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Listed below our major events in Philippine history sorted by
month.
January
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January 17, 1981 |
Martial law ended after nine years. President
Ferdinand Marcos makes plans to run for President again. |
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January 20, 2001 |
An estimated 50,000 Filipinos marched to EDSA to stage
a protest against the Estrada administration. Because of the Senates
unwillingness to see evidence that proved Estrada's guilt, the prosecutor's
in the impeachment case walked out which sparked another version of People
Power. Estrada eventually stepped down and Vice President Arroyo was
sworn in as President. |
February
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February 7, 1986 |
Ferdinand Marcos called for "snap" elections assuming he would win a
majority of votes and thus restore the legitimacy of his regime.
Thirty people were killed during the polls and Marcos claimed victory in
spite of protests against election fraud. |
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February 13, 1565 |
Another group of Spanish explorers, led by General
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, arrived in Cebu and claimed the islands for Spain. |
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February 16, 1986 |
The National Assembly declared the election to be in favor of Marcos.
His opponent, Ninoy Aquino's widow Corazon, refused to concede and called
for her followers to stage a protest. |
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February 25, 1986 |
The Chief Justice proclaimed Corazon Aquino as
President. This date marks the annual commemoration of EDSA Revolution
or People Power I. The next day, Marcos and his family fled the
country on an American airplane bound for Guam, then Hawaii. |
March
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March 17, 1521 |
Magellan accidentally arrived in the archipelago that
would be known as the Philippines. |
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Holy Week |
Holy week is commemorated either in March or April.
It is also called the Lenten Season, a time for spiritual cleansing and a
time to commemorate Christ's death on the cross. Holy Week begins on
Palm Sunday. The peak of the occasion are Maundy Thursday, Good
Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday. |
April
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April 9, 1942 |
On this day, the "Fall of Bataan" and the start of the infamous "Death
March" took place. Around 76,000 starving and sick American and
Filipino soldiers surrendered to the Japanese in Bataan. They were
then led on a ten day march to relocate them. During this march, about
10,000 soldiers lost their lives. |
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April 25, 1898 |
The United States declared war against Spain.
Commodore George Dewey received orders to attack the Spanish fleet in the
Philippines. |
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April 27, 1521 |
Magellan was killed in the battle of Mactan Island as a
result of his meddling between the rift of native warriors Lapu-Lapu and
Zula. |
May
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May 1, 1898 |
The battle of Manila Bay occurred. The Americans
under Dewey's command destroyed the Spanish fleet of Admiral Patricio
Montojo. |
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May 1 |
Labor Day in the Philippines commemorates the role of peasants and laborers.
It is a day of total rest for all Filipino workers. |
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May 11, 1998 |
Vice President Joseph Estrada won the second democratic
presidential election since the EDSA Revolution. Senator Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo won the Vice Presidential seat. |
June
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June 12, 1898 |
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, who had returned from Hong Kong,
proclaimed Philippine independence at his mansion in Cavite. This is
now celebrated as Philippine Independence Day. |
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June 12, 1991 |
Many Filipinos in Central Luzon were left homeless when
Mt. Pinatubo erupted after 600 years of silence. Crops and communities
were destroyed by the ash fallout that covered the rich landscape of Central
Luzon. |
July
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July 4, 1946 |
Manuel Roxas became the first President of the Republic
of the Philippines. |
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July 4 |
Filipino-American Friendship Day commemorates the historical ties between
the Philippines and the United States. |
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July 7, 1892 |
In response to Joze Rizal's capture and exile,Andres
Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz, and Teodoro Plata established a revolutionary
movement whose purpose was to fight for freedom from Spain. |
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July 16, 1990 |
An earthquake with a 7.7 intensity rocked Central Luzon leaving huge damages
and death tolls in the cities of Baguio, Cabanatuan, and Pampanga. |
August
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August 21, 1983 |
Benigno Aquino Jr. was shot dead on the tarmac of the
Manila International Airport upon his arrival after three years in exile in
the USA. More than two million Filipinos attended the funeral.
The airport is now called the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. |
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August 29, 1916 |
The Jones Law was signed. It promised Philippine
independence from the US and also allowed the existence of the Philippine
Legistlature. |
September
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September 6, 1834 |
Manila was opened to world trade, leading to a dramatic
transformation of the economy. |
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September 18, 1891 |
Jose Rizal finished his novels that depicted the hardships of the Filipino
under Spanish rule. |
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September 21,1972 |
President Marcos declared martial law under
Proclamation No. 1081. The next day, there was a staged assassination
attempt on the Secretary of Defense, which supplied the pretext for the
declaration of martial law. |
October
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October 6, 1913 |
The Underwood-Simons Tariff Law took effect allowing open trade between the
United States and the Philippines. |
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October 24, 1944 |
The prominent battle of Leyte Gulf occurred on this
day. By December of 1944, the islands of Leyte and Mindoro had been
cleared of the Japanese. |
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October 31 |
All Saints Eve |
November
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November 1 |
All Saints Day |
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November 2 |
All Souls Day - Filipino families gather at cemeteries and memorial parks to
remember their departed loved ones. |
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November 9, 1965 |
Ferdinand Marcos was elected as 6th President of the republic. He was
re-elected four years later, in 1969. |
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November 13, 2000 |
Pres. Joseph Estrada faced an impeachment court for
allegations of bribery, plunder, and public mistrust. |
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November 30 |
Bonifacio Day/National Heroes' Day is celebrated in
honor of Andres Bonifacio and other revolutionaries of the Spanish period.
This date is also Bonifacio's birthday. |
December
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December 7, 1941 |
Ten hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Japan
attacked the Philippines as well. |
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December 10, 1898 |
The Treaty of Paris was signed without consultation
with the Filipinos. Under this agreement, Spain surrendered the
Philippines to the US for the sum of $20 million. |
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December 30, 1896 |
Joze Rizal was executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan (which is now Rizal
Park) after being held captive at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila. |
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December 30 |
Rizal Day commemorates the life and execution of Dr.
Jose Rizal, the greatest national hero of the Philippines. |
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