Manila

Manila was officially founded on June 24, 1571, by Miguel López de Legazpi, a Spanish conquistador and the first Governor-General of the Philippines. Manila became the seat of colonial government in the Philippines and remained so until Philippine independence. Its strategic location and natural harbor made it an important center for trade and commerce in Asia. The city's foundation marked the start of over three centuries of Spanish colonial rule.

The Chinese Revolt of 1639 in Manila was a large-scale uprising by Chinese workers and settlers against the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines. The conflict ended with violent suppression by the colonial forces, resulting in the massacre of thousands of Chinese. This revolt was driven by economic hardships and racial tensions between the Chinese and Spanish authorities and local Filipinos, and it highlighted the precarious position of Chinese residents in colonial Manila.

In 1645, Manila and surrounding areas were devastated by a powerful earthquake, known as the 1645 Luzon Earthquake. This natural disaster caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure throughout Manila and led to significant loss of life. The earthquake profoundly impacted the colonial city, as it necessitated the reconstruction of many important structures, influencing the architectural history of Manila.

The British occupation of Manila was a short period during which British forces occupied the city, from October 1762 to April 1764, as part of the Seven Years' War. British troops captured Manila and held it for over a year before a peace treaty returned it to Spain. The occupation had significant diplomatic and economic consequences and exposed the vulnerabilities of the Spanish colonial government. It was one of the few instances of British control in Southeast Asia.

The Proclamation of Philippine Independence occurred on June 12, 1898, when Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain after almost 400 years. This historical event took place in Kawit, Cavite, but it is intricately linked to Manila, as the city was the seat of Spanish colonial power and later became the capital of the newly declared independent nation.

The Philippine Organic Act of 1902, also known as the Philippine Bill of 1902, was an act of the United States Congress that provided for the creation of the Philippine Assembly and laid down the framework for the civil government in the Philippines. The act marked the beginning of legislative governance in the country. Its enactment was a critical step in the American colonization of the Philippines, with Manila as the capital of the new American-controlled territory.

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated on November 15, 1935, marking the establishment of a transitional government in preparation for full Philippine independence. This significant political development was part of the Tydings–McDuffie Act, which resulted in the drafting of a new constitution and a new era of governance under President Manuel L. Quezon. The ceremonial event took place in Manila, solidifying its role as the capital of the new government.

The Battle of Manila was a major battle of the Philippine campaign of 1944–45, during World War II. The city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was devastated, suffering a massive and largely indiscriminate loss of civilian life at the hands of the Japanese forces, which committed numerous war crimes during their retreat. The battle ended the Japanese occupation of Manila, but left the city in ruins, with much of its infrastructure destroyed.

On July 4, 1946, the United States formally recognized the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. The event took place in Manila with a grand ceremony at the Luneta Park where the American and Philippine flags were raised and lowered, marking the end of American involvement in the Philippines as a colonial ruler. It was a significant moment in Philippine history as the nation finally achieved full sovereignty following years of struggle for independence.

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly concentrated along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila, from February 22–25, 1986. It was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The revolution led to the departure of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. It is one of the most famous peaceful revolutions in history.