Manila
Abdurajak Janjalani, the founder of the Abu Sayyaf Group, is killed by Philippine authorities.
~
San Juan
Leyte
Popular protests force President Estrada from power. Vice President Gloria Arroyo becomes the new president.
Mindanao
1898
1899
1902
1935
Opposition leader Benigno Aquino returns from exile, but is killed on arrival at Manila Airport.
Basilan
Central Luzon, the main geographical area of the Huks
1941
1942
1944
1946
1947
1954
1965
1969
1972
1981
1983
1984
2002
1986
2004
The U.S. military provides training to Philippine forces fighting the Abu Sayyaf Group, a terrorist organization with ties to al-Qa`ida.
1991
2006
1992
Rodrigo Duterte is elected president.
2010
Gloria Arroyo wins presidential elections.
1995
Jojo
2011
1996
2016
Abu Sayyaf Group leader Khaddafy Janjalani is killed.
1998
Spain claims the islands and names them the Philippines after the heir to the Spanish throne.
1999
Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino is elected president.
Makati City
Philippine-American War ends. A U.S. civil government replaces military rule.
During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. Navy defeats the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States, which proclaims military rule.
Clark Air Base
The Commonwealth of the Philippines is established with Manuel Quezon as its first president. The United States promises the Philippines full independence within 10 years.
2001
The Philippines and the communist New People’s Army (NPA) agree to work toward a peace deal at talks in Oslo.
The United States grants the islands full independence and they are renamed the Republic of the Philippines.
Muslim separatists begin an insurgency in the southern Philippines.
The Philippines awards the United States military bases on the islands.
1542
Subic Naval Base
Japan seizes the Philippines in World War II.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Moro Islamist separatist organization, is established.
Revolutionaries begin armed struggle against U.S. forces known as the Philippine-American War.
The Communist Huk peasant rebellion begins.
Oplan Bojinka, a multipronged international terrorist plot masterminded by Ramzi Yousef, is foiled.
Popular protests force President Marcos from power as the Philippine military abandons him. He flees into exile.
2016
President Marcos declares martial law.
Clark Air Base (Pampanga)
Luis Taruc, the Huk supreme military commander, surrenders.
The United States retakes control of the islands from Japan.
The Philippines reaches a peace deal with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Muslim separatist group.
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), an Islamist terrorist organization, is established.
President Marcos lifts martial law and wins presidential elections.
Ferdinand Marcos becomes president.
Joseph Estrada is elected president.
Fidel Ramos is elected president.
MAJOR EVENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES