- The first humans arrived in the Philippines at least 67,000 years ago.
- From the 1st millennium the Philippines flourished as result of trade with China, India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
- The first recorded visit by Europeans is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on March 17, 1521
- Spanish colonisation began on February 13, 1565 with much of the archipelago eventually coming under Spanish rule
- The Philippines was then named after King Philip of Spain.
- Spanish rule ended in 1898 with Spain’s defeat in the Spanish–American War. The Philippines then became a colony of the United States.
- During World War 2 Japan occupied the Philippines
- After the end of the war, the Treaty of Manila established an independent Philippine Republic.
- In 1986 the People Power Revolution installed Cory Aquino as president and re-established democracy.
- In the 21st Century, the Philippines is the 12th most populous country of the world, part of ASEAN, a key ally of the United States, with an economy dominated by fishing and agriculture.
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