● 1380 - Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago.

● 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan "discovers" the islands and names them: Archipelago of San Lazaro

● 1542 – Spanish expedition commandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the islands for Spain; names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of Spain; the Philippines becomes part of Spanish Empire

● 1872 – Gomburza (Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora) were executed by the Spaniards

● 1892 - Jose Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina.

● 1896 - Katipuneros tear their cedulas & shout in contempt of the Spaniards in what is called the Cry of Pugadlawin.

● 1897 - General Emilio Aguinaldo establishes the a new republic at Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan.

● 1886 - José Rizal publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden); and seers up independence sentiment.

● 1896 - Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public outrage spawns rebellion.

● 1898 - American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbour, triggers the the Spanish-American war, the battle of Manila Bay ensues.

● 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo assembled the Malolos Congress in Bulacan, then declares independence in Kawit, Cavite

● 1899 - Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War, cedes Philippines to U.S. after payment to Spain by U.S. of $ 20 million. Emilio Aguinaldo declares independence then leads a guerrilla war against U.S.

● 1901 - U.S. captures Aguinaldo; William Howard Taft arrives as first U.S. governor of Philippines.

● 1902 - 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.

● 1916 - U.S. congress passes the Jones Law establishing elected Filipino legislature with house and senate.

● 1934 - U.S. congress approves the Tydings-McDuffie Law promising Philippine independence by 1946; transition to independence begins.

● 1935 - Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine Commonwealth with Manuel Quezon y Molina as president.

● 1941 - Japanese invades the Philippines, and defeats Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Bataan and Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile in the U.S.

● 1944 - Quezon dies in exile; Vice President Sergio Osmeña assumes the presidency; MacArthur returns to the Philippines and lands in Leyte with little resistance.

● 1946 - The U.S. gave the Philippines independence and Manuel Roxas y Acuña is elected as the first president of the new republic.