Philippines is one of the most well-loved countries of ll time and its popularity can be rooted to its rich and unique history, where diversity remains.
Philippines facts and trivia you might not know yet:
- Ferdinand Magellan first named the Philippine islands as “Islas de San Lazaro”, converted some of the early residents to Roman Catholicism.
Ferdinand Magellan - However, he was k!lled during the “Battle of Mactan” against the local datu, Lapu-lapu
- Another Spanish expedition came in 1543 by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos and gave the name “Las Islas Fiipinas” to the islands of Samar and Leyte.
Roy Lopez de Villalobos and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi - The given name was in reference to King Phillip II of Spain, who was the King of England and Ireland at the same time.
- King Phillip II was the husband of Mary I of England – being his second wife
- It was when Catholicism is declining in England when expeditions were made to the Philippines – being one of the last countries converted to Roman Catholicism, just when Lutheranism and Calvinism are on the rise
- From Cebu, several expedition has made such as Tondo, Manila, Pampanga, Pangsinan, and Cotabato
- it was King Phillip II’s Golden Age during his reign
- The first educational institute established was Colegio de Manila in 1590 – many whom thought University of Santo Tomas. It lasted only until 1768, due to the “expulsion of the Society of Jesus” from Spain.
- There are a lot of places in the Philippines that start in “San”, which means “saint” in Spanish such as San Fernando in Pampanga and San Carlos in Negros Occidental.
Pre-Colonial Period
- During the time Philippines is not called yet, this archipelago had its own rulers and kingdoms, namely Sinified, Indianized, and Malay Peninsula.
- Spanish colonizers burnt libraries of documents that are considered pagan when expedtion begn in 1521, with the intention to Christianize the whole country
- Did you know that our original language came form a mixture of Sanskrit, Old Malay, Old Javanese and Old Tagalog – aside from Spanish-derived dialects of today
- it is believed that a society of traders rulers and international trading system existed prior to Spanish colonization
- it was in 1380 when the first Islamic missionary took over the Philippines, that strengthened the Islamic faith of Filipinos – before others where converted to Christianity.
Historians explained that the official Spanish dominion started in 1565 with Legazpi and not of Magellan during 1521 – though the “Battle of Mactan” is a historical event that marks Christianity.