KAS chronology

618–906

Philippine contact begins with Tang-dynasty, China.

900

Political and social hierarchies are indicated by the Laguna copperplate inscription.

982

Ma-i, probably Mindoro, brings goods directly to Canton for the first time.

1001

Butuan, a gold mining and trading center in northeastern Min-danao, sends its first tribute mission to Sung, China.

c 1100

First Malays from Borneo settle in Manila/Tondo and intermarry with native Tagalogs.

c 1275

Arab missionaries and Chinese traders bring Islam to the Sulu archipelago.

1277-1368

Yuan-dynasty trade proliferates with Visayan settlements of Butuan, Tanjay, and Cebu.

1368-1424

Sulu sends six missions to China during the period of Ming tribute trade.

c 1450

Sayyid Abu Bakr establishes the Sulu sultanate.

1521

Ferdinand Magellan arrives in the Philippines.

c 1525

Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuwan arrives in southern Mindanao and converts the Magindanao and Buayan ruling families to Islam.

1542

A Spanish expedition to the archipelago bestows the name “Felipinas” in honor of Prince (later King) Philip II of Spain.

1568

Philip II empowers Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to establish cities and towns and grant his followers encomiendas.

1571

Legazpi conquers Maynilad, an outpost of the Brunei sultanate. King Philip grants the new settlement, Manila, the royal title of city.

1572

The galleon trade begins between Mexico and China, with Manila as transshipment point.

1578

A papal bull of Pope Gregory XIII formalizes establishment of diocesan authority in Manila and the construction of Manila Cathedral. The first Franciscan missionaries arrive.

1581

The first Jesuit missionaries arrive.

1591

The first tensions arise between civil officials and the religious orders. Charges and countercharges of abusing the natives are exchanged.

1594

Philip II partitions the Philippines among the religious orders.

1595

Philip II decrees Manila the capital of the Philippine Islands.

1596

The first expedition is launched to pacify Mindanao, mobilizing 50 ships, 200 Spaniards, and 1,500 indios.

1599

Magindanao datus, with 50 vessels and 3,000 warriors, attack the central Philippines and return to southern Mindanao with 800 captives.

1600

The Spanish fleet battles Dutch warships near Manila, losing a flagship and 300 men, but forcing the Dutch to withdraw.

1603

The first mass uprising by Chinese follows the misinterpretation of Spanish war preparations. After Spanish reprisals, total casualties are estimated at 15,000–20,000.

1609

The polos y servicios (conscript labor) edict is decreed to ensure manpower for public works projects and naval battles against the Dutch, which continue up to 1648.

1611

The Universidad de Santo Tomás is founded.

1619-1671

Sultan Kudarat rules Maguindanao.

1621

Revolts occur in the Visayas.

1622

King Philip IV prohibits Dominican friars from interfering in colonial affairs.

1635

The first military garrison is established in Zamboanga in southwestern Mindanao to deter Muslim raids and Dutch forays.

1637-1639

Spanish forces defeat the Magindanaos and expeditions are launched into the Lanao region, Sulu archipelago, and Brunei.

1639

A Chinese revolt rocks Manila, led by Christian converts who protest the conscript labor policy. Revolt spreads to areas south of Manila.

1642

Sultan Kudarat defeats a Spanish force and captures its leader.

1645

A peace treaty is signed between Sultan Kudarat and the Spanish. The Dutch aid Sulu in attacking the Spanish garrison.

1648

The Spanish sign a peace treaty with the Dutch at Westphalia, recognizing Dutch independence and ending all attacks on the Philippines.

1649

Another major revolt spreads to the Visayan islands of Leyte, Masbate, Cebu, and Bohol and to Camarines and Albay in southern Luzon.

1656-1658

Sultan Kudarat declares war against the Spanish and seeks support from Sulu, Ternate, Brunei, and Makassar. Muslim raids on the central Visayas prompt a Spanish counterattack.

1660-1661

Revolts erupt in the provinces north of Manila to protest abuse of conscript labor.

1662-1663

Spain abandons the Zamboanga garrison and moves troops to Manila to await attack by the Chinese “pirate” Koxinga. He never arrives, but an uprising and massacre of the Chinese occurs.

1697

Tensions escalate between bishops and religious orders over parish visitation (inspection by diocesan officials). King Charles II temporarily proscribes the practice.

1700

The Sulu and Magindanao sultanates fight to control trade in the region.

1719

The Zamboanga garrison is reoccupied. A friar-led mob executes reformist Governor-General Fernando Bustamante.

1737

Spain signs a peace treaty with the sultan of Sulu.

1739

The first viable road system from Manila to northern Luzon opens.

1743

The British step up attacks on Spanish galleons plying the Acapulco–Manila route.

1744

Francisco Dagohoy leads a revolt in Bohol after Jesuits refuse to give his brother a Christian burial. It would be quelled only in 1829.

1745

An early revolt over access and control of hacienda lands occurs in Cavite municipality and Batangas province.

1747-1756

Spanish bombardment of Jolo in 1752 leads to the defeat of Sulu and the imprisonment of the sultan. A peace treaty favoring the Spanish is signed; the sultan is exiled from Jolo until 1764.

1754

King Ferdinand VI decrees the compulsory teaching of Spanish in all schools to boys and girls.

1755

Governor-General Manuel de Arandia orders unconverted Chinese to leave the Philippines.

1757

Iranun and Maranao Muslims increase attacks on Spanish camps in Mindanao and launch raids on the Visayas.

1762

The British invade Manila. Their occupation sparks revolts in Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur provinces north of Manila, including an uprising by 900 Pampanga Chinese allied with Manila Chinese. Diego Silang leads a revolt in Ilocos Sur in alliance with the British.

1763

Spain and England sign a peace treaty returning the Philippines to Spain the following year.

1764

The Spanish retaliate against the rebels.

1766

Chinese who sided with the British are expelled.

1768

The Jesuits are expelled from the Spanish empire. The archbishop of Manila supports the secularization of parishes (transfer from religious order to diocesan control) and the ordination of indio priests. The Ordinances of Good Government are issued by Madrid.

1771

Governor-General Simon de Anda encounters resistance from the religious orders and uses troops to enforce secularization.

1774

King Charles III reaffirms secularization policy by a royal decree ordering the secularization of parishes as they fall vacant.

1777

A royal decree orders indios to engage in the production of cotton and other fibers.

1781

Governor-General Basco y Vargas implements the tobacco monopoly, limiting production to areas designated by the government.

1784

The Philippines remits 150,000 pesos to Madrid, the first remittance since the establishment of Spanish rule. The first shipment of indigo is sent to Europe.

1785

The Royal Company of the Philippines is established to promote economic development. The office of cabeza de barangay becomes elective.

1786

A customhouse is established in Manila by royal decree. It is privatized in 1805.

1789

The office of cabeza de barangay is placed under the authority of the alcalde mayor to reduce the influence of the friars.

1796

The Astrea, the first U.S. ship to trade in the Philippines, loads indigo, hemp, spices, and sugar for export.

1803

A royal decree orders the secularization of more parishes.

1805

The governor of Zamboanga signs a peace treaty with the sultan of Sulu, giving the governor the right to vet foreign residents in the archipelago.

1807

Spanish deserters revolt in Ilocos to protest the government wine monopoly and prohibition on the production of basi (rice wine).

1810

Spanish revolutionaries establish the Cortes and grant colonies the right to representation.

1811

The colony’s first newspaper, the government-owned Del Superior Gobierno, begins publication. The Philippines sends a delegate to the Cortes.

1813

The Liberal Constitution of Cadiz is implemented in Manila with provisions including individual liberties.

1814

King Ferdinand VII abrogates the Constitution and dissolves the Cortes.

1815

The galleon trade ends.

1820

Ferdinand VII reestablishes the Cortes and restores the 1812 Constitution. Three Philippine representatives are sent to Madrid in 1822.

1824

Spain attacks Jolo. King Ferdinand again defeats the Spanish liberals and restores absolutist rule.

1826

A monarchist counteroffensive ends further secularization of parishes.

1827

A Spanish attack on Jolo is repulsed.

1829

Spanish raiding parties establish a presence in the Gran Cordillera.

1834

The Royal Company of the Philippines is abolished. Americans establish two commercial houses in Manila. A royal decree declares Manila open to international trade.

1835

Constitutionalist forces win in Spain and restore Philippine representation to the Cortes.

1836

Spain signs a commercial treaty with the sultan of Sulu.

1837

Philippine representation to the Cortes is revoked by the 1837 Constitution, which mandates that overseas possessions be governed under special laws. Tariff regulations are implemented for the first time.

1844

Alcaldes mayores lose the right to trade while in office.

1847

A second newspaper, La Estrella de Manila (The Star of Manila), begins publication, followed by the Diario de Manila (Manila Newspaper), whose workers would be instrumental in founding the Katipunan. The office of gobernadorcillo becomes elective.

1848-1851

The Spanish attack Balangigi in the Sulu archipelago to free 300 captives. The Sulu sultanate signs an agreement recognizing Spanish authority.

1849-1850

Governor-General Narciso Claveria decrees that indios be given Spanish surnames. The first steam-engine war vessel arrives in Manila.

1853

The British firm Smith, Bell and Company is established in Manila and becomes a major trader of sugar and hemp.

1856

A British consul arrives in Iloilo, Negros, and his 13-year residence helps transform the island into a major sugar-producing area.

1859

The Jesuits return to the Philippines and accept missions in Muslim areas.

1861

Separation of executive and judicial functions is mandated at the alcalde mayor and governor-general levels.

1863

The Educational Decree mandates the establishment of a public school system.

1864

Father José Burgos publishes a “Manifesto Addressed by the Loyal Filipinos to the Noble Spanish Nation,” criticizing Spanish discrimination against secular priests.

1865

The Jesuits establish the Escuela Normal (Normal School) and the secondary school Ateneo Municipal de Manila.

1868

The Guardia Civil is established to suppress crime and insurrections.

1872

In the aftermath of a mutiny at the Cavite naval arsenal, Fathers José Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora are executed.

1873

More Philippine ports are opened to world trade.

1876

Combined Spanish and indio forces overrun Jolo.

1877

England and Germany recognize Spain’s sovereignty over Sulu.

1878

Sultan Jamal ul-Azam of Sulu signs a treaty of peace and capitulation with Spain, the last treaty signed between the two.

1880

The tobacco monopoly is abolished.