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Battle of Mactan
The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, is celebrated as the earliest reported resistance of
the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu, a Chieftain of Mactan
Island, defeated Christian European explorers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand
Magellan.[1][2]
On March 16, 1521, the island of Samar was sighted. The following morning, March 17,
Magellan landed on the island of Homonhon.[3][4] He parleyed with Rajah Calambu of
Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu Island on April 7. With the aid of Magellan's Malay
interpreter, Enrique, Rajah Humabon of Cebu and his subjects converted to Christianity
and became allies. Suitably impressed by Spanish firearms and artillery, Rajah Humabon
suggested that Magellan project power to cow Lapu-Lapu, who was being belligerent
against his authority.
Magellan deployed 49 armored men, less than half his crew, with crossbows and guns,
but could not anchor near land because the island is surrounded by shallow coral bottoms
and thus unsuitable for the Spanish galleons to get close to shore. His crew had to wade
through the surf to make a landing and the ship was too far to support them with artillery.
Antonio Pigafetta, a supernumerary on the voyage who later returned to Seville, Spain,
records that Lapu-Lapu had at least 1500 warriors in the battle. During the battle,
Magellan was wounded in the leg, while still in the surf. As the crew were fleeing to the
boats, Pigafetta recorded that Magellan covered their retreat, turning at them on several
occasions to make sure they were getting away, and was finally surrounded by a
multitude of warriors and killed. The total toll was of eight crewmen killed on Magellan's
side against an unknown number of casualties from the Mactan natives.
The Philippine Revolution, the first against western colonial rule in Asia, was directed
against Spain which had colonized the Philippines since 1565. The Revolution against
Spain had two phases: the first from the declaration of defiance against Spanish rule on
August 23, 1896 till the conclusion of a truce in December 1897; the second from the
return till the outbreak of the Philippine–American War in February 1899.
The first manifestation of Philippine nationalism followed in the decades of the 1880s
and the 1890s, with a reform or propaganda movement, conducted both in Spain and in
the Philippines, for the purpose of "propagandising" Philippine conditions in the hopes
that desired changes in the social, political and economic life of the Filipinos would come
about through peaceful means. The propaganda movement failed to secure the desired
reforms, especially the expulsion of the friars and their replacement by Filipino secular
priests and equality before the law between Spaniards and Filipinos, largely because the
Spanish friars used their power and resources to thwart the activities of the Filipino
ilustrados (educated Filipinos who led the movement).
The revolutionary society, Katipunan, was established, on July 7, 1892, by Filipinos who
had given up hope that the Spanish government would administer the affairs of Filipinos
in the interests of its subjects—with justice and dignity. A secret association patterned
after Freemasonry and the La Liga Filipina (a mutual-aid society founded by the ilustrado
Jose Rizal on July 3, 1892), it recruited members in the suburbs of Manila and in the
provinces of Central Luzon. By the time of the outbreak of the Revolution in August
1896, membership in the Katipunan has soared to about 30,000, which included some
women. The Revolution broke out prematurely on August 23, 1896 because of the
untimely discovery by a Spanish friar, on August 19, of the existence of the revolutionary
society. The immediate result of the outbreak of the Revolution was the institution of a
reign of terror by the Spanish authorities in an attempt to frighten the population into
submission. Hundreds suspected of joining the Katipunan and the Revolution were
arrested and jailed; prominent Filipinos were shipped to exile to the Carolines or the
Spanish penal colony in Africa (Fernando Po); and still others were executed, including
Jose Rizal, who was executed by musketry on December 30, 1896. The Revolution
spread from Manila and Cavite to Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and
Nueva Ecija represented as the eight rays in the Philippine flag.
Andres Bonifacio led the Revolution in its early stages, although he did not excel in the
field of battle. Internal rivalry led to the division of the ranks within the Katipunan
organization and with the execution of Bonifacio in May 1897 (charged with sedition and
treason), leadership of the Revolution fell into the hands of another Katipunan member
from Cavite, Emilio Aguinaldo, who distinguished himself in the battlefields in Cavite, at
that time the heartland of the Revolution.
The first phase of the Revolution ended inconclusively, with both Filipino and Spanish
forces unable to pursue hostilities to a successful conclusion. Consequently, between
November 18 and December 15, a truce which resulted in a temporary cessation of
hostilities was concluded Biak-na-Bato between the two sides. Aguinaldo agreed to go on
temporary exile to Hong Kong after the Spanish government compensated him and his
revolutionary junta with a sum described in the agreement as "$800,000 (Mexican)" in
three installments.[6]. The truce failed as both sides entered the agreement in bad faith—
neither was really willing to abandon hostilities but were biding time and resources to
resume the armed conflict.[7]
• Battle of Alapan
• Battle of Binakayan
• Battle of Dalahican
• Battle of Julian Bridge
• Battle of San Juan del Norte
• Cry of Pugad Lawin
• Negros Revolution
The first battle in the Philippine theater was in Manila Bay, where, on May 1, 1898,
Commodore George Dewey, commanding the United States Asiatic Squadron aboard the
USS Olympia, in a matter of hours, defeated the Spanish squadron, under Admiral
Patricio Montojo y Pasarón. Dewey's force sustaining only a single casualty — a heart
attack aboard one of his vessels.
After the battle, Dewey blockaded Manila and provided transport for Emilio Aguinaldo
to return to the Philippines from exile in Hong Kong. Aguinaldo arrived on May 19 and,
after assuming command of Filipino forces on May 24, initiated land campaigns against
the Spanish. After the Battle of Manila on the morning of August 13, 1898 (a mock battle
between U.S and Spanish forces), the Spanish governor, Fermin Jaudenes, surrendered
Manila to U.S. forces under Dewey.
On June 12, 1898, with the country still under Spanish sovereignty, Aguinaldo
proclaimed Philippine independence from Spain, under a dictatorial government then
being established. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared and written
in Spanish by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who read it at the proclamation ceremony.
The Declaration was signed by ninety-eight persons, among them an American army
officer who witnessed the proclamation. The insurgent dictatorial government was
replaced on June 23 by an insurgent revolutionary government headed by Aguinaldo as
president. The Spanish-American war was formally concluded on December 10, 1898 by
the Treaty of Paris between the United States and Spain. In that treaty, Spain ceded the
Philippine Archipelago to the United States, and the United States agreed to pay
US$20,000,000 to the Spanish government.[8] The United States then exercised
sovereignty over the Philippines. The insurgent First Philippine Republic was formally
established with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 23, 1899.
The Philippine–American War[9] was a conflict between the United States of America and
the First Philippine Republic from 1899 through at least 1902, when the Filipino
leadership generally accepted American rule. A Philippine Constabulary was organized
in 1901 to deal with the remnants of the insurgent movement and gradually assume the
responsibilities of the United States Army. Skirmishes between government troops and
armed groups lasted until 1913, and some historians consider these unofficial extensions
part of the war.[10]
• Siege of Catubig
• Battle of Tirad Pass
• Battle of Pulang Lupa
• Battle of Paye
• Battle of Makahambus Hill
• Battle of Mabitac
• Battle of Lonoy
• Battle of Siranaya
• Battle of the Malalag River
• Battle of Quingua
• Battle of Balangiga
In 1917 the Philippine Assembly created the Philippine National Guard with the intent to
join the American Expeditionary Force. By the time it was absorbed into the National
Army it had grown to 25,000 soldiers. However, these units did not see action. The first
Filipino to die in World War I was Private Tomas Mateo Claudio who served with the
U.S. Marine Corps as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in
the Battle of Chateau Thierry in France on June 29, 1918.[11][12] The Tomas Claudio
Memorial College in Morong Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named
in his honor.[13]
The first Filipino military casualty during the Second World War was serving as an
aviator with British forces. First Officer Isidro Juan Paredes of the Air Transport
Auxiliary was killed on November 7, 1941, when his aircraft overshot a runway and
crashed at RAF Burtonwood. He was buried at Great Sankey (St Mary) Churchyard
Extension, but later repatriated to the Philippines.[14] Paredes Air Station in Ilocos Norte,
was named in his honor.
• Battle of Agusan
• Battle of Balantang
• Battle of Balete Pass
• Battle of Bataan
• Battle of Bataan (1945)
• Battle of Batangas (1942)
• Battle of Batangas (1945)
• Battle of Bessang Pass
• Battle of Bohol (1942)
• Battle of Bohol (1945)
• Battle of Bukidnon
• Battle of Cebu (1942)
• Battle of Cebu (1945)
• Battle of Corregidor
• Battle of Corregidor (1945)
• Battle of Cotabato
• Battle of Dalton Pass
• Battle of Davao
• Battle of Guila-Guila
• Battle of Ising
• Battle of Jaro
• Battle of Kirang Pass
• Battle of Lanao
• Battle of Leyte
• Battle of Leyte Gulf
• Battle of Samar (1942)
• Battle of Samar (1945)
• Battle off Samar
• Battle of Luzon
• Battle of Manila (1945)
• Battle of Maguindanao
• Battle of Marinduque
• Battle of Mayoyao Ridge
• Battle of Mindanao (1942)
• Battle of Mindanao (1945)
• Battle of Mindoro
• Battle of Misamis Occidental
• Battle of Misamis Oriental
• Battle of Negros
• Battle of Panay
• Battle of Romblon
• Battle of Ormoc Bay
• Battle of Simara
• Battle of Surigao
• Battle of Tayug
• Battle of the Visayas
• Battle of Zamboanga
• Bicol Campaign
• Central Luzon Campaign
• Invasion of Lingayen Gulf
• Invasion of Palawan
• Northern Luzon Campaign
• Philippines Campaign (1941-42)
• Philippines Campaign (1944–45)
• Raid at Los Baños
• Raid at Cabanatuan
• Raid at Capas
• San Ildefonso Massacre
• Southern Luzon Campaign
Related Articles:
The Philippines joined the Korean War in August 1950. The Philippines sent an
expeditionary force of around 7,500 combat troops. This was known as the Philippine
Expeditionary Forces To Korea, or PEFTOK. It was the 4th largest force under the
United Nations Command then under the command of US General Douglas MacArthur
that were sent to defend South Korea from a communist invasion by North Korea which
was then supported by Mao Zedong's China and the Soviet Union. The PEFTOK took
part in decisive battles such as the Battle of Yultong Bridge and the Battle of Hill Eerie.
This expeditionary force operated with the United States 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd
Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 45th Infantry Division.[15]
The Philippines was involved in the Vietnam War, supporting civil and medical
operations. Initial deployment in 1964 amounted to 28 military personnel, including
nurses, and 6 civilians. The number of Filipino troops who served in Vietnam swelled to
182 officers and 1,882 enlisted personnel during the period 1966-1968. This force was
known as the Philippine Civic Action Group-Vietnam or PHILCAG-V.[16][17]
The Philippines sent 200 medical personnel to assist coalition forces in the liberation of
Kuwait from the stranglehold of Iraq then led by Saddam Hussein.
The Philippines sent 60 medics, engineers and other troops to assist in the invasion of
Iraq. The troops were withdrawn on the 14th of July, 2004, in response to the kidnapping
of Angelo dela Cruz, a Filipino truck driver. When insurgent demands were met (Filipino
troops out of Iraq), the hostage was released. While in Iraq, the troops were under Polish
command (Central South Iraq). During that time, several Filipino soldiers were wounded
in an insurgent attack, although none died.
[edit] Revolutionary groups in the Philippines
Early 1950s to present
• Hukbalahap
• New People's Army
• Reform the Armed Forces Movement
[edit] References
1. ^ Halili, M.c. (2004). Philippine history. Rex Bookstore, Inc.. pp. 74.
ISBN 9789712339349. http://books.google.com/books?id=gUt5v8ET4QYC.
2. ^ Ongsotto (2002). Philippine History Module-based Learning I' 2002
Ed.. Rex Bookstore, Inc.. pp. 63. ISBN 9789712334498.
http://books.google.com/books?id=ITLRpPrrcykC.
3. ^ Op. cit. Halili 2004, p. 72.
4. ^ Op . cit. Ongsotto 2002, p. 62.
5. ^ a b Nigel Gooding, Filipino Involvement in the French-Spanish
Campaign in Indochina,
http://www.nigelgooding.co.uk/Spanish/Cochinchina/cochinchina.htm, retrieved
2008-07-04
6. ^ Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, Chapter II. The Treaty of Biak-na-bató,
"True Version of the Philippine Revolution", Authorama Public Domain Books,
http://www.authorama.com/true-version-of-the-philippine-revolution-3.html,
retrieved 2007-11-16
7. ^ Dr. Bernardita Reyes Churchill. "History of the Philippine Revolution:
The Katipunan Revolution". Archived from the original on 2006-01-05.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060105090248/http://www.ncca.gov.ph/culture&art
s/cularts/heritage/research/research-history.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
8. ^ Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain
9. ^ This conflict is also known as the 'Philippine Insurrection'. This name
was historically the most commonly used in the U.S., but Filipinos and some
American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine–American War,
and, in 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress reclassified its references to use this
term.
10. ^ Constantino, Renato (1975). The Philippines: A Past Revisited.
ISBN 971-8958-00-2.
11. ^ Zena Sultana-Babao, America’s Thanksgiving and the Philippines’
National Heroes Day: Two Holidays Rooted in History and Tradition, Asian
Journal, http://asianjournalusa.com/default.asp?
sourceid=&smenu=141&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=3692&wpage=1&skeyword=
&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&re
pmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1028&hn=asianjournalusa&h
e=.com, retrieved 2008-01-12
12. ^ Source: Philippine Military Academy
13. ^ "Schools, colleges and Universities: Tomas Claudio Memorial College".
Manila Bulletin Online. Archived fro