Mano: History

The Phillipines consists of some 7100 islands who, over time, have had several waves of migrations from the Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Sarawak [part of the Indonesian Republic]. About 95% of area and population currently live on 11 largest islands.

The Malay peoples of the Phillippine islands, were mostly hunters, fishers, and unsettled cultivators when first visited by Europeans. There was also evidence of a rich culture that included skills in weaving, ship-building, mining and goldsmithing.

Other Useful Sites on Filipino History:

Phillipine History 101

A Phillipine Leaf: On Pre-Hispanic Phillipines

The archipelago was visited by Magellan, 1521. The Spanish colonized Cebu in 1565 then founded Manila as the new capital in 1571. The islands were named for King Philip II [Son of Charles V] of Spain and were illegally ceded by Spain [along with Guam, Cuba and Puerto Rico] to the U.S. For 20 Million Dollars following the Spanish-American War in 1898. U.S. troopes suppressed a guerrilla uprising in a brutal 6-year war from 1899-1905.

In 1934, the U.S. Congress passed an act which made the Phillipines a U.S. Commonwealth. The first president of the Commonwealth was Manuel L. Quezon.

On December 8, 1941, Japan occupied the islands during WWII.

On July 4, 1946, independence was proclaimed in accordance with an act passed by congress by the U.S. Congress in 1934. A republic was established and Manuel Roxas became the President of the Republic of the Phillipines.