Philippine Presidents
Philippine Presidents
Philippine Presidents
January 20, 2001 - Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced President Joseph Estrada via a military-
backed people's revolt.
January 23, 1899 - The First Philippine Republic was inaugurated in Malolos, Bulacan.
February 5, 1899 - Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the First Philippine Republic, declared war against the United
States.
February 18, 1565 - Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed in Samar; and took possession of the island for Spain.
February 22-26, 1986 - Filipinos launched the so-called People Power revolution that led to the ouster of long-
time Philippine strongman, US-backed dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
March 11, 1942 - General Douglas MacArthur fled from the Philippines; vowed to return.
March 16, 1521 - Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines; landed in Samar.
March 23, 1901 - President Emilio Aguinaldo surrendered to American forces in Palanan, Isabela; later
became a turncoat and took an allegiance to the Americans.
March 29, 1942 - Luis Taruk organized the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap), an underground
guerilla movement.
April 11, 1899 - By virtue of Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines to the US; sold for US$20 million.
April 26, 1898 - The United States and Spain declared war against each other over the Philippines, Cuba,
Guam and Puerto Rico.
April 27, 1521 - Battle of Mactan; Magellan was killed by men of Lapu-Lapu.
April 30, 1937 - Filipino women won the right to vote during a plebiscite.
May 1, 1913 - The first Labor Day was celebrated in the country.
May 6, 1942 - American and Filipino forces in Corregidor Island surrendered to Japanese forces.
May 10, 1897 - True patriot and hero Andres Bonifacio was executed at Mount Buntis in Maragondon, Cavite
by men of turncoat Emilio Aguinaldo, under the encouragement of the American forces.
May 19, 1571 - Miguel Lopez de Legazpi defeated Rajah Sulayman; claimed Manila for Spain.
June 10, 1647 - Dutch fleet attacked Cavite; later lost to Spaniards.
June 12, 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines' independence from Spain, its colonial master for
333 years. The US colonizers after taking over the Spaniards then declared the independence of the
Philippines on July 4, 1946.
July 4, 1946 - The United States declared the independence of the Philippines. This day, after reverting
Independence Day to be celebrated in June 12, has been celebrated as the Filipino-American Friendship Day
instead.
August 30, 1951 - The RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty was approved under the Quirino administration.
September 21, 1972 - President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law; lifted it on January 17, 1981.
October 20, 1944 - General Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines via Palo, Leyte.
November 1, 1542 - Ruy Lopez de Villalobos named the archipelago Felipinas after King Felipe II of Spain.
November 1, 1897 - Emilio Aguinaldo and his supporters established the Biak na Bato Republic.
December 10, 1898 - The US and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris; the former acquired the Philippines from
the latter for US$20 million.
December 10, 1941 - Japanese forces attacked Manila; occupied the city on January 2, 1942.
December 14, 1897 - The revolutionary government led by Emilio Aguinaldo signed a peace pact with the
Spanish government. Aguinaldo went to Hong Kong.
December 30, 1896 - Jose Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan. This day is celebrated annually and is a
national holiday.
December 30, 1937 - President Manuel L. Quezon declared Tagalog as the basis of the national language.