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History
his-to-ry
[HIS-tuh-ree, HIS-tree]
noun
origin: 1350-1400
1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
2. a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people,
country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle: a
history of France; a medical history of the patient.
3. the aggregate of past events.
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History: Overview
Before the Spanish conquistadores came, a thriving community flourished on the banks of the
Pasig River. It was called "Maynilad", after the nilad plant whose star-shaped flowers
clustered in abundance along the low-lying river banks.
The lord of the riverside kingdom was Raha Sulayman who held court on the south side of the
river while his uncle, Lakandula, ruled on the north side. The Spaniards were set on conquering
this community. After the savage Battle of Bangkusay, where they overtook the natives with their
awesome firepower, the Spaniards conquered Manila. In this Battle, Sulayman was killed.
Realizing its strategic position as a trading center and military outpost, Miguel Lopez de
Legaspi, head of the Spanish expedition, promptly declared Manila the capital of the new
colonies won by Spain. On June 24, 1571, Manila was declared the capital of the entire
achipelago. Delighted by this conquest, the King of Spain awarded the city a coat of arms and
the grandiose title: "The Noble and Ever Loyal City". Soon, Manila became a replica of a
European medieval city. There were churches, palaces and city halls built in the Spanish baroque
style. Work began on building a wall around the city to keep the pirates and Moros at bay. It
took 150 years to finish this wall. The end result was an astounding eight foot-thick, three
mile-long wall, with two forts and a bastion, 370 guns in place, manned by a force of 5,000 men
and 10,000 reserves. This walled city became known as Intramuros.
Beautiful as it was, Intramuros stood as a perfect illustration of the discrimination at that
time against the natives called Indios. Although it was built by Indio workers and Chinese
artisans, Intramuros was meant only for the clergy and the Spanish nobility. The natives could
not enter except to work as servants. Outside the walls, in the arabales or suburbs, lived the
Jndios, the Chinese and other foreigners. The diversity of trade and culture in the suburbs made
it alive and interesting. Tondo, Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo bustled with commerce. These
places were home to the merchants, carpenters, blacksmiths, carriage makers, masons and other
artisans.
Over the centuries, the Spanish rule was occasionally threatened by attacks from the sea and
by internal uprisings. The Chinese, Dutch, and British all tried to lay siege on Manila but
were unsuccessful. But the 1880's saw the birth of a reform movement led by Marcelo H. Del
Pilar, Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal (the national hero). This reform movement ultimately led to
a revolution and by 1898, the days of the Castilian rule were numbered. The most lasting legacy
of the Spanish rule was the Catholic religion which makes the Philippines the only Christian
nation in Asia.
But as soon as the Spaniards left, the Americans took over. 1902 was the beginning of the
American era, a period characterized by the expansion of public education, advances in health
care and the introduction of democratic government. The outbreak of war in the Pacific in 1941
disrupted American rule. Manila was declared an open city and the Americans withdrew their
defenses. For three years, Manila was occupied by the Japanese imperial forces. Life at that
time was made difficult by strict Japanese military rule. When the American troops entered
Manila to liberate it, they had to bomb the city to dislodge the tenacious Japanese. Manila was
devastated.
On July 4, 1946, a year after the end of the war, the Philippine flag was hoisted signalling
the recognition of Philippine independence.
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