Spanish Colonial Rule in the Philippines (1521-1898)

An annotated timeline documenting Spanish exploration, colonization, administration, resistance, and withdrawal from the Philippine archipelago, 1521-1898.

Events in this Collection

1521

Magellan’s Arrival

Ferdinand Magellan claims the archipelago for Spain and celebrates the first Catholic Mass on Philippine soil.
magellan cebu first-contact
1521

Death of Magellan

Magellan is killed in the Battle of Mactan, ending Spain’s first attempt at permanent control.
mactan lapulapu magellan-death
1564

Legazpi Expedition Sails

Miguel López de Legazpi departs Mexico with four ships to establish a permanent Spanish settlement.
legazpi mexico new-spain
1565

Formal Colonization Begins

Legazpi founds the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu, initiating 333 years of colonial rule.
legazpi cebu permanent-settlement
1571

Manila Established as Capital

Legazpi conquers the native settlement of Maynilad and re-establishes it as the capital of the colony.
legazpi manila capital
1574

Royal Decree on Encomienda

Spanish Crown formalizes encomienda grants, obliging Filipinos to pay tribute and provide labor.
encomienda tribute forced-labor
1575

Conquest of the Moluccas Blocked

Spain abandons further eastward expansion after clashes with Portugal, focusing instead on the Philippines.
portugal treaty pacific-boundaries
1579

Galleon Trade Route Institutionalized

Regular trans-Pacific voyages connect Manila and Acapulco, binding the colony to global trade.
manila-acapulco silk silver
1581

First Cathedral in Manila Consecrated

Manila Cathedral is consecrated, cementing the city as the religious center of Spanish Asia.
cathedral manila catholic-church
1603

Sangley (Chinese) Massacre

Spanish-Filipino forces massacre thousands of ethnic Chinese residents amid fears of rebellion.
sangley manila massacre
1611

University of Santo Tomás Founded

UST is established by Dominicans; it becomes the oldest existing university in Asia.
university dominicans higher-education
1762

Silang Revolt

Diego Silang leads an uprising in Ilocos during the British occupation of Manila.
silang ilya british-occupation
1872

Cavite Mutiny

Filipino workers and soldiers stage a mutiny; Spanish authorities execute Gomburza priests, radicalizing Filipino nationalism.
cavite gomburza mutiny
1892

Katipunan Founded

Andrés Bonifacio forms the Katipunan, a secret society aiming for independence through armed revolution.
katipunan bonifacio revolution
1896

Philippine Revolution Erupts

Katipunan leaders tear their cédulas, signaling open revolt against Spain.
revolution bonifacio cry-of-balintawak
1897

Pact of Biak-na-Bato

Revolutionaries agree to exile in Hong Kong in exchange for reforms and indemnity, temporarily halting hostilities.
truce aguinaldo hong-kong-exile
1898

Spanish–American War Reaches Philippines

U.S. Commodore George Dewey destroys Spanish fleet; Spain’s control begins to collapse.
battle-of-manila-bay dewey naval-defeat
1898

Philippine Independence Declared

Emilio Aguinaldo proclaims Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite.
aguinaldo cavite independence
1898

Treaty of Paris Signed

Spain formally cedes the Philippines to the United States for $20 million, ending 333 years of Spanish rule.
treaty cession spain-usa