Countries Philippines Manila | History by KabAstro

Events in Manila History

1571-03-19 Spanish troops occupy Manila
1582-06-20 Bishop Domingo de Salazar of Manila suppresses the Philippines

26 Martyrs of Japan Executed

1596-10-19 Spanish galleon San Felipe is shipwrecked in Urado on the Japanese island of Shikoku en route from Manila to Acapulco. Incident leads to the crucifixion of 26 Christians who become known as the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan.

A painting in a Prague church commemorating the 1597 crucifixion of the 26 Catholic martyrs of Japan in Nagasaki

1600-12-14 Sea battle at Manila Bay between Olivier van Noort's Dutch ships and a Spanish fleet, Dutch sink the Spanish galleon San Diego, 350 die
1607-01-19 San Agustin Church in Manila is officially completed; the oldest church in the Philippines
1762-10-06 British troops occupy Manila, Philippines
1843-12-04 Manila paper (made from sails, canvas and rope) patented in Massachusetts
1891-08-15 San Sebastian Church in Manila, the first all-steel church in Asia, is officially inaugurated and blessed

La Liga Filipina

1892-07-06 Jose Rizal forms political group La Liga Filipina in Manila

Filipino Nationalist and Novelist José Rizal

1896-08-23 First Cry of the Philippine Revolution is made in Pugad Lawin (Quezon City), in the province of Manila.
1896-12-30 Filipino nationalist José Rizal is executed by firing squad in Manila by the Spanish

"Fire When you are Ready"

1898-05-01 US Admiral George Dewey commands "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley" as US rout Spanish fleet at Manila

1898-07-08 US battle fleet under Admiral George Dewey occupies Isla Grande at Manila
1898-08-13 US forces under Admiral George Dewey capture Manila during Spanish–American War
1904-10-19 Polytechnic University of the Philippines founded as Manila Business School through superintendence of American C.A. O'Reilley
1907-06-03 Centro Escolar University is established by Librada Avelino and Carmen de Luna in Manila, Philippines
1941-12-27 Japan bombs Manila even though it was declared an "open city"
1942-01-02 Japanese troops occupy Manila, Philippines

'I Shall Return'

1945-02-05 US troops under General Douglas MacArthur enter Manila in the Philippines after a month long battle, ending three years of Japanese military occupation

A statue in the Philippines commemorating the promised return of American commander Douglas MacArthur in World War II

MacArthur's Manila Return

1945-02-07 General Douglas MacArthur returns to Manila

1945-02-24 Manila freed from Japanese

President Manuel Roxas

1946-07-04 President Manuel Roxas inaugurated as the 5th President of the Philippines and the 1st President of an independent Philippines at the Independence Grandstand, Manila

5th President of the Philippines Manuel Roxas

The Thrilla in Manila

1975-10-01 "The Thrilla in Manila"; Muhammad Ali stops Joe Frazier in 14 rounds in Quezon City, the Philippines to retain his WBC/WBA heavyweight title

Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali

1979-05-07 5th UNCTAD-conference opens in Manila
1983-09-21 11 killed in anti Marcos demonstrations in Manila
1986-11-01 Breeders' Cup Horse Racing, Santa Anita Racetrack; winners: Brave Raj, Capote, Lady's Secret, Last Tycoon, Manila, Skywalker, Smile
1987-01-29 The president of the Philippines puts down a rebellion against their government in Manila
1995-01-06 A chemical fire in an apartment complex in Manila, Philippines, leads to the discovery of plans for Project Bojinka, a mass-terrorist attack.
2000-12-30 Rizal Day Bombings: A series of bombs explode in various places in Metro Manila, Philippines within a span of a few hours, killing 22 and injuring about a hundred.
2005-02-14 Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit the Philippines' Makati financial district in Metro Manila, Davao City, and General Santos City.
2006-02-04 A stampede occurs in the ULTRA Stadium near Manila killing 71
2007-11-29 The Armed Forces of the Philippines lay siege to The Peninsula Manila after soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes stage a mutiny.

President Aquino Commemorated

2010-08-01 200m x 250m photo mosaic commemorating the life of Filipino President Corazon Aquino is unveiled near Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta Park, Manila

11th President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino

2010-08-23 Manila hostage crisis, which occurred at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, where a dismissed police officer took hostage a tour bus full of Chinese nationals.
2012-08-07 Heavy rain forces 20,000 people to flee their homes in Manila, Philippines
2012-12-25 8 people are killed and thousands left homeless after two fires strike Manila, Philippines
2013-12-16 21 people are killed and 20 are injured after a bus falls from an elevated highway in Manila, Philippines
2020-01-12 Taal volcano, 70km (45 miles) south of Manila in the Philippines begins erupting prompting evacuations

Maria Ressa's Libel Trial

2020-06-15 Philippines journalist and 'Time Person of the Year' Maria Ressa found guilty of cyber libel in Manila amid claims charges politically motivated

2020-08-04 COVID-19 infection spike forces a return to lockdown in Manila and surrounding provinces in the Philippines, affecting 27 million people as cases pass 100,000