The history of the Philippines is a varied and exciting one indeed! From ancient ruins and caves all the way to political unrest and shouts of freedom, the Philippine Islands are one of the most culturally and historically significant areas in the entire world. The early history of the Philippines started out with an exodus of Malayans to the Philippines around 30,000 years ago. These initial travelers came from Borneo and Malaya. The Malayans came in waves and are the primary settlers of the Philippines. The Malayan tribes that came settled most of the islands of the Philippines and started out a tradition and a culture that is still alive and well in today’s Filipino society.
Arab Traders and Shiny Things!
Later in the 14th century, Arab traders from Malay and Borneo introduce the religion of Islam to the southernmost island in the Philippines as far north as Luzon. In 1521 the first European visitors came and these were the Spanish explorers. Along with the Spanish explorers there were a few Portuguese explorers as well. The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan opened up this New World with its bountiful natural resources and stunning physical beauty, to the world of the European explorers. Various other Spanish expeditions followed included one under New Spain’s Mexico in 1542 under the direction of Lopez V. Villalobos. The Philippine Islands gets its name from the Spanish King Philip the II.
Manila Repels the Chinese Pirate Limahong!
In 1574 the City of Manila repelled an attack by the Chinese pirate Limahong and thus initiated the Chinese influence to the Philippines. The reason why the Chinese culture is so interwoven into the Filipino culture is because the Spanish conquest of the Philippines included Chinese labor. This co- mangling of Spanish and Chinese cultures combined with the Malay and tribal influence made the Filipinos what they are today. In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was formerly established and the Filipinos finally had a home of their own. World War II came suddenly to the Philippines on December 8, 1941 when the Japanese Imperial Army attacked without wanting. The Japanese Army occupied the City of Manila in 1942 and by July 5, 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur has said in his now famous speech, ‘All the Philippines are now liberated’. The Japanese lost over 400,000 men while fighting in the Philippines and the Japanese culture can be seen around the Philippines to this day. Various failed colonization’s by the Spanish and the Americans led to independence in 1946 and the Republic of the Philippines was born.
Filipino Pride
The pride that can be seen and felt while in the Philippines from the Filipinos is something to behold. This is easily seen through the blood and tears of this island nation as they have fought for every inch of this tropical paradise. This cannot be forgotten as one vacation to the Philippines and are easily seen in the hearts and minds and faces of the Filipino people.
So many Filipinos, Americans, Australians, who lost their lives fighting for the independence of the Philippines, can be seen on the faces of the Filipinos and in the hearts.
Philippine History
The history of the Philippines is a varied and exciting one indeed! From ancient ruins and caves all the way to political unrest and shouts of freedom, the Philippine Islands are one of the most culturally and historically significant areas in the entire world. The early history of the Philippines started out with an exodus of Malayans to the Philippines around 30,000 years ago. These initial travelers came from Borneo and Malaya. The Malayans came in waves and are the primary settlers of the Philippines. The Malayan tribes that came settled most of the islands of the Philippines and started out a tradition and a culture that is still alive and well in today’s Filipino society.
Arab Traders and Shiny Things!
Later in the 14th century, Arab traders from Malay and Borneo introduce the religion of Islam to the southernmost island in the Philippines as far north as Luzon. In 1521 the first European visitors came and these were the Spanish explorers. Along with the Spanish explorers there were a few Portuguese explorers as well. The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan opened up this New World with its bountiful natural resources and stunning physical beauty, to the world of the European explorers. Various other Spanish expeditions followed included one under New Spain’s Mexico in 1542 under the direction of Lopez V. Villalobos. The Philippine Islands gets its name from the Spanish King Philip the II.
Manila Repels the Chinese Pirate Limahong!
In 1574 the City of Manila repelled an attack by the Chinese pirate Limahong and thus initiated the Chinese influence to the Philippines. The reason why the Chinese culture is so interwoven into the Filipino culture is because the Spanish conquest of the Philippines included Chinese labor. This co- mangling of Spanish and Chinese cultures combined with the Malay and tribal influence made the Filipinos what they are today. In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was formerly established and the Filipinos finally had a home of their own. World War II came suddenly to the Philippines on December 8, 1941 when the Japanese Imperial Army attacked without wanting. The Japanese Army occupied the City of Manila in 1942 and by July 5, 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur has said in his now famous speech, ‘All the Philippines are now liberated’. The Japanese lost over 400,000 men while fighting in the Philippines and the Japanese culture can be seen around the Philippines to this day. Various failed colonization’s by the Spanish and the Americans led to independence in 1946 and the Republic of the Philippines was born.
Filipino Pride
The pride that can be seen and felt while in the Philippines from the Filipinos is something to behold. This is easily seen through the blood and tears of this island nation as they have fought for every inch of this tropical paradise. This cannot be forgotten as one vacation to the Philippines and are easily seen in the hearts and minds and faces of the Filipino people.
So many Filipinos, Americans, Australians, who lost their lives fighting for the independence of the Philippines, can be seen on the faces of the Filipinos and in the hearts.