Military history of the Philippines

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The military history of the Philippines is characterized by a period of struggle against colonial powers such as Spain and the United States, occupation by the Empire of Japan during World War II and participation in Asian conflicts post-World War II such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Philippines has also battled a communist insurgency and a secessionist movement by Muslims in the southern portion of the country.

Pre-colonial period (before 1565)

Battle of Mactan

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The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, is celebrated as the earliest reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu, a Chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Christian European explorers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.[1][2]

On March 16, 1521, the island of Samar was sighted. The following morning, March 17, Magellan landed on the island of Homonhon.[3][4] He parleyed with Rajah Calambu of Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu Island on April 7. With the aid of Magellan's Malay interpreter, Enrique, Rajah Humabon of Cebu and his subjects converted to Christianity and became allies. Suitably impressed by Spanish firearms and artillery, Rajah Humabon suggested that Magellan project power to cow Lapu-Lapu, who was being belligerent against his authority.

Magellan deployed 49 armored men, less than half his crew, with crossbows and guns, but could not anchor near land because the island is surrounded by shallow coral bottoms and thus unsuitable for the Spanish galleons to get close to shore. His crew had to wade through the surf to make a landing and the ship was too far to support them with artillery. Antonio Pigafetta, a supernumerary on the voyage who later returned to Seville, Spain, records that Lapu-Lapu had at least 1500 warriors in the battle. During the battle, Magellan was wounded in the leg, while still in the surf. As the crew were fleeing to the boats, Pigafetta recorded that Magellan covered their retreat, turning at them on several occasions to make sure they were getting away, and was finally surrounded by a multitude of warriors and killed. The total toll was of eight crewmen killed on Magellan's side against an unknown number of casualties from the Mactan natives.

Spanish colonial period (1565–1898)

Major Revolts (1567–1872)

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Moro campaign (1569–1898)

  • Battle of Cebu (1569)
  • Spanish-Moro Incident (1570)
  • Jolo Holy War (1578–1580)
  • Cotabato Revolt (1597)
  • Spanish-Moro Incident (1602)
  • Basilan Revolt (1614)
  • Kudarat Revolt (1625)
  • Battle of Jolo (1628)
  • Sulu Revolt (1628)
  • Lanao Lamitan Revolt (1637)
  • Battle of Punta Flechas (1638)
  • Sultan Bungsu Revolt (1638)
  • Mindanao Revolt (1638)
  • Lanao Revolt (1639)
  • Sultan Salibansa Revolt (1639)
  • Corralat Revolt (1649)
  • Spanish-Moro Incident (1876)

Limahong campaign (1574–1576)

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Cambodia campaign (1596)

Eighty Years' War (1568–1648)

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Chinese insurrections (1603–1640)

Seven Years' War (1756–1763)

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Cochinchina Campaign (1858–1862)

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Philippine Revolution and Declaration of Independence (1896–1898)

Philippine Revolution (1896–1898)

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The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896, upon the discovery of the anti-colonial secret organization Katipunan by the Spanish authorities. The Katipunan, led by Andrés Bonifacio, was a secessionist movement and shadow government spread throughout much of the islands whose goal was independence from Spain through armed revolt. In a mass gathering in Caloocan, the Katipunan leaders organized themselves into a revolutionary government and openly declared a nationwide armed revolution. Bonifacio called for a simultaneous coordinated attack on the capital Manila. This attack failed, but the surrounding provinces also rose up in revolt. In particular, rebels in Cavite led by Emilio Aguinaldo won early victories. A power struggle among the revolutionaries led to Bonifacio's execution in 1897, with command shifting to Aguinaldo who led his own revolutionary government. That year, a truce was officially reached with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato and Aguinaldo was exiled to Hong Kong, though hostilities between rebels and the Spanish government never actually ceased.[6][7]

Spanish–American War (1898)

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The first battle in the Philippine theater was in Manila Bay, where, on May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the United States Asiatic Squadron aboard the USS Olympia, in a matter of hours, defeated the Spanish squadron, under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón. Dewey's force sustaining only a single casualty — a heart attack aboard one of his vessels.

After the battle, Dewey blockaded Manila and provided transport for Emilio Aguinaldo to return to the Philippines from exile in Hong Kong. Aguinaldo arrived on May 19 and, after assuming command of Filipino forces on May 24, initiated land campaigns against the Spanish. After the Battle of Manila on the morning of August 13, 1898 (a mock battle between U.S and Spanish forces), the Spanish governor, Fermin Jaudenes, surrendered Manila to U.S. forces under Dewey.

On June 12, 1898, with the country still under Spanish sovereignty, Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence from Spain, under a dictatorial government then being established. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared and written in Spanish by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who read it at the proclamation ceremony. The Declaration was signed by ninety-eight persons, among them an American army officer who witnessed the proclamation. The insurgent dictatorial government was replaced on June 23 by an insurgent revolutionary government headed by Aguinaldo as president. The government included a Department of War and Public Works under which was placed the Army of Liberation of the Philippines, a volunteer army to be organized as soon as possible.[8]

The Spanish–American War was formally concluded on December 10, 1898 by the Treaty of Paris between the United States and Spain. In that treaty, Spain ceded the Philippine Archipelago to the United States, and the United States agreed to pay US$20,000,000 to the Spanish government.[9] The United States then exercised sovereignty over the Philippines. The insurgent First Philippine Republic was formally established with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution on January 23, 1899.

American colonial period (1899–1941) and Japanese occupation (1942–1945)

Philippine–American War (1899–1913)

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The Philippine–American War[10] was a conflict between the United States of America and the First Philippine Republic from 1899 through at least 1902, when the Filipino leadership generally accepted American rule. A Philippine Constabulary organized in 1901 to deal with the remnants of the insurgent movement and gradually assumed the responsibilities of the United States Army. Skirmishes between government troops and armed groups lasted until 1913, and some historians consider these unofficial extensions part of the war.[11]

World War I (1914–1918)

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In 1917 the Philippine Assembly created the Philippine National Guard with the intent to join the American Expeditionary Force. By the time it was absorbed into the National Army it had grown to 25,000 soldiers. However, these units did not see action. The first Filipino to die in World War I was Private Tomas Mateo Claudio who served with the U.S. Army as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in the Battle of Chateau Thierry in France on June 29, 1918.[12][13] The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor.[14]

World War II (1939–1945)

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The first Filipino military casualty during the Second World War was serving as an aviator with British forces. First Officer Isidro Juan Paredes of the Air Transport Auxiliary was killed on November 7, 1941, when his aircraft overshot a runway and crashed at RAF Burtonwood. He was buried at Great Sankey (St Mary) Churchyard Extension, but later repatriated to the Philippines.[15] Paredes Air Station in Ilocos Norte, was named in his honor.

WWII Veterans are members of the following:

Related Articles:

Korean War (1950–1953)

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The Philippines joined the Korean War in August 1950. The Philippines sent an expeditionary force of around 7,500 combat troops. This was known as the Philippine Expeditionary Forces To Korea, or PEFTOK. It was the 4th largest force under the United Nations Command then under the command of US General Douglas MacArthur that were sent to defend South Korea from a communist invasion by North Korea which was then supported by Mao Zedong's China and the Soviet Union. The PEFTOK took part in decisive battles such as the Battle of Yultong Bridge and the Battle of Hill Eerie. This expeditionary force operated with the United States 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 45th Infantry Division.[16]

Vietnam War (1964–1969)

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The Philippines was involved in the Vietnam War, supporting civil and medical operations. Initial deployment in 1964 amounted to 28 military personnel, including nurses, and 6 civilians. The number of Filipino troops who served in Vietnam swelled to 182 officers and 1,882 enlisted personnel during the period 1966–1968. This force was known as the Philippine Civic Action Group-Vietnam or PHILCAG-V. Filipino troops withdrew from Vietnam on December 12, 1969.[17] [18][19]

EDSA Revolution (February 22–25, 1986)

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On February 22, 1986, former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos withdrew their support for President Ferdinand Marcos and led the EDSA Revolution by Corazon Aquino (Ninoy's widow). On February 25, 1986, Corazon Aquino was sworm in as the 11th President of the Philippines. Marcos and his family were ousted from power by a combination of the Military, People and Church Members to end the 20-year dictatorship of Marcos.

Persian Gulf War (1990–1991)

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The Philippines sent 200 medical personnel to assist coalition forces in the liberation of Kuwait from the stranglehold of Iraq then led by Saddam Hussein.

Iraq War (2003–2004)

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The Philippines sent 60 medics, engineers and other troops to assist in the invasion of Iraq. The troops were withdrawn on the 14th of July, 2004, in response to the kidnapping of Angelo dela Cruz, a Filipino truck driver. When insurgent demands were met (Filipino troops out of Iraq), the hostage was released. While in Iraq, the troops were under Polish command (Central South Iraq). During that time, several Filipino soldiers were wounded in an insurgent attack, although none died.

Communist insurgent groups in the Philippines

Early 1950s to present

Islamic insurgency in the Philippines

Late 1960s to present

International Peace Support and Humanitarian Relief Operations

  • UN Command in Korea (UNC), 1950–55
    • Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK)
      • 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT)
      • 20th BCT
      • 19th BCT
      • 14th BCT
      • 2nd BCT
  • UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC, or l'Operation des Nations Unies au Congo), 1963
    • Philippine Air Force Contingent (PAFCON) featuring the Limbas Squadron
    • ONUC Fighter Wing Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jose L Rancudo, leading pilots and air crew from Iran, the Philippines, and Sweden
  • Philippine Medical Mercy Mission to Indonesia, 1963
  • "More Flags"/Free World Assistance Program in Vietnam, 1964–71
    • Philippine Contingent, Vietnam (PHILCONV)
    • Philippine Civic Action Group, Republic of Vietnam I (First PHILCAGV)
    • Philippine Civic Action Group, Republic of Vietnam (Second PHILCAGV)
    • Philippine Contingent, Vietnam (PHILCAGV rear party)
  • UN Guards Contingent in Iraq (UNGCI), 1991–92
    • First Philippine-UN Guards Contingent in Iraq (PUNGCI-1)
    • Second PUNGCI (PUNGCI-2)
    • Third PUNGCI (PUNGCI-3)
    • Fourth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-4)
    • Fifth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-5, -5A, -5B, -5C)
    • Sixth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-6A, -6B, -6C, -6D)
    • Seventh PUNGCI (PUNGCI-7A, -7B)
    • Eighth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-8A, -8B)
    • Ninth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-9A, -9B, -9C)
    • Tenth PUNGCI (PUNGCI-10A)
  • UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), 1992–93
    • First Republic of the Philippines Contingent to UNTAC (1RP-UNTAC)
    • Second RP-UNTAC (2RP-UNTAC)
    • UNTAC Military Experts on Mission
  • International Force East Timor (INTERFET), 1999
    • Philippine Humanitarian Support for East Timor (PhilHSMET)
  • UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), 1999-2002
    • Philippine Battalion (PhilBatt)
    • UNTAET Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHSU)/Philippine Contingent to East Timor (PhilCET)
    • UNTAET Peacekeeping Force Staff
    • UNTAET Military Experts on Mission
    • UNTAET Peacekeeping Force Supreme Commander Jaime S de los Santos, leading 8,500 personnel from 19 Troop-Contributing Countries
  • Henri Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Aceh Monitoring Movement (HAMM), 2002–03
    • AFP Contingent to the HAMM International Monitoring Team
  • UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), 2002–05
    • UNMISET Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHSU)/Philippine Contingent to East Timor (PhilCET)
    • UNMISET Peacekeeping Force Staff
    • UNMISET Military Experts on Mission
  • Philippine Humanitarian Contingent to Iraq, 2003–04
  • UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), 2003–2014
    • First Philippine Contingent to Liberia (1PCL)
    • Second PCL (2PCL)
    • Third PCL (3PCL)
    • Fourth PCL (4PCL)
    • Fifth PCL (5PCL)
    • Sixth PCL (6PCL)
    • Seventh PCL (7PCL)
    • Eighth PCL (8PCL)
    • Ninth PCL (9PCL)
    • Tenth PCL (10PCL)
    • Eleventh PCL (11PCL)
    • Twelfth PCL (12PCL)
    • Thirteenth PCL (13PCL)
    • Fourteenth PCL (14PCL)
    • Fifteenth PCL (15PCL)
    • Sixteenth PCL (16PCL)
    • Seventeenth PCL (17PCL)
    • Eighteenth PCL (18PCL)
    • UNMIL Peacekeeping Force Staff / Military Staff Officers
    • UNMIL Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (MINUCI, or la Mission des Nations Unies en Cote d'Ivoire), 2004
    • MINUCI Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI, or l'Operation des Nations Unies en Cote d'Ivoire), 2004–2015
    • ONUCI Peacekeeping Force Staff / Military Staff Officers
    • ONUCI Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Mission in Burundi (ONUB, or l'Operation des Nations Unies au Burundi), 2004–06
    • ONUB Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH, or l'Operation des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en Haiti), 2004–present
    • First Philippine Contingent to Haiti (1PCH)
    • Second PCH (2PCH)
    • Third PCH (3PCH)
    • Fourth PCH (4PCH)
    • Fifth PCH (5PCH)
    • Sixth PCH (6PCH)
    • Seventh PCH (7PCH)
    • Eighth PCH (8PCH)
    • Ninth PCH (9PCH)
    • Tenth PCH (10PCH)
    • Eleventh PCH (11PCH)
    • Twelfth PCH (12PCH)
    • Thirteenth PCH (13PCH)
    • Fourteenth PCH (14PCH)
    • Fifteenth PCH (15PCH)
    • Sixteenth PCH (16PCH)
    • Seventeenth PCH (17PCH)
    • MINUSTAH Peacekeeping Force Staff / Military Staff Officers
  • UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL), 2005–06
    • UNOTIL Military Experts on Mission
  • European Union Aceh Monitoring Mission, 2005–06
    • AMM Peace Monitors
  • UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), 2005–11
    • UNMIS Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), 2006–12
    • UNMIT Military Experts on Mission
  • Philippine Humanitarian Mission and Aid for Myanmar, 2008
  • UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), 2009–present
    • UNMOGIP Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, 2009–14
    • Philippine Battalion – First Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights (1PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Second PCGH (2PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Third PCGH (3PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Fourth PCGH (4PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Fifth PCGH (5PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Sixth PCGH (6PCGH)
    • Philippine Battalion – Seventh PCGH (7PCGH)
    • UNDOF Peacekeeping Force Staff / Military Staff Officers
    • UNDOF Commander and Head of Mission Major General Natalio C Ecarma III, leading 800 personnel from 10 Troop-Contributing Countries
  • UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), 2011-12
    • UNMISS Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), 2011-12
    • UNISFA Military Experts on Mission
  • UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), 2012
    • UNSMIS Military Experts on Mission

[AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center][20][21][22]

List of coups d'etat

List of treaties

List of awards

List of wars involving the Philippines

See also

References

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  3. Halili 2004, p. 72.
  4. Ongsotto 2002, p. 62.
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  7. Guerrero 1998[citation not found].
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  9. Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain
  10. This conflict is also known as the 'Philippine Insurrection'. This name was historically the most commonly used in the U.S., but Filipinos and some American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine–American War, and, in 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress reclassified its references to use this term.
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  13. Source: Philippine Military Academy
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  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. His death was registered at the Maidenhead Register of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where his nationality is recorded as "United Kingdom".
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  17. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-soldiers-depart-south-vietnam
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  20. Balao, Colonel Dante D and Annanette B Cruz-Salazar. Global Kawal. Quezon City, The Philippines: Armed Forces of the Philippines. 2008. ISBN 978-971-92556-3-5
  21. Ancan, Colonel Roberto T and Annanette B Cruz. Global Kawal: The Filipino Soldier in the United Nations Blue Beret (Second Edition). Quezon City, The Philippines: Armed Forces of the Philippines. 2015. ISBN 978-971-92556-4-2
  22. Alejandrino, Charlemagne S and Annanette B Cruz-Salazar. National Pride, World Peace. City of Pasig, The Philippines: Makabayan Publishing House. 2010. ISBN 978-971-94613-0-2

External links