History of Philippine Foreign Policy and Relations

1898

Treaty of Paris was signed. This treaty was a very significant act between and the United States for it initiated and drew up the peace agreement, ending the Spanish-American War.

December 10. The signing of the Treaty of Paris with these provisions:

Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States.

The United States paid Spain the sum of $20,000,000.

Spain withdrew her sovereignty from Cuba.

The civil and political status of the inhabitants in the ceded territories was to be determined by US Congress.

1899

February 4. The first shot exchanged between Filipino and American soldiers on San Juan del Monte Bridge that started the Filipino-American war when Willie W. Grayson shot and killed a Filipino soldier.

1902

July 1. The United States Congress passed the Philippine Bill and established the Philippine Assembly.

1916

The Jones Law was enacted as the first American formal and official commitments to grant independence to the Philippines.

1918

November 7. The Philippine Legislature created the Commission of Independence to study all matters relating to “the negotiation and organization of independence” of the Philippines.

1919

February 23. The First Philippine Independence Mission, headed by Senate President Quezon left Manila for Washington.

1920

December 20. President Wilson in his farewell address to the United States Congress recommended favorably the granting of Philippine Independence.

1934

March 24. President Roosevelt granting Philippine Independence with certain provisions one of which was a ten-year transition period under the Commonwealth of the Philippines preparatory to the grant of independence on July 4, 1946 signed the Tydings-McDuffie Law into law.

1935

March 23. President Roosevelt approved the Constitution of the Philippines, tailored after the American Constitution, which “embodies the ideals of liberty and democracy of the Filipino people.”

1941

December 8. The Japanese bombed attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, resulting in heavy American military losses. At 6:30 a.m., the Japanese bombed Davao, Tuguegarao, Baguio, Iba, and Tarlac. Manila was bombed the next day.

December 29. General Douglas MacArthur declared Manila an open city to be spared from further destruction.

1942

January 2. The Japanese tanks entered the city of Manila.

February 18. President Quezon, his family and members of his cabinet were picked up by a submarine Swordfish, successfully eluded the Japanese blockade and were fetched by a plane for Australia.

April 9. Fall of Bataan under Gen. Edward King to prevent further injury to the helpless defender due to the unstoppable Japanese attack, while waiting for US reinforcement that never came.

May 6. The Fall of Corregidor under Gen. Jonathan Wainwright. The impregnable and defiant ROCK-Corregidor, guarding the entrance to Manila Bay, finally fell because of continuous artillery pounding and successive bombings of the Japanese forces.

1944

July 26. The Potsdam Proclamation by the allies through Pres. Truman and Prime Minister Churchill, calling upon Japan to surrender unconditionally or face “prompt and utter destruction.”

August. The Battle of the Philippine Sea between the American and Japanese forces began.

April 19. Pres. Quezon, his family and his party left for the United Sates on board the ship President Collidge.

October 20. Gen. Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise: “I shall return,” landing in Palo, Leyte. The liberation of the Philippine began.

1945

February 27. The turnover of the Commonwealth Government to Pres. Osmeña by Gen. MacArthur in a simple ceremony.

September 2. Japan signed the terms and conditions of surrender on board the battleship USS Missouri at Tokyo Bay-Gen. MacArthur, newly-appointed Supreme Commander over the historic ceremonies finally, ending the war.

1946

July 4. The Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated in the Manila City and Phil. Independence was proclaimed to the world by Harry Truman, Pres. of the United States, Manual Roxas as fist President of the postwar Republic amidst the jubilant Filipino rejoicing for the regained freedom.

1947

March 14. The Military Bases Agreement allowed the US to maintain bases in the Philippines.

March 21. The Military Assistance Pact was concluded between the two countries under which the US would furnish arms, equipment, and supplies to the armed forces of the Philippines.

1955

February 19. The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formally came into being with the ratification of the treaty by all member-states, including the Philippines.

1956

May 9. Reparation Agreement with Japan was concluded in which Japan agreed to pay the Philippines the amount of $800 million.

1963

July 31. The Manila Accord (Maphilindo) was approved and signed by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, Pres. Sukarno of Indonesia, and Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman of the Federation of Malaya.

1967

August 8. The Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) was founded in Bangkok, Thailand, for the promotion of the general welfare of the member-states.

1991

September 16. The Senate rejected the treaty, granting a 10-year extension of the US Military Bases in the Philippines.

November 26. The US government turned over Clark Airs Base to the Philippines after nearly a century of control.

December. The Philippine government officially asked the US to withdraw completely from Subic Naval Base.