History & Culture

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

1197 articles

Articles

12 min read

Karaeng Galesong: Makassarese Noble and Leader in the Trunajaya Rebellion

Karaeng Galesong was a Makassarese nobleman and warrior who led forces in the Trunajaya rebellion against the Mataram Sultanate in Java.

10 min read

First Quarter Storm: 1970 Protests and the Radicalization of Philippine Opposition

The First Quarter Storm was a period of civil unrest in the Philippines in early 1970 against President Ferdinand Marcos, featuring major st...

9 min read

United States Asiatic Fleet: History and Operations

History of the US Navy's Asiatic Fleet, from its 1902 creation to its dissolution in 1942 during World War II.

12 min read

Renato Constantino: Nationalist Historian and Critic of Philippine Colonialism

Renato Constantino (1919–1999) was a Filipino historian known for The Philippines: A Past Revisited and his nationalist critique of Philippi...

6 min read

Sultan Saiful Rijal: Brunei's Rule and the Castilian War

Sultan Saiful Rijal ruled Brunei from 1530 to 1581, overseeing the Castilian War with Spain and the spread of Islam in Borneo.

13 min read

Leonard Wood: Military Career, Presidential Bid and Philippine Governor-Generalship

Leonard Wood was a US Army major general, Medal of Honor recipient, and Governor-General of the Philippines (1921–1927).

11 min read

Credit Information Corporation: History and Structure of the Philippine Credit System

Overview of the Credit Information Corporation (CIC), the Philippine GOCC established in 2008 to manage national credit data.

14 min read

San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish Church: History, Architecture and Heritage in Tanay

Tanay Church in Rizal, a 1783 Baroque Roman Catholic parish declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.

12 min read

Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986

The 1986 Constitutional Commission drafted the 1986 Philippine Constitution following the EDSA People Power Revolution.

8 min read

Balaputradewa: Srivijayan Maharaja and Sailendra Exile

Balaputradewa was the 9th-century Maharaja of Srivijaya and head of the Sailendra dynasty, known for his exile from Java and patronage of Na...

10 min read

Progresista Party: Origins, Evolution and Dissolution

History of the Progresista Party, a defunct Philippine political party formed in 1900 as the Federalist Party.

13 min read

Shah Brunei: Sultan of Brunei (1581–1582)

Shah Brunei was the Sultan of Brunei from 1581 to 1582, described by Jacques de Coutre as a pirate-like ruler.

11 min read

Indian auxiliaries in the Spanish conquest of the Americas

Indigenous allies who fought alongside Spanish conquistadors in the Americas.

13 min read

Luneta Hotel: Historic Architecture and Heritage in Manila

Historic French Renaissance hotel in Manila, Philippines, completed in 1919 and designed by Salvador Farre.

10 min read

Haji Sumatrabhumi: Srivijaya King and Diplomat to the Song Dynasty

Haji Sumatrabhumi was a Srivijaya king who sent envoys to the Chinese Song dynasty in 1017, preceding the Chola attacks.

11 min read

Saifuddin of Tidore: Sultanate, VOC Alliance and Papuan Trade

Sultan Saifuddin of Tidore (1657-1687) allied with the Dutch VOC, ending Spanish influence and expanding trade in New Guinea.

13 min read

Siniloan Church: History, Architecture and Heritage in Laguna

Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Siniloan, Laguna: history from 1579 reduccion to 2004 reconstruction.

12 min read

Tondo Conspiracy: The 1587 Tagalog Uprising Against Spanish Rule

The Tondo Conspiracy of 1587 was a major planned revolt by Tagalog nobles to overthrow Spanish rule, involving alliances with Japan and Brun...

13 min read

Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971

The 1971 Philippine Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1973 Constitution under Ferdinand Marcos.

9 min read

Spanish expedition to Balanguingui: 1848 Campaign

The 1848 Spanish amphibious campaign against Moro pirates on Balanguingui Island, led by Governor-General Narciso Clavería.