This article presents a timeline of Philippine political history focused on governmental transitions of the Philippine archipelago, major polities, invasion attempts, and insurgency movements from the pre-Hispanic period to the present.This article may be incomplete; lacking, in particular, information regarding the MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups which should possibly be included. See e.g., the Civil conflict in the Philippines article. The information presented here is highly summarized, and more complete information can be found in more detailed articles linked below.

+Major Polities and governmental transitionsDate rangeBefore 900 – April 27, 1565April 27, 1565 – December 10, 1898August 24, 1896 – May 10, 1897March 22, 1897 – November 1, 1897November 1, 1897 – December 14, 1897May 24, 1898 – June 23, 1898June 23, 1898 – January 23, 1899January 23, 1899 – March 23, 1901August 14, 1898 – July 1, 1902May 6, 1902 – July 14, 1906July 4, 1901 – November 15, 1935November 15, 1935 – October 22, 1946October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945July 4, 1946 – December 30, 1965December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986February 2, 1987 –Sovereignentity None Spain In transition United States Disputed Republic of the PhilippinesGoverning body None Spanish East Indies Disputed Philippine Commission Republic of the PhilippinesPolities Pre-Colonial Philippines Spanish East Indies Spanish East Indies Republika ng KatagaluganakaHaring-Bayang Katagalugan Spanish East Indies Republica Filipina aka Republica de Filipina aka Pamahalaan ng Sangkatagalugan Spanish East Indies Republica de Filipinas Spanish East Indies U.S. Colonial Government Gobierno Dictatorial de Filipinas U.S. Colonial Government Gobierno Revolucionario de Filipinas U.S. Colonial Government U.S. Colonial Government Taft Commission

Republika ng Katagalugan

aka

Republika ng Kapuluang Katagalugan US Insular Government and Government in exile of the Commonwealth of the Philippines Third Republic of the Philippines Fourth Republic of the Philippines Fifth Republic of the Philippines Entries below this point reflect the viewpoint of the post-independence government of the Philippines regarding pre-independence history Constitutional Document Colonial authority of The Crown Katipunan constitution, laws and official decrees Official decrees of Aguinaldo Provisional Constitution Official decrees of Aguinaldo Malolos Constitution Katipunan constitution, laws and official decrees United States Constitution Philippine Organic Act (1902) Philippine Autonomy Act (1916) Tydings–McDuffie Act 1935 Constitution 1943 Constitution 1935 Constitution 1973 Constitution 1987 Constitution Capital Manila Morong San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite San Miguel, Bulacan Bacoor, Cavite Malolos, Bulacan Malolos, Bulacan Morong Manila Manila (1942–1945) Baguio (1945) Manila (1946–1948) Quezon City (1948–1965) Quezon City (1965–1976) Manila (1976–1986) Manila Form of Government Precolonial barangay Spanish Colony Unrecognized provisional revolutionary republic Unrecognized provisional revolutionary republic Unrecognized provisional revolutionary constitutional republic Unrecognized provisional dictatorship Unrecognized provisional revolutionary republic Unrecognized Unitary semi-presidential constitutional revolutionary republic Unrecognized provisional revolutionary republic Military occupational transitional government Unincorporated territories of the United States Presidential commonwealthSingle-party authoritarian Republic (recognized only by Axis) Unitary presidential Constitutional republic Unitary dominant-party pseudo-parliamentary republic under totalitarian civic-military rule Unitary presidential constitutional republic Head of State Datu, Rajah, Sultan Queen Regent of Spain King of Spain Supreme President/President of the Sovereign Nation Andres Bonifacio President of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo (1897) President of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo (1897) Dictator Emilio Aguinaldo President of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo President of the Philippines Emilio Aguinaldo (1899–1901) Miguel Malvar (1901–1902) Supreme President Macario Sakay US President William McKinley (1898–1901) Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1902) US President Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) William H. Taft (1909–1913) Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1935) President of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon (1935–1944) Sergio Osmeña (1944–1946) Manuel Roxas (1946) President of the Philippines Jose P. Laurel (1943–1945) President of the Philippines Manuel Roxas (1946–1948) Elpidio Quirino (1948–1953) Ramon Magsaysay (1953–1957) Carlos P. Garcia (1957–1961) Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965) President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos (1965–1986) Corazon Aquino (1986) President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino (1986–1992) Fidel V. Ramos (1992–1998) Joseph Estrada (1998–2001) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001–2010) Benigno Aquino III (2010–2016) Rodrigo Duterte (2016–2022) Bongbong Marcos (2022–) Head of Government Spanish Governor-General Prime Minister of the Philippines Apolinario Mabini (1898–1899) US Military Governor- General Wesley Merritt (1898) Elwell S. Otis (1898–1900) Arthur MacArthur Jr. (1900–1901) Adna Chaffee (1901–1902) US Insular Governor- General William H. Taft (1901–1904) Francis B. Harrison (1913–1921) Leonard Wood (1921–1927) Frank Murphy (1933–1935) Japanese Military Governor Shigenori Kuroda (1943–1944) Tomoyuki Yamashita (1944–1945) Prime Minister of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos (1978–1981) Cesar Virata (1981–1986) Salvador Laurel (1986) Legislative Council of Elders Consejo de Indias (1565–1821) Cortes Generales (1821–1898) Kataastaasang Sanggunian (Supreme Council) Consejo Supremo Revolutionary Congress Malolos Congress Martial law (1898–1900) Philippine Commission (1900–1902) Philippine Legislature National Assembly (1935–1941) Congress (1945–1946) National Assembly Congress of the Philippines Batasang Pambansa Interim Assembly (1978–1984) Regular Natioanal Assembly (1984–1986) Congress of the Philippines Judiciary Datu as Presiding Officer Council of Elders as Jurors Real Audiencia Camara Reina (Secret Judicial Chamber) Supreme Council of Grace and Justice Court Martial Supreme Court US Supreme Court Supreme Court of the Philippines Military Datu as Military Commander Qualified members of the Barangay as soldiers Spanish Imperial Army;Guarda Civil Katipunan Philippine Revolutionary Army Philippine Republican Army Katipunan United States Army United States Army;USA Philippine Division;Philippine Constabulary;Philippine Scouts Armed Forces of the Philippines;USA Philippine Division;Philippine Constabulary Armed Forces of the Philippines Currency Piloncitos Real de a Ocho Peso Fuerte Peso Japanese government-issued Philippine peso Peso Official Language(s) Spanish Tagalog Tagalog, Spanish Tagalog English, Tagalog English English, Spanish Japanese, Filipino, SpanishEnglish, Filipino State Religion None; Islam in sultanates Roman Catholicism Separation of church and stateInvasions and Insurgencies The Cordillera region was unified after the long clan wars between the Clans and tribes of Ifugao and Kalinga warlords because of land resources. This unification established the culturally homogeneous society which led to the building of the Banaue Rice Terraces. Sri Lumay conducted a Rebellion against the Maharajah of the Chola Dynasty and established the Rajahnate of Cebu. In 1500, Bruneian Empire attacked Palawan, Kingdom of Ma-i (the island of Mindoro) and Kingdom of Tondo. Tondo was defeated in 1500 and Brunei deposed the Senapati Lakan Sukwu, establishing Kota Seludong and installing Rajah Sulayman as its puppet ruler.In 1529, Spain claimed dominion over the Philippine archipelago on the basis of Magellan's discovery, a valid mode of acquisition at the time. Various local revolts erupted throughout Spanish rule.

Battles of La Naval de Manila, a series of five naval battles between Spanish and Dutch forces in 1646.

The Ilustrados "enlightened ones" constituted the Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century. Mostly based outside the Philippines, they helped mold the flame of a united Filipino nationalism and identity in the islands. Almost all previous insurgencies were tribal, provincial and regional in nature. The Katipunan secret revolutionary society, formed in 1892, became an insurgent government in August when armed conflict against Spain breaks out upon its discovery. This begins what is generally called the Philippine Revolution. January 1895 – Andrés Bonifacio assumes Supreme Presidency of the Katipunan. August 1896 – Upon the Katipunan's discovery, the Katipunan Supreme Council was reorganised into a "cabinet" of an insurgent revolutionary government. Andrés Bonifacio is re-elected Kataastaasang Pangulo or Presidente Supremo, Supreme President of the Katipunan. The Katipunan and its successor insurgent movements regarded themselves as legitimate governments from this point onwards. Bonifacio referred to the Katipunan-based insurgent government as the "Republic of the Tagalog Nation/People" (Tagalog: Republika ng Katagalugan) and to the insurgent "Philippine nation" as the "Sovereign Nation of the Tagalog People" (Haring-Bayang Katagalugan), with "republic" and "sovereign nation" effectively being synonyms, and "Tagalog" used in place of "Filipino" but referred to the whole Philippines and its people. March 22, 1897 – Emilio Aguinaldo is elected president of a government meant to replace the prior Katipunan insurgent government by attendees of the Tejeros Convention. He was sworn in the day after and fully assumed the office by April despite Bonifacio having annulled the convention proceedings.Established as an insurgent constitutional republic on November 2, 1897, with Aguinaldo as President. This insurgent government had a constitution, President, Vice President, etc.

December 14, 1897 – Signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, suspending the insurgency. Aguinaldo and other insurgent leaders went into voluntary overseas exile. Armed activities temporarily officially halted by the Filipino revolutionary forces.

Central Executive Committee

April 1898 – General Francisco Makabulos forms the insurgent General Executive Committee of Northern Luzon, intended to be a provisional government "until a general government of the Republic in these islands shall again be established." This insurgent government had a constitution, President, Vice President, etc.May 1, 1898 – Hostilities between the U.S. and Spain commenced in the Philippines. 19 May – Aguinaldo returns to the Philippines. 24 May – Aguinaldo announces in Cavite, "... I return to assume command of all the forces for the attainment of our lofty aspirations, establishing a dictatorial government which will set forth decrees under my sole responsibility, ..." June 12, 1898 – Independence is proclaimed in Kawit by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines. June 18 – Aguinaldo proclaims dictatorial government.June 23, 1899 – Aguinaldo issues proclamation replacing his dictatorial government with a revolutionary one.January 22, 1899 – Promulgation of the Malolos Constitution. Replaces Aguinaldo's insurgent revolutionary government with the Malolos Republic, also known as the First Philippine Republic, with Aguinaldo as president. Although the republic never received foreign recognition, Filipinos consider Aguinaldo to be the first president based on this..

Gen. Miguel Malvar, successor of Aguinaldo continued the fight until he surrendered in 1902. Clashes with Moro rebels continued in the south.