Timeline of Philippine Sovereignty
Period |
Sovereign Entity |
Invasions and Insurgencies |
Pre-Spanish |
None
- Various parts of the Philippines controlled by numerous independent chiefdoms, several minor kingdoms, and the sultanates of Maguindanao and Sulu.
- Considered by Western nations as territorium nullius (an expression deriving from Roman Law meaning "empty land", or "land belonging to no one").[1]
|
None |
1521 – 1565 |
Spain
|
None |
1565 – 1599 |
Spain
|
|
1599 – 1762 |
Spain
- Referendum of 1599 legitimised Spain's sovereignty.[5]
|
- Igorot Revolt (1601), Chinese revolt of 1602, Irraya Revolt (1621), Tamblot Revolt (1621-1622), Bankaw Revolt (1621–1622), Isneg Revolt (1625–1627), Cagayan Revolt (1639), Ladia Revolt (1643), Zambales Revolt (1645), Pampanga Revolt (1645), Sumuroy Revolt (1649–50), Pintados Revolt (1649–1650), Zambal Revolt (1660), Maniago Revolt (1660), Malong Revolt (1660–1661), Ilocano Revolt (1661), Chinese revolt of 1662, Panay Revolt (1663), Sambal Revolt (1681–1683), Tingco plot (1686), Rivera Revolt (1718), Magtanĝaga Revolt (1718), Caragay Revolt (1719), Dagohoy Rebellion (1744-1829), Agrarian Revolt (1745–1746)
|
1762 – 1764 |
In dispute between Britain and Spain.
|
- Silang Revolt (1762–63), Palaris Revolt (1762-1765), Camarines Revolt (1762–1764), Cebu Revolt (1762–1764), Dabo and Marayac Revolt (1763), Isabela Revolt (1763)
|
1764 – 1872 |
Spain |
- Lagutao Revolt (1785), Ilocos Norte Revolt (1788), Magtanong and Malibiran Revolt (1787), Nueva Vizcaya Revolt (1805), Ambaristo Revolt (1807), Ilocos Norte Revolt (1811), Sarat Revolt (1815), Bayot Revolt (1822), Novales Mutiny (1823), Parang and Upay Revolt (1822–1835), Pule Revolt (1840–1841), Camerino Revolt (1865–1869), Labios Revolt (1870–1871), Cavite Mutiny (1872)
|
1872 – 1892 |
Spain |
|
August 1892 – November 1897 |
Spain |
The Katipunan
- The group, formed in 1892, became an insurgent revolutionary movement in August. The exact date is disputed, held to be either on 13 August with the tearing of cedulas or on 24 August with the "Cry of Pugad Lawin".[6] This begins what is generally called the Philippine Revolution.
- January 1895 - Andrés Bonifacio assumes Supreme Presidency of the Katipunan.
- August 1896 - The Katipunan Supreme Council was reorganised into a "cabinet" of an insurgent revolutionary government. The Katipunan and its successor insurgent movements since regarded themselves as legitimate governments.[7]
- 25 August - Andrés Bonifacio is elected Supremo/President of the Katipunan.
- March 1897 - Emilio Aguinaldo is elected President by Katipunan attendees of the Tejeros Convention. He was sworn in and assumed the office despite Bonifacio having annulled the convention proceedings.[8]
|
November 1897 – December 1897 |
Spain |
The Republic of Biak-na-Bato
- Established as an insurgent constitutional republic on November 2, 1897, with Aguinaldo as President. This insurgent government had a constitution, President, Vice President, etc., and succeeded the Katipunan Insurgency.
|
December 1897 – April 1898 |
Spain |
None
- 14 December 1897 - Signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, suspending the insurgency. Aguinaldo and other insurgent leaders went into voluntary overseas exile.
|
April 1898 – May 1898 |
Spain |
Central Executive Committee
- April 1898 - General Francisco Makabulos forms the insurgent General Executive Committee of Northern Luzon, intended to be a provisional government "until a general government of the Republic in these islands shall again be established." This insurgent government had a constitution, President, Vice President, etc.[9][10]
|
May 1898 – June 18, 1898 |
Spain |
Unofficial dictatorial government headed by Aguinaldo
- 1 May 1898 - Hostilities between the U.S. and Spain commenced in the Philippines.[11]
- 19 May - Aguinaldo returns to the Philippines.[12]
- 24 May - Aguinaldo announces in Cavite, "... I return to assume command of all the forces for the attainment of our lofty aspirations, establishing a dictatorial government which will set forth decrees under my sole responsibility, ..."[13]
|
June 18, 1898 – June 23, 1898 |
Spain |
Official dictatorial government headed by Aguinaldo
- 12 June 1898 - Independence is proclaimed in Kawit by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines.[14]
- 18 June - Aguinaldo proclaims dictatorial government.[15]
|
June 23, 1898 – August 14, 1898 |
Spain |
Revolutionary government headed by Aguinaldo
- 23 June 1899 - Aguinaldo issues proclamation replacing his dictatorial government with a revolutionary one.[16]
|
August 14, 1898 – December 10, 1898 |
In dispute between the U.S. and Spain
- 14 August 1898 - The day after the surrender of Manila to their forces, General Wesley Merritt established a military government over portions of the country under American control.[17]
|
Revolutionary government headed by Aguinaldo |
December 10, 1898 – January 22, 1899 |
United States
- 10 December 1898 - Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States.[18]
- 1/2 January 1899 - Acting Spanish Governor-General Diego de los Ríos returns to Manila from Zamboanga.[19]
- 4 January - U.S. General Elwell Otis issues proclamation announcing the United States as having obtained possession and control of all of the Philippines from the Spanish.[20]
|
Revolutionary government headed by Aguinaldo |
January 22, 1899 – April 11, 1899 |
United States |
Malolos Republic
|
April 11, 1899 – June 2, 1899 |
United States
|
Malolos Republic |
June 2, 1899 – April 19, 1901 |
In dispute between United States and the Malolos Republic
- On June 2, 1899, undeclared general hostilities between U.S. and Philippine forces having been ongoing since February 4, the Malolos Republic promulgated a Declaration of War against the United States,[24] thereby officially beginning the Philippine-American War.
- Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the Malolos Republic, was captured by U.S. Forces on March 23, 1901.
- Aguinaldo signed a formal surrender document on April 19, 1901, acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty of the United States throughout the entire archipelago.[25]
|
None |
April 19, 1901 – 1902 |
United States |
No organized insurgency.
|
1902 – 1907 |
United States |
Tagalog Republic
- In 1902, General Macario Sakay, a veteran Katipunan member, established his own Tagalog Republic (Tagalog: Repúbliká ng̃ Katagalugan), and held the presidency with Francisco Carreón as vice president. In April 1904, Sakay issued a manifesto declaring Filipino right to self-determination at a time when support for independence was considered a crime by the American occupation forces in the Philippines.[26]
- The republic ended in 1907 when Sakay and his leading followers were arrested and executed by the American authorities as bandits.[27]
|
1907 – 1913 |
United States |
No organized insurgency
- Scattered resistance to U.S. rule continued.
|
1913 – 1935 |
United States |
None |
1935 – 1941 |
United States
|
None |
1941 – March 29, 1942 |
In dispute between the United States and Japan
|
None |
March 29, 1942 – September 2, 1945 |
In dispute between the United States and Japan
|
Hukbalahap
- On March 29, 1942, peasant leaders determined to oppose the Japanese invasion met in a forest clearing at the junction of the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija to organize a resistance movement against the Japanese invaders. The movement was designated Hukbó ng Bayan Laban sa Hapón, or Hukbalahap.[29]
|
September 2, 1945 – July 4, 1946 |
United States
|
Hukbalahap |
July 4, 1946 – 1954 |
Republic of the Philippines
- On July 4, 1946, the United States recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines as a separate self-governing nation.[30]
|
Hukbalahap[31]
- On May 17, 1954, Luis Taruc, leader of the Hukbalahap movement, surrendered unconditionally and announced that he "unreservedly recognized the authority of president Magsaysay and the sovereignty of the republic of the Philippines."[32]
|
1954 – Present |
Republic of the Philippines |
None |