Second Philippine Independence (1947 - Present)

1947 [top]

Sep 8: Carlos P. Romulo, a Philippine representative, signs the Japanese Peace Treaty. The Philippines is to obtain large reparations from Japan.

1951 [top]

Aug: The National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) is founded to insure free and honest elections. The organization is funded by the CIA.

1954 [top]

Jul 21: The Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty is signed in Manila, creating the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO). The organization aims to stop communist expansion in the area.

1962 [top]

Jan 21: The value of the peso floats in the free market. The unlimited flow of imported consumer goods subjects local products to crippling competition. Devaluation invites foreign investors due to the high buying power of the dollar.

1968 [top]

May: Muslims organize groups to fight for the complete separation of Mindanao and Sulu Islands from the Philippine Republic. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is revived and consists of the Bangsa Moro Army. The Muslim Independence Movement is established.

Dec 26: The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is founded by José María Sison.

1972 [top]

Sep 21: President Ferdinand Marcos signs the Martial Law Edict and places the entire country under martial law without the public knowing about it.

Nov 29: The Constitutional Convention passes the new Constitution of the Philippines.

1981 [top]

Jan 17: Martial law is lifted in the entire country due to the forthcoming three day visit of the Pope.

1983 [top]

Aug 21: Benigno Aquino, Jr. is assassinated at the Manila International Airport upon arrival from the US. The assassination is believed to be ordered by President Marcos. The airport today is called the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

1986 [top]

Feb 26: Marcos and his family fly to Honolulu for refuge, putting an end to his 20 year reign over the Philippines.

Mar 25: President Corazon Aquino, the first female President of the Philippines, organizes a revolutionary government and issues the Freedom Constitution to replace the one made by Marcos in 1973.

President Aquino appears on nationwide television proclaiming war against the mutineers and ordering the Armed Forces to terminate the mutiny.

1987 [top]

Nov 26: Typhoon Sisang (Nina) hits the southern Tagalog and Bicol regions with winds of 116 miles/hr. About 700 people died and more than 500,000 people ended up homeless. The typhoon destroys 550 million pesos worth of property and crops.

1988 [top]

Oct 21: A U.S. federal grand jury in New York accused former President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda in a $268 million racketeering scheme.

Nov 3: Imelda Marcos is allowed to return to Honolulu after American millionaires Doris Duke put up more than $5 million bail for the former Philippine first lady.

1990 [top]

Jul 16: About 1,600 people die in an earthquake with an intensity between 6 and 7 in the Luzon and Manila area. The epicenter is 6.2 miles southeast of Cabanatuan City.

2007 [top]

Former President Joseph Estrada was convicted of corruption and sentenced to life in prison.