Philippine History – Key Facts & Events

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering major people, events, laws, revolts, and policies from pre-Hispanic times through Spanish, American, Commonwealth, and World War II periods of Philippine history.

What were the four major social classes in ancient Philippine society?

Maginoo/Kadatuan (ruling), Maharlika/Mandirigma (warrior), Timawa (freemen/commoners), and Alipin (slaves—Aliping Namamahay & Aliping Saguiguilid).

Which ship of Magellan’s fleet successfully completed the first circumnavigation of the globe?

The Victoria.

On what date did Ferdinand Magellan first reach Homonhon in the Philippines?

March 16/17, 1521.

Where and by whom was the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines celebrated?

Limasawa Island, celebrated by Fr. Pedro de Valderama on March 31, 1521.

Who led native forces that killed Magellan in the Battle of Mactan?

Lapu-Lapu (Kalipulako).

Name the chronicler who kept a detailed journal of Magellan’s expedition.

Antonio Pigafetta.

Which explorer gave the name "Las Islas Filipinas" to the archipelago?

Ruy López de Villalobos in 1543.

Who was the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines?

Miguel López de Legazpi.

List the first three Catholic religious orders to arrive in the Philippines.

Augustinians (1565), Franciscans (1578), and Jesuits (1581).

What was the Cavite Mutiny and when did it occur?

A short-lived soldiers’ uprising at Fort San Felipe, Cavite, on 20 January 1872.

Which three priests (collectively called GomBurZa) were executed in 1872?

Fathers Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora.

State two principal aims of the Propaganda Movement (1882-1892).

Equality before the law and representation of the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes (plus assimilation, secularization, civil liberties, expulsion of friars).

Who formed La Liga Filipina and in what year?

José Rizal, July 3 1892.

Give one major aim of La Liga Filipina.

To unite the archipelago into one compact, vigorous, homogeneous body.

What does KKK stand for in Philippine revolutionary history?

Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.

On what date was the Katipunan founded?

July 7, 1892.

Who were the four original founders of the Katipunan?

Andrés Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Valentín Díaz, and Ladislao Diwa.

Identify the three membership grades of the Katipunan and their passwords.

Katipon – “Anak ng Bayan”; Kawal – “GomBurZa”; Bayani – “Rizal.”

Who was the first Katipunan Supremo (president)?

Deodato Arellano (1892).

What newspaper served as the organ of the Katipunan?

Kalayaan, edited by Emilio Jacinto.

Which treaty divided the non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal?

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494).

What political system granted Spaniards the right to collect tribute from natives?

The Encomienda system; the holder was called an Encomendero.

Define "polo y servicio" during the Spanish era.

Forced labor of Filipino males (usually 40 days a year, later reduced to 15).

What trading system connected Manila with Acapulco once a year?

The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade.

Name two early revolts against Spain motivated by religious return to the old faith.

Tamblot Revolt (Bohol, 1621-22) and Bankaw Revolt (Leyte, 1621-22).

List two key factors that helped awaken Filipino nationalism in the 19th century.

Spread of liberalism (opening of Suez Canal, world trade) and Cavite Mutiny/GomBurZa execution.

When and where was the Cry of Pugadlawin/Balintawak that signalled open revolt?

August 23, 1896, in Pugadlawin (near Balintawak).

What convention elected Emilio Aguinaldo President over Bonifacio?

The Tejeros Convention, March 22, 1897.

State one major provision of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato (Dec 1897).

Aguinaldo would go into voluntary exile in exchange for ₱800,000 indemnity and amnesty.

Which U.S. naval officer destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1 1898?

Commodore George Dewey.

On what date did Aguinaldo proclaim Philippine independence from Spain?

June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.

What treaty formally ceded the Philippines from Spain to the United States?

The Treaty of Paris, December 10, 1898 (for $20 million).

What was Asia’s first constitutional republic, inaugurated in 1899?

The First Philippine Republic (Malolos Republic).

Give one unique feature of the Malolos Constitution.

It established a unicameral legislature more powerful than the executive.

What U.S. policy statement (Dec 21 1898) promised "benevolent assimilation"?

President William McKinley’s Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation.

Which incident on February 4, 1899 started the Philippine-American War?

Private William Grayson shot two Filipino soldiers who entered American lines in San Juan.

Who was known as the "Boy General" killed at Pasong Tirad?

Gregorio del Pilar (died Dec 2, 1899).

When and where was Emilio Aguinaldo captured by U.S. forces?

March 23, 1901, at Palanan, Isabela by Gen. Frederick Funston.

Name the first U.S. civilian governor of the Philippines.

William Howard Taft (1901-1903).

What 1902 U.S. law served as the first Organic Act for the Philippines?

The Philippine Bill of 1902 (Cooper Act).

Who were the first resident commissioners to the U.S. Congress?

Pablo Ocampo and Benito Legarda.

What was created by the Jones Act of 1916 regarding future independence?

A promise to grant independence when a "stable government" was established; it also replaced the Philippine Commission with an elected Senate.

Who became the first Senate President of the Philippines?

Manuel L. Quezon (1916).

Which 1934 U.S. law set a 10-year Commonwealth period before full independence?

The Tydings-McDuffie Act.

Who presided over the 1934 Constitutional Convention?

Claro M. Recto.

When was the Commonwealth of the Philippines inaugurated?

November 15, 1935.

What law established a citizen army and made Douglas MacArthur Field Marshal?

The National Defense Act of 1935.

Name the peasant-based guerrilla movement formed in 1942 against Japan.

Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon) led by Luis Taruc.

What was the puppet political party created by Japan in 1942?

KALIBAPI – Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Who served as President of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic?

José P. Laurel (inaugurated Oct 14, 1943).

What currency nickname reflected wartime inflation under Japan?

"Mickey Mouse Money" – the Japanese-issued peso notes.

On what date did General MacArthur land in Leyte to begin liberation?

October 20, 1944 (Red Beach, Palo).

Which radio station broadcast from Corregidor proclaiming "Bataan has fallen"?

"Voice of Freedom."

When did the Japanese formally surrender in Manila, ending WWII in the Philippines?

July 4, 1945 (MacArthur declared liberation earlier; overall Japanese surrender was Sept 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay).

Who changed the celebration of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June 12?

President Diosdado Macapagal in 1962.

What principle summarized President Carlos P. Garcia’s economic policy?

"Filipino First Policy" – prioritising Filipino participation in the economy.

Which proclamation created the People’s Court to try wartime collaborators?

Republic Act No. 3 signed by President Sergio Osmeña in 1946.

Name the two Cavite factions that clashed within the Katipunan.

Magdalo (led by Baldomero & Emilio Aguinaldo) and Magdiwang (led by Mariano Álvarez).

State one demand of the early Katipunan Cartilla.

To love God and country above self; or to defend the oppressed (any moral precept from the Kartilya).

Who edited the newspaper La Independencia during the revolution?

General Antonio Luna.

Which 1899 treaty attempted peace between Aguinaldo and Spain before U.S. rule?

Pact of Biak-na-Bato (Dec 1897).

Which U.S. investigative commission in 1899 recommended gradual self-government?

The Schurman Commission (First Philippine Commission).

Which act (1901) punished advocacy of independence under U.S. rule?

The Sedition Law of 1901.

What 1937 plebiscite result advanced gender equality in the Philippines?

Grant of women’s suffrage (May 1937).

Identify two major guerrilla groups other than the Huks during Japanese occupation.

Hunters ROTC (Miguel Ver, Eleuterio Adevoso) and Markings Guerrillas (Marcos Agustin) – others include FAIT or USAFIP.

What was the official organ of the Revolutionary Government in 1898?

El Heraldo de la Revolución (later Heraldo Filipino, Indice Oficial, and Gaceta de Filipinas).

Which governor-general declared Sampaguita the national flower?

American Governor-General Frank Murphy (1934).

Name the treaty negotiated by U.S. Gen. John Bates with the Sulu Sultanate.

The Kiram-Bates Treaty (August 20, 1899).

Who wrote the Philippine national anthem’s music and who wrote its lyrics?

Music by Julián Felipe (1898); Spanish lyrics added by José Palma (1899).

What early 20th-century U.S. educational mission ship brought American teachers?

The Thomasite transport ship USS Thomas (arrived 1901).

Which revolt (1744-1829) is the longest in Philippine history?

Dagohoy Revolt in Bohol, led by Francisco Dagohoy.

What financial body, founded by the Church, became the first Philippine bank?

Obras Pías (later Banco Filipino Español).

Which law (1913-1921 era) increased Filipino participation in government under Gov.-Gen. Harrison?

Filipinization policy culminated in the creation of the Council of State (1918).

Who headed the OsRox Mission that secured the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act?

Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas, 1931.

What act replaced Hare-Hawes-Cutting with slight changes and was accepted by Filipinos?

The Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934).

What organization of 1903 sent Filipino scholars to study in the United States?

The Pensionado Program authorized by the Philippine Commission.

Which second-wave liberal Spanish governor-general in 1869 helped spread liberalism?

Carlos María de la Torre.

What local term described the Spanish "divide and conquer" relocation policy around a plaza?

Reducción.