Modern humans arrived in The Philippines between 631,000 and 777,000 years ago. Recorded history starts in 900 CE. In 1521 Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu, among other location.
Magellan was killed in the Philippines on April 27, 1521, after becoming entangled in local island politics, and overestimating the strength and capabilities of the army of Lapulapu (the opposition king to his ally, and new Catholic, Datu Zula).
The first Spanish colony was established on February 13, 1565 in Samar. The Philippines remained under Spanish control from 1565 to 1898.
On December 10, 1898 the Philippines became a Territory of the United States. This resulted in the Philippine - American war. The Philippine Republic had been struggling for independence against the Spanish, and the righteous -- yes, that is an opinion -- struggle for self rule prole out against the USA starting on February 4, 1899. This atrocious war was declared over on July 2, 1902 -- it was during Teddy Roosevelt's administration..
The USA control of the Philippines ended on December 7, 1941. The USA was expelled, under fire by Imperial Japan, on May 6, 1942. After a long and ugly struggle against the Japanese, the Philippines "went on active service under the Philippine Commonwealth Army on October 28, 1944, during liberation under the commonwealth regime." MacArthur (a hero in the Philippines), the Army of the United States, and the Philippine Commonwealth Army, expelled Japan from the Islands.
The Filipinos who fought solder to solder against the Japanese, who were at the time US citizens were stripped by the US Congress under the Truman Administration.
The Philippines became one of the first members of the United Nations on October 11, 1945, and was recognized as an independent republic on July 4, 1946 -- July 4 is currently Philippine Republic Day.
Beginning 1946 the Republic of the Philippines continues to be embroiled in a Civil War against the New People’s Army (NPA).
This brings us to the present when I've come to Leyte, married the love of my life, and am emigrating to the Philippines.*
*The Facebook Badge is broken. It will be addressed when I find this source code and replace it or remove it.
