History & Culture

Pre-colonial history, Spanish and American eras, regional traditions, languages, and culture.

1113 articles

Articles

10 min read

ASOP Music Festival: History, Format and Winners

The ASOP Music Festival is the Philippines' only gospel music television program, featuring songwriting competitions and annual grand finals...

13 min read

Surianshah of Banjar: Founder of the Sultanate and Islamic Conversion

Surianshah was the founder of the Kingdom of Banjar and its first sultan, ruling from 1520 to 1540.

12 min read

Manila F.A.M.E. International: History and Trade Profile

Manila FAME is a bi-annual trade show launched in 1983, organized by CITEM and recognized by the Union des Foires Internationales.

13 min read

Revenue stamps of the Philippines: History and fiscal administration

History of Philippine revenue stamps from 1856 to present, covering Spanish, US, and Republic eras.

17 min read

Patrol torpedo boat Q-112 Abra

History of Q-112 Abra, a US Army patrol torpedo boat in WWII Philippines.

8 min read

Maravijayottunggavarman: Srivijayan King and Diplomat

Maravijayottunggavarman was a Srivijaya king who reigned c. 1008–1025 CE, known for Chinese diplomacy and the Chudamani Vihara.

10 min read

Robert Bradford Fox: Anthropologist and Historian of Pre-Hispanic Philippines

Robert Bradford Fox (1918–1985) was a leading American anthropologist and historian who defined the pre-Hispanic history of the Philippines...

9 min read

Battle of Balambangan Island: 1775 Conflict between Sulu and Brunei

The 1775 Battle of Balambangan Island was a conflict between the Sulu and Bruneian Sultanates during the Apostate War.

15 min read

Rajah Colambu: First Contact and the Blood Compact of 1521

Rajah Colambu of Mazaua was the first Filipino ruler to ally with Spain, participating in the first Catholic Mass and blood compact in 1521.

10 min read

Philippine Department: US Army Command Structure and WWII History

History of the Philippine Department, a US Army organization that defended the islands and surrendered in 1942.

14 min read

Revolutionary government in the Philippines: Historical precedents and political usage

Overview of revolutionary governments in the Philippines, from the 1896 Katipunan era to the 1986 EDSA Revolution and 2017 political debates...

11 min read

Sunda plate: Tectonic structure and seismic activity in Southeast Asia

The Sunda plate is a minor tectonic plate covering Southeast Asia, moving 10 mm/yr eastward relative to Eurasia.

12 min read

Battle of Manila (1762): British Invasion and Occupation

The 1762 Battle of Manila saw British forces capture the Spanish colony during the Seven Years' War, leading to an 18-month occupation.

15 min read

Sultan Zainal Abidin of Tidore: Last Independent Ruler and Anti-Dutch Resistance

Sultan Zainal Abidin (d. 1810) was the last independent Sultan of Tidore, succeeding his brother Nuku in 1805.

12 min read

Timeline of Philippine political history

A summarized timeline of Philippine political history covering governmental transitions, major polities, and insurgency movements.

13 min read

Ancestral houses of the Philippines: Heritage, Architecture and Preservation

Overview of Philippine ancestral houses, Bahay na Bato architecture, NHCP heritage designations, and regional preservation efforts.

13 min read

Flag Act (Philippines): Act No. 1696 and the Ban on National Symbols

Act No. 1696 of 1907 banned the Philippine flag and Katipunan symbols under American rule until its repeal in 1919.

13 min read

Japanese invasion of Zamboanga: 1942 Battle and Aftermath

The 1942 Japanese invasion of Zamboanga City, part of the Mindanao siege during the Pacific War.

10 min read

Mely Silverio: Legal Case and Transgender Rights in the Philippines

Mely Silverio is a Filipino transgender woman whose 2007 Supreme Court case established the legal precedent for gender recognition in the Ph...

13 min read

Feast of the Black Nazarene: History, Rituals and the 2026 Traslación

Encyclopedic overview of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, covering its history, the Traslación procession, rituals, and recent dev...