History

T

he first people in the Philippines were hunter-gatherers. However
between 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC people learned to farm. They grew
rice and domesticated animals. From the tenth century AD, Filipinos traded
with China. Then in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan landed in the Philippines
and claimed the islands for Spain. The Philippines is named after King
Philip II of Spain (1556-1598). It was a Spanish colony for over 300 years.
Friars converted the Filipinos to Catholicism.
In 1898 came war between the USA and Spain. Spain lost and ceded the
Philippines to the USA. Then, in 1942 in
WWII, the Philippines were in Japanese
hands. American troops returned and
recaptured Manila in February 1945. The
Americans left Subic Bay in 1993. Fidel
Ramos became president. He improved
the infrastructure in the Philippines
including the electricity supply. Industry
was privatized and the economy began to
grow more rapidly. Today there is reason
to be optimistic for the future. The
population of the Philippines is now a
robust 103 million.

Sunset over Manila

Bay by Mall of Asia

White Beach, Puerto Galera