(1934) Tydings-McDuffie Law (Philippine Independence Law) approved

by U.S. President Roosevelt, allowed establishment of Commonwealth of the Philippines

and full independence in ten years
(1935) Philippine Constitution approved

(1935) Manuel Quezon elected president for six-year term in first elections, office
of U.S. Governor-General was abolished
(1941) Manuel Quezon re-elected president in second election

(1941) After bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese attacked Philippines as ally of U.S.
(1941) U.S. troops left Manila, surrendering it to Japanese
(1941) U.S. and Filipino troops retreated to Bataan
(1942) Bataan was last province to surrender to Japanese
(1942) Bataan Death March - 36,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers were forced to march
without food and water, prisoners of war were killed by their guards, survivors were
taken to a concentration camp at Capaz

(1942) Japanese forces entered Manila, proclaimed end ofU.S. occupation of

Philippines, martial law was imposed
(1942) Commonwealth of the Philippines joined United Nations
(1943) Philippine economy collapsed, shortage of rice became serious

(1945) U.S. forces entered Manila; Battle of Manila ended;Japan surrendered to U.S.
(1946) Islands granted full independence, renamed Republic of the Philippines
(1947) Elpidio Quirino took oath of office as President of the Philippines

(1947) U.S. awarded military bases in Philippines

(1951) Peace treaty signed with Japan
(1953) Ramon Magsaysay elected President of the Republic of the Philippines
(1957) President Magsaysay died in plane crash; Vice-President Carlos P. Garcia
assumed office
(1957) Carlos P. Garcia elected President of the Republic of the Philippines
(1961) Diosdado Macapagal won presidential election
(1965) Ferdinand Marcos elected President

(1969) Ferdinand Marcos re-elected President

(1969) Muslim separatists began campaign of guerrilla war in the country's south
(1972) Suspicious bombing incidents increased around the country
(1972) President Marcos declared the entire country was under martial law, suspended
parliament, arrested opposition politicians, imposed censorship
(1972) Opposition leader, Senator Benigno Aquino, arrested
(1973) Constitutional Convention passed new Constitution of the Philippines; gave
President Marcos absolute power
(1973) President Marcos' term extended by referendum
(1976) Major earthquake and following tsunami killed 8,000 people at Mindanao.
(1977) Referendum empowered President Marcos to continue in office, and to also
become Prime Minister
(1977) Opposition leader Benigno Aquino sentenced to death; execution delayed by
President Marcos

(1980) Benigno Aquino released to undergo heart surgery in the U.S.

(1981) Due to upcoming three-day visit by the Pope, martial law was lifted
(1981) Marcos re-elected president

(1983) Benigno Aquino assassinated at Manila International Airport upon arrival from
the U.S.
(1986) Aquino's widow, Corazon, ran against Marcos in presidential election; Marcos
declared himself winner, Aquino disputed results
(1986) Mass protests followed election; military withdrew support of Marcos

(1986) Marcos fled to Hawaii

(1986) New government claimed Marcos looted billions of dollars during his presidency

(1989) U.S. assisted Philippine government forces in suppressing attempted coup

(1990) Military officials convicted of murdering Benigno Aquino

(1991) Philippine Senate voted to end U.S. military presence in the county
(1992) President Aquino's defense minister, Fidel Ramos, won presidency
(1996) Peace agreement reached with Moro National Liberation Front, a Muslim

separatist group; the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continued with its campaign

(1997) Economy damaged by Asian financial crisis

(1998) Joseph Estrada elected president
2000s
(2000) President Estrada declared "all-out-war" against Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF)
(2000) Impeachment proceedings began against President Estrada due to allegations
of corruption, violation of the Constitution, betraying of public trust
(2001) Following suspension of impeachment proceedings, mass street protests took
place; military withdrew its support of Estrada
(2001) Estrada forced to step down due to public outrage over corruption allegations;
Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the office of president
(2001) Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) declared cease fire; said it was ready for
talks with government
(2001) Estrada charged with plundering more than $80 million in state funds while in
office; found guilty, jailed for life; won a pardon

(2002) U.S. and Filipino military held joint exercises in war on international terrorism
(2002) Series of bomb blasts on Manila bus and three locations in Zamboanga City
blamed on Islamic militants
(2003) Cease fire between MILF and government
(2003) Talks between MILF and government were called off after rebel attack in
Mindanao killed 30
(2003) Over 300 army soldiers seized shopping center in Manila in a mutiny;
surrendered peacefully after negotiations
(2003) President Arroyo declared state of rebellion
(2004) Arroyo won presidential election
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(2004) Hundreds of people killed in floods and mudslides caused by powerful storms
and typhoon
(2005) Fighting between Filipino troops and MILF rebels broke 2003 cease fire

(2005) Peace talks in Malaysia between government and MILF rebels resulted in
breakthrough of issue of ancestral land
(2005) Demonstrations and calls for President Arroyo's resignation over allegations of
vote-rigging in election
(2005) Congress voted against filing of impeachment against Arroyo
(2006) Mudslide on island of Leyte killed more than 1,000
(2006) President Arroyo declared state of emergency in response to coup rumors
(2006) Typhoon Durian battered east coast, triggered mudslides, hundreds dead
(2007) Army confirmed death of Abu Sayyaf leader, Khaddafy Janjalani
(2007) Military increased offensive against Abu Sayyaf, after the beheading of seven
Christian hostages
(2007) Government report accused military of being responsible for killings of
hundreds of left-win activists
(2007) Soldiers on trial for 2003 mutiny, made coup attempt at luxury hotel in Manila
(2007) Former President Joseph Estrada was convicted of plunder
(2008) Government negotiators, MILF rebels reached an agreement for a Muslim
autonomous region in the south; deal collapsed after objections from Christian
communities and fighting on island of Mindanao which left more than 30 people dead
(2009) Army captured MILF base on Mindanao
(2009) People traveling to file election nomination papers in Mindanao were attacked,
57 were killed

(2009) Peace talks resumed between government and MILF rebels in peace talks
in Malaysia
(2009) Three volunteers of the International Committee of Red Cross kidnapped by the
Abu Sayyaf rebels
(2009) Former President Corazon Aquino died
(2009) "State of calamity" declared by President Gloria Arroyo due to Typhoon Ketsana
which caused landslides, flooding; nearly 500 people died
(2010) Prosecutors charged 196 people with murder over the Maguindanao massacre

(2010) Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino elected president

(2010) Manila Hostage Crisis occurred when dismissed national police officer hijacked
tourist bus in Manila in attempt to get his job back
(2010) Typhoon Megi killed 31 people, caused major damages in Luzon, one of the
costliest typhoons in the Philippines

(2011) U.S. committed to defense of the Philippines amid rising tensions in South
China Sea with China over the Spratly Islands
(2011) Former President Gloria Arroyo arrested on vote-fraud over Senate election in
2007, she denied charges
(2011) Ban ordered on deployment of workers to 41 countries for failure to sign
agreements to protect foreign workers from abuse
(2011) More than 1,000 died after Typhoon Washi struck Mindanao; entire
neighborhoods swept away, tens of thousands forced into shelters
(2011) Abu Sayyaf group blamed for explosion at small hotel in Zamboanga which
killed three, injured nearly 30
(2012) Gunmen in speedboats opened fire on fishermen off Sibago Island, killed 15
(2012) Military announced it killed man on FBI most-wanted terror list, two other
militants in pre-dawn air strike on Sulu Island
(2012) Philippines, Chinese naval vessels confronted one another in South China Sea
(2012) Torrential rains caused flooding which paralyzed most of Manila
(2012) Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo missing after the light aircraft he
was traveling in crashed into the sea

(2012) Approximately 3,000 protesters from the Philippines Muslim minority

burned U.S. and Israeli flags in Marawi over amateur anti-Islam video produced in
the U.S.

(2013) Filipino coastguard killed Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters, set off major
diplomatic row
(2013) Over 75,000 residents fled Zamboanga during stand-off between Moro National
Liberation Front rebels and the army, 200 people were killed, including 166 rebels
(2013) Typhoon Haiyan decimated central area of the country, over 6,000 killed,

millions lost homes, major international aid effort was organized

(2013) Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed power-sharing accord
(2014) Benito Tiamzon and wife Wilma, leaders of the Communist Party-New People's
Army-National Democratic Front, and five others were arrested by armed forces for for
their crimes against humanity that included multiple murders
(2014) Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed peace accord, ended four
decades of fighting

(2014) U.S. and Philippines reached 10-year agreement giving American warships,
planes and troops greater access to bases in Philippines

(2014) National Police arrested 11 Chinese fisherman for poaching more than 500
endangered sea turtles in disputed South China Sea

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The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government
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wherein power is equally divided among its three branches: executive,

legislative, and judicial.
One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the
principle of separation of powers wherein legislation belongs to
Congress, execution to the Executive, and settlement of legal
controversies to the Judiciary.

One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the principle of

separation of powers wherein legislation belongs to Congress, execution to the
Executive, and settlement of legal controversies to the Judiciary.

The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them through
the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the
Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Executive branch is composed of the President and the Vice President who are
elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The Constitution
grants the President authority to appoint his Cabinet. These departments form a
large portion of the countrys bureaucracy.

The Judicial branch holds the power to settle controversies involving rights that
are legally demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether or not
there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of
jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the government. It is made up of a
Supreme Court and lower courts.
The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review
as the power to declare a treaty, international or executive agreement, law,
presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance or regulation
unconstitutional.
Legislative Branch[edit]
The legislative power is vested in the Congress of the Philippines which consists of
the Senate and House of Representatives. The upper house is located in Pasay City, while the
lower house is located in Quezon City. Both are in Metro Manila. The district and sectoral
representatives are elected for a term of three years. They can be re-elected but they may
not run for a fourth consecutive term.
Senators are elected to a term of six years. They can be re-elected but may not run for a third
consecutive term. The House of Representatives may opt to pass for a vacancy of a legislative
seat, which leads to a special election. The winner of the special election will serve the
unfinished term of the previous district representative, and will be considered as one elective
term. The same rule also applies in the Senate, however it only applies if the seat was
vacated before a regular legislative election.
The current President of the Senate is Aquilino Pimentel III, while the current Speaker of the

House of Representatives is Pantaleon Alvarez

Executive Branch[edit]
Main article: Executive departments of the Philippines
The executive power is vested in the President of the Philippines. The President is elected by
popular vote. The principal workplace of the President is the Malacaang Palace in San
Miguel, Manila. The executive branch is currently headed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The
President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, The second
highest official is elected separately from the President by popular vote. The current Vice
President is Leni Robredo. The Vice President is first in line to succession if the President
resigns, is impeached or dies. The Vice President is usually, though not always, a member of
the president's cabinet. If there is a vacancy in the position of vice-president, the President
will appoint any member of Congress (usually a party member) as the new Vice President. The
appointment must then be validated by a three-fourths vote of the Congress. [2]

Judicial Branch[edit]
The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court of the Philippines and lower courts
established by law. The Supreme Court, which has a Chief Justice as its head and 14 Associate
Justices, occupies the highest tier of the judiciary. The justices serve until the age of 70. The
justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar
Council of the Philippines.[3] The sitting Chief Justice is Maria Lourdes Sereno, the 24th to
serve in that position...
Other court types of courts, of varying jurisdiction around the archipelago, are the:
Lower Collegiate Courts:
Court of Appeals
Court of Tax Appeals
Sandiganbayan
Regular Courts:
Court of Appeals
Regional
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
Muslim Courts
Sharia District Courts
Sharia Circuit Courts

Constitutional Commissions[edit]
Article 9 of the Constitution of the Philippines establishes three constitutional commissions:
the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Elections, and the Commission on Audit.

Office of the Ombudsman[edit]

See also: Corruption in the Philippines
The government and all three of its branches are independently monitored by the office of the
Ombudsman (Filipino: Tanodbayan). The Ombudsman is given the mandate to investigate and
prosecute any government official allegedly guilty of crimes, especially Graft and Corruption.
The Ombudsman is assisted by six deputies: the Overall Deputy, the Deputy for Luzon, the
Deputy for Visayas, the Deputy for Mindanao, the Deputy for the Armed Forces, and the
Special Prosecutor.

Administrative divisions[edit]
Main article: Administrative divisions of the Philippines
Local government hierarchy. The dashed lines emanating from the president means that the President only
exercises general supervision on local government.

The Philippines has four main classes of elected administrative divisions, often lumped
together as local government units (LGUs). They are, from the highest to the lowest division:

1.Autonomous regions
2.Provinces (lalawigan, probinsiya, kapuoran) and independent cities (lungsod,
siyudad/ciudad, dakbayan, dakbanwa, lakanbalen)

3.Municipalities (bayan, balen, bungto, banwa) and component cities (lungsod,

siyudad/ciudad, dakbayan, dakbanwa, lakanbalen)

4.Barangays (also known as barrio)

Beyond these, the national government groups provinces and independent cities intoregions,
e.g. Metro Manila or Region VI. The President has the prerogative to create, abolish and
determine the composition of regions, which is done so most often in consultation with the
local government units affected, with the exception of autonomous regions, where the
residents of the local government units have to ratify in a plebiscite their inclusion in such a
setup.