islandin the Atlantic Ocean, off the
coast of West Africa.

YEAR 1816

 May 24. After the defeat of Napoleon in Europe and his brother's loss of the Spanish
throne, conservative forces again dominate Spanish politics. The Spanish Cortes
 rejects the Cadiz Constitution which means, among other things, that
Philippine representation in the Cortes is abolished.

YEAR 1820

 Four years after, Changes in Philippine economic life, partially introduced by the British,
lead to some internal prosperity. In agriculture, crops are relegated by region
so that tobacco becomes the chief crop of the north, sugar the main crop of
the Visayas, and abaca the mainstay of the Bicol region. The same year, foreigners are
massacred in Binondo. They were under suspicion of poisoning Pasig river and thus
being responsible for a severe epidemic of cholera.

YEAR 1828

 An earthquake lasting between 2 to 3 minutes damage a number of

buildings and churches in Manila.

YEAR 1830

 The Port of Manila is opened to the world market.

YEAR 1835.

 The Chamber of Commerce is installed. Francisco Rodriguez establishes the first

Filipino bank.

YEAR 1848

 Glowing avalanche from Mt Hibok-Hibok on Camiguin island

YEAR 1852

 December 4 to 6. Glowing avalanche from Mt Hibok-Hibok.

YEAR 1863

 The educational system in the archipelago is reformed, allowing the natives higher
levels of training. Wealthier native families start sending their children to
study in Spain.
  June 3. At 19:00, a terrific earthquake shakes Manila and ruins most buildings in the
city, including the cathedral. Of major structures, only the San Agustin church remains
standing.

YEAR 1869

 November 17. The Suez Canal is opened, establishing a regular steamship service
between the Philippines and Europe. This allows not only the influx of more goods into
the colony but also of new ideas.

YEAR 1872

 February 17. Three martyr priests are publicly garroted as alleged leaders of
The Cavite Conspiracy, a movement for secularization and nationalism, which is
distasteful to the Spanish friars. They are Jose Burgos (born Feb 9, 1837), Mariano
Gomez (born Aug 2, 1799) and Jacinto Zamora (born Aug 14, 1835). The incident gives
the Filipinos an impetus to unite and to develop national consciousness. It also gives
birth to a reform movement among Filipinos in Spain, known as The
Propaganda Movement.

YEAR 1880

 Manila is connected through telegraphic cable to the Western World by

Eastern Telecom.
 July 18 & 20. Two shocks of an earthquake create destruction from Manila to Santa
Cruz, Luguna. Tremors continue until Aug 6.

YEAR 1882

 March 3. A talented offspring of the native elite, Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda (Jun 19, 1861 - Dec 30, 1896) leaves Manila for Barcelona to continue his
studies in medicine.
 June 2. In Madrid, Rizal begins writing Noli Me Tangere, a political novel set in the
Philippines.

YEAR 1884.
  Exaction of tribute from all male natives is ended and the required forced labor of
40 days a year is reduced to 15 days.
 June 21. Rizal finishes his medical studies in Spain.

YEAR 1887

 May 29. Noli Me Tangere is published in Madrid and Barcelona.

 That year on October, Rizal begins writing the novel El Filibusterismo, a continuation of
Noli Me Tangere.

YEAR 1888, Dec 13.

 Filipinos in Barcelona establish the organization La Solidaridad. It demands for the

Philippines freedom of press, speech and assembly, equality before the law,
participation in governmental affairs, social and political freedom and
representation in the Spanish Cortes. The demands are published and circulated in
Barcelona for the purpose of reaching the Spanish King's ear. Among the members are:
Jose Rizal, Lopez Jaena (Dec 18, 1856 - Jan 20, 1897), Marcelo del Pilar (Aug 30,
1850 - Dec 3, 1920), Antonio Luna (Oct 29, 1866 - Jun 5, 1899) and Mariano Ponce
(Mar 23, 1863 - May 23, 1918).

YEAR 1891

 Mar 28. Rizal finishes writing El Filibusterismo in Biarritz, France.

YEAR 1892

 June 26. Rizal arrives in the Philippines via Hong Kong.

 July 3. In Ilaya St, Tondo, Rizal founds La Liga Filipina to give the people a chance for
direct involvement in the reform movement. Andres Bonifacio (Nov 30,1863 - May 10,
1897) is one of Rizal's partners.
 July 7. The Spanish authorities arrest Rizal for organizing La Liga Filipina.
 July 17. Rizal is exiled to Dapitan, Mindanao.

YEAR 1894
  July 8. Andres Bonifacio forms the Katipunan. Its members come from the lower and
the middle class. The organization wants to awaken nationalism and free the Filipino
people from Spanish oppression and friar despotism. The organization believes that
reforms can only be obtained by means of a revolution.

YEAR 1896

 July 1. Rizal receives a telegram from Governor Ramon Blanco requiring his services
as a physician for the Spanish army in Cuba.
 August 6. Rizal returns to Manila.
 August 19. Spanish authorities discover the Katipunan when one of its members,
Teodoro Paterno, betrays the organization to an Agustinian priest, Fr. Mariano Gil. All
those implicated are ordered arrested but many Katipuneros evade arrest and flee to
the hills of Balintawak.
 August 23. A revolution is proclaimed by Bonifacio. The event is marked
in history as the Cry of Balintawak. In this instance, Filipinos tear up their cedulas (I.D.
cards) issued by the Spanish government and thereby mark the beginning of the
uprising against the Spaniards.
 August 26. Rizal goes to Cavite where he boards a ship for Barcelona. In the following
night, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and other Katipuneros are able to
surreptitiously board Rizal's ship. They offer to rescue him from the
Spaniards, but Rizal refuses.
 August 30. After the spread of the Katipunan revolt throughout The Country the first
real battle for Philippine independence takes place at San Juan del Monte. The Spanish
Governor Ramon Blanco proclaims a state of war in the 8 provinces that took up
arms. The provinces are Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Pampanga,
Bulacan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.
 September 2. Aboard the ship Isla de Panay, Rizal leaves Cavite for Barcelona.
 October 3. Rizal arrives in Barcelona.
 October 4. By order of Capt. Gen. Despujol, Rizal is incarcerated in Montjuich.
 October 6. On orders from Madrid, Rizal is sent back to Manila as aprisoner.
 October 31. A new group of the Katipunan is formed in Cavite; it discards the
leadership of Andres Bonifacio and is headed by Emilio Aguinaldo(Mar 22, 1869 - Feb
6, 1964).
  November 13. Rizal arrives in Manila and is immediately imprisoned at Fort
Santiago.
 November 20. Rizal is interrogated the first time on charges of partaking in an
uprising against the Spanish government.
 December 20. Rizal is sentenced to death by a Spanish court martial, and
Governor Camilo Polavieja orders his execution.
 Dec 30. The Spaniards execute Jose Rizal in Bagumbayan (today's Rizal Park).

YEAR 1897

 March 22. The Katipunan holds its election. Aguinaldo is elected as president while
Bonifacio is elected only as director of war. Bonifacio is insulted by the electionresults
and refuses to recognize the new leadership.
 April 29. Katipuneros arrest Andres Bonifacio and his brothers Procopio and Ciriaco on
orders of Aguinaldo, who considers the former a threat. The Bonifacios are charged
with sedition and treason before a military court of the Katipunan.
 May 8. The Katipunan court finds the Bonifacios guilty. They aresentenced to death.
 May 10. Andres Bonifacio and his brothers are executed at Mt. Buntis,
Maragondon, Cavite.
 May 31. Aguinaldo establishes a Philippine republican government in Biak- na-Bato,
San Miguel, Bulacan.
 August 10. Aguinaldo begins negotiating with the Spaniards, represented by
Pedro Paterno.
 August 15. An earthquake at estimated intensity of 7.9 centered on Luzon's
northwest coast shakes Batanes and northern Luzon.
 November 1. The Constitution of Biak-na-Batois signed. It was prepared and
written by Isabelo Artache and Felix Ferrer. The government of the Biak-
na-Bato Republic has the following officers: Emilio Aguinaldo, President;
Mariano Trias, Vice President; Isabelo Artache, Secretary of Interior; Antonio
Montenegro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Baldomero Aguinaldo, Secretary of Treasury
and Emiliano Riego de Jesus, Secretary of War. The Biak-na-Bato Republic
fails as its leader, Aguinaldo, resigns to the fact that the Filipinos are not yet ready
to confront the Spanish forces. This belief also drives him to negotiate with the
Spaniards for the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.
  December 14. The Pact of Biak-na-Bato between the Spanish and Aguinaldo is
signed. In this pact, Aguinaldo agrees to surrender all arms and to go
with his companions into exile in Hong Kong upon payment of 800,000
pesos and an additional 900,000 pesos for the non-combatants who suffered losses
because of the war.
 December 27. Aguinaldo and his companions leave for Hong Kong.

YEAR 1898

 In 1898, as conflicts continued in the Philippines, the USS Maine, having been sent to
Cuba because of U.S. concerns for the safety of its citizens during an ongoing Cuban
revolution, exploded and sank in Havana harbor. This event precipitated the Spanish–
American War. After Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at
Manila, a German squadron arrived in Manila and engaged in maneuvers which Dewey,
seeing this as obstruction of his blockade, offered war—after which the Germans
backed down. The German Emperor expected an American defeat, with Spain left in a
sufficiently weak position for the revolutionaries to capture Manila—leaving the
Philippines ripe for German picking.
 The U.S. invited Aguinaldo to return to the Philippines in the hope he would rally
Filipinos against the Spanish colonial government. Aguinaldo arrived on May 19, 1898
via transport provided by Dewey.
 June 12, Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite.
 June 23, Aguinaldo proclaimed a Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. By the
time U.S. land forces arrived, the Filipinos had taken control of the entire island of
Luzon except for Spanish capitol in the walled city of Intramuros.
 August 13, In the Battle of Manila, the United States captured the city from the Spanish.
This battle marked an end of Filipino-American collaboration, as Filipino forces were
prevented from entering the captured city of Manila, an action deeply resented by the
Filipinos.