1521 -Ferdinand Magellan"discovers" the islands and names them: Archipelago of San Lazaro. 1542 -Spanish expeditioncommandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the islands for Spain; names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of Spain; the Philippines becomes part of Spanish Empire.1872 -Gomburza(FathersMariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora) were executed by the Spaniards. 1892 - Jose Rizal founded the civic organizationLa Liga Filipina. 1896 - Katipuneros tear theircedulas& shout in contempt of the Spaniards in what is called theCry of Pugadlawin.1897 - General Emilio Aguinaldo establishes the a new republic atBiak-na-Batoin Bulacan. 1886 -Jos Rizalpublishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden); and seers up independence sentiment. 1896 - Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public outrage spawns rebellion. 1898 - American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbour, triggers the the Spanish-American war, thebattle of Manila Bayensues. 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo assembled theMalolos Congressin Bulacan, then declares independence in Kawit, Cavite 1899- Treaty of Paris endsSpanish-American War, cedes Philippines to U.S. after payment to Spain by U.S. of $ 20 million. Emilio Aguinaldo declares independence then leads a guerrilla war against U.S. 1901 -U.S. captures Aguinaldo; William Howard Taft arrives as first U.S. governor of Philippines. 1902 - Insurrection ends;Taftimproves economic conditions, settles disputes over church ownership of land, establishes "Pensionado" program, allowing Filipinos to study in U.S., which helped modernize and westernize the country. 1916 - U.S. congress passes the Jones Law establishing elected Filipino legislature with house and senate. 1934 - U.S. congress approves theTydings-McDuffie Lawpromising Philippine independence by 1946; transition to independence begins. 1935 - Filipino people approve constitution creating thePhilippine Commonwealthwith Manuel Quezon y Molina aspresident. 1941 -Japanese invades the Philippines, and defeats Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Bataan and Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile in the U.S. 1944 - Quezon dies in exile; VicePresidentSergio Osmea assumes the presidency; MacArthur returns to the Philippines and lands in Leyte with little resistance. 1945 - Gen. MacArthur liberates Manila andPresidentOsmea establishes government. 1946 - The U.S. gave the Philippines independence and Manuel Roxas y Acua is elected as the firstpresidentof the new republic. 1965 - Ferdinand E. Marcos is elected by a big majority aspresident. 1972 - Martial Law was declared byPresidentMarcos. 1981 - Marcos lifts Martial Law. 1983 - Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino returns from exile and is assassinated on arrival at Manila International Airport; Aquino's widow Corazon leads the "People Power" protest movement. 1986 - Marcos was declared winner in a presidential election beating Corazon Aquino amidcharges of fraud;demonstrationserupt; Marcos flees to Hawaii; Aquino is declaredpresidentand forms a new government. 1992 - Endorsed by Aquino, her Secretary of Defense Gen. Fidel Ramos wins presidential election. U.S. Philippine congress rejects a new treaty with the U.S. and Subic Bay naval base andClark AirField returns to Philippine government,endingAmerican militarypresence in the Philippines. 1996 - The government of Ramos agrees to greater autonomy for southern island of Mindanao. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ends the guerrilla war with the government. 1997 -Asian financial crisisgrips Asia and the Philippines escapes the crisis despite series of currency devaluations. 1998 - Former movie actor Joseph Estrada is electedpresident. 2000 - On charges of corruption, the lower house impeach Estrada. 2001 - Estrada was forced to step down due to public outrage over corruption allegations. VicePresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyoassumes the presidency. 2004 - Presidential election takes place. Arroyo's closest rival (a dear friend of Ex-PresidentEstrada) is film actor Fernando Poe, Jr.Arroyonarrowly defeats Poe, taking 39.5% of the vote to Poe's 36.6%. 2005 - A taped conversation betweenPresidentArroyo& an electionofficialsurfaced during the 2004 elections implying she influenced theofficialelection results. Calls for her resignation anddemonstrationsfollowed soon after. In September 2005, Congress voted down the filing of an impeachment againstArroyo. 2007 - FormerPresidentJoseph Estrada is convicted of plunder, the first ever in the history of the Philippines. 2010 - First automated national elections in the Philippines. 2010 - Benigno "Noynoy" SimeonCojuangco AquinoIII wins the Presidential elections and sworn in at Manila's Rizal Park on June 30, 2010.