Timeline Of Manila
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The following is a
timeline A timeline is a list of events displayed in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representing t ...
of the
history History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
of the
city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
and metropolitan area of
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
, the capital city of the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
.


9th century onwards

* c. 900 CE - Tundun (Tondo) was at its peak and was a center of commerce and trade of the Tagalogs. It was during this era that the Chief and Commander of Tundun issued the
Laguna Copperplate Inscription The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is an official acquittance ( debt relief) certificate inscribed onto a copper plate in the Shaka year 822 ( Gregorian A.D. 900). It is the earliest-known, extant, calendar-dated document found within the Phil ...
to Namwaran's clan on 21 April 900 CE.Patanñe, E.P. Philippines in the Sixth to Sixteenth Centuries. 1996.Abinales, Patricio N. and Donna J. Amoroso, State and Society in the Philippines. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005. *before the 11th century -
Namayan Namayan (Baybayin: Pre-Kudlit: or (''Sapa''), Post-Kudlit: ), also called SapaLocsin, Leandro V. and Cecilia Y. Locsin. 1967. ''Oriental Ceramics Discovered in the Philippines.'' Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Company. and sometimes Lamayan, ...
was established by the
Tagalog people The Tagalog people are an Austronesian Ethnic groups in the Philippines, ethnic group native to the Philippines, particularly the Metro Manila and Calabarzon regions and Marinduque province of southern Luzon, and comprise the majority in the p ...
at the
Pasig River The Pasig River (; ) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and southern halves. Its m ...
. It was led by the house of Lakantagkan during its peak in the 14th century.Scott, William Henry (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 971-550-135-4. * c. 13th Century - Maynila was supposedly founded by Avirjirkaya which spanned present day
Intramuros Intramuros () is the historic walled area within the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration with the help of the city government of Manila. Intramuros comprises a centuries-old hist ...
according to Kapampangan historian Mariano A. Henson. * ''Uncertain'' ''timestamp'' - Empress Sasanban became the Queen Regent of
Namayan Namayan (Baybayin: Pre-Kudlit: or (''Sapa''), Post-Kudlit: ), also called SapaLocsin, Leandro V. and Cecilia Y. Locsin. 1967. ''Oriental Ceramics Discovered in the Philippines.'' Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Company. and sometimes Lamayan, ...
. According to oral tradition, she was a concubine of ''Anka Widyaya'' of
Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...
and bore a child named Prince Balagtas * ''Uncertain'' ''timestamp'' - the Tagalog and
Kapampangan Kapampangan, Capampañgan or Pampangan may refer to: *Kapampangan people, of the Philippines *Kapampangan language Kapampangan, Capampáñgan, or Pampangan, is an Austronesian language, and one of the eight major languages of the Philippines. ...
-fortified city of
Cainta Cainta, officially the Municipality of Cainta (, ), is a municipality in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Rizal (province), Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 376,933 people. It is one of the ...
was established on an upriver area which occupied the shores on both sides of a waterway of the
Pasig River The Pasig River (; ) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and southern halves. Its m ...
. It was located not far from where the Pasig River meets the Lake of Ba-i. * 15th century - Gat Lontok and
Dayang Kalangitan Dayang Kalangitan (Baybayin: ᜃᜎᜅᜒᜆᜈ᜔ , Filipino orthography, Abecedario: ''Cálan͠gúitán'') is a legendary figure in History of the Philippines (900-1521), early Philippine history who was said to be ''Filipino styles and honori ...
became the co-rulers of
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig (), is a highly-urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the eastern border of Metro Mani ...
. * c.1480 - Salalila became the Rajah of Maynila. * 1521 - Sibunao became the
Lakandula Lakandula (Baybayin: , Filipino orthography, Spanish orthography: ''Lacandola'') was the title of the last ''lakan'' or paramount ruler of History of the Philippines (900–1521), pre-colonial Tondo (historical polity), Tondo when the Spain, Sp ...
of Tondo and Prince Ache became Rajah of Maynila.


16th century

* May 24, 1570 - The Battle of Manila between
Rajah Sulayman Sulayman, sometimes referred to as Sulayman III (Arabic script: سليمان, Abecedario: ''Solimán'') (d. 1590s), was a Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Luzon in the 16th century and was a nephew of Rajah Ache of Luzon. He was the commander of ...
and
Martin de Goiti Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...
. The battle concluded with the city being set on fire.Blair, Emma Helen; Robertson, James Alexander, eds. (1903). Relation of the Conquest of the Island of Luzon. The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898. 3. Ohio, Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Company. p. 145.Dery, Luis Camara (2001). A History of the Inarticulate. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-1069-0. * 1571 - 24 June: Spaniards
Martín de Goiti Martín de Goiti (c. 1534 – 1575) was a Spanish conquistador and one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish voyage of exploration to the East Indies and the Pacific in 1565, in search of rich resources such as gold, spice and settlements. ...
,
Juan de Salcedo Juan de Salcedo (; 1549 – 11 March 1576) was a Spanish conquistador. He was the grandson of Spanish general Miguel López de Legazpi. Salcedo was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish conquest to the Philippines in 1565. He joined th ...
and
Miguel López de Legazpi Miguel López de Legazpi (12 June 1502 – 20 August 1572), also known as ''Adelantado, El Adelantado'' and ''El Viejo'' (The Elder), was a Spanish conquistador who financed and led an expedition to conquer the Philippines, Philippine islan ...
arrived. In August 1571, Legazpi instructed his nephew Juan de Salcedo to "pacify" Cainta. After travelling several days upriver, Salcedo laid siege to the city and eventually found a weak spot on the wall. The final Spanish attack annihilated over 400 residents of Cainta, including their leader Gat Maitan. * 1572 - The Spanish city was attacked and was almost seized by Chinese pirates. * 1573 - The
Spanish galleon Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine ** Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
trade began. * 1574 - A Chinese pirate named
Limahong Limahong, Lim Hong, or Lin Feng ( Teochew zh, t=林鳳, :, : ), well known as Ah Hong ( Teochew zh, t=阿鳳, : , : ) or Lim-A-Hong or Limahon ( Teochew zh, t=林阿鳳, :, : ), was a Chinese pirate and warlord who invaded the northern Phi ...
tried to seize Manila. * 1579 - The Catholic Diocese of Manila was established. * 1583 - Fire. * 1584 - The
Real Audiencia of Manila The Real Audiencia of Manila () was the Real Audiencia of the Spanish East Indies, which included modern-day Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Micronesia and the Philippines. Similar to Real Audiencias throughout the Spanish Empire, it was ...
of the
Viceroyalty of New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( ; Nahuatl: ''Yankwik Kaxtillan Birreiyotl''), originally the Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain. It was one of several ...
was established. * 1590 ** The Printing Press was established. ** Construction of walls and other defences began. * 1603 - Chinese unrest. * 1607 - The San Agustin Church was consecrated. * 1611 - The
University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (UST; ), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as ''Ustê'' (), is a Private university, private Catholic school, Catholic researc ...
was established by Catholic
Dominicans Dominicans () also known as Quisqueyans () are an ethnic group, ethno-nationality, national people, a people of shared ancestry and culture, who have ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican ethnic group was born out of a fusio ...
. * 1615 - The Manila-
Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , ; ), is a city and Port of Acapulco, major seaport in the Political divisions of Mexico, state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicirc ...
galleon trade began. *1620 - The
Colegio de San Juan de Letran The Colegio de San Juan de Letran (), also referred to by its acronym CSJL, is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution owned and run by the friars of the Order of Preachers in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. I ...
was established by Catholic
Dominicans Dominicans () also known as Quisqueyans () are an ethnic group, ethno-nationality, national people, a people of shared ancestry and culture, who have ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican ethnic group was born out of a fusio ...
. * 1645 - 1645 Luzon earthquake.


18th -19th century

* 1762 - The
British occupation of Manila The British occupation of Manila was an episode in the History of the Philippines (1565–1898), colonial history of the Philippines when the Kingdom of Great Britain occupied the Spanish colonial capital of Manila and the nearby Cavite City, ...
began. * 1764 - The
British occupation of Manila The British occupation of Manila was an episode in the History of the Philippines (1565–1898), colonial history of the Philippines when the Kingdom of Great Britain occupied the Spanish colonial capital of Manila and the nearby Cavite City, ...
ended in honor of the Treaty of Paris; the Spanish regained hold of the city. * 1823 - Population: 38,000. * 1837 - Port opened to foreign trade. * 1848 - The '' Diario de Manila'' newspaper started its publication. * 1852 - September: Earthquake. * 1859 ** Escuela Municipal de Manila, the precursor of the Ateneo de Manila University was founded. ** The '' Ilustración Filipina'' magazine started its publication. * 1863 - 3 June: Earthquake. * 1865 - The
Manila Observatory The Manila Observatory is a non-profit research institute housed on the campus of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines. It was founded by the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, in 1865 as the Observatorio M ...
was founded. * 1866 - The Canal de la Reina was dug in
Binondo Binondo (; ) is a district in Manila and is referred to as the city's Chinatown. Its influence extends beyond to the places of Quiapo, Manila, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Manila, Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, Manila, San Nicolas and Tondo, Manila, Tondo. ...
. * 1870 - 23 March: Fire in
Binondo Binondo (; ) is a district in Manila and is referred to as the city's Chinatown. Its influence extends beyond to the places of Quiapo, Manila, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Manila, Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, Manila, San Nicolas and Tondo, Manila, Tondo. ...
. * 1876 - Population: 93,595. * 1880 - July: Earthquake. * 1881 - Hong Kong-Manila telegraph in operation. * 1882 ** October: Typhoon. ** Water supply was inaugurated. * 1887 ** The
National Library of the Philippines The National Library of the Philippines ( or , abbreviated NLP, ) is the Philippines' official national library, repository of information on cultural heritage and other literary resources. It is located in the district of Ermita, Manila, Ermit ...
was founded. ** Population: 176,777. * 1888 - The Commercial Association of Lumber was established. * 1889 - The
Tabacalera Tabacalera was a Spanish tobacco company incorporated on March 5, 1945. In 1999, the company merged with SEITA of France to form Altadis which was later purchased by Imperial Tobacco. Its brands included Ducados and Fortuna Fortuna (, eq ...
Flor de la Isabela cigar factory was built in Paco. * 1892 - The
Dagupan Dagupan , officially the City of Dagupan (, , ), is a 2nd class independent component city in the Ilocos Region, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 174,302 people. Located on Lingayen Gulf on the northwest-central ...
-Manila railway started its operation. * 1893 ** Electrical lighting was installed. ** Fire. * 1896 - 5 December: 1896 Manila mutiny. ** 30 December: execution of Dr. Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan. * 1898 ** 25 July - 13 August:
Battle of Manila (1898) The Battle of Manila (; ), sometimes called the Mock Battle of Manila, was a land engagement which took place in Manila on August 13, 1898, at the end of the Spanish–American War, three months after the decisive victory by Commodore Dew ...
; the United States claimed governance. ** ''
The Manila Times ''The Manila Times'' is the oldest extant English-language newspaper in the Philippines. It is published daily by The Manila Times Publishing Corp. (formerly La Vanguardia Publishing Corporation) with editorial and administrative offices at 2/F ...
'' English-language newspaper started its publication. * 1899 ** 4–5 February:
Battle of Manila (1899) The Battle of Manila (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Labanan sa Maynila''; ), the first and largest battle of the Philippine–American War, was fought on February 4–5, 1899, between 19,000 United States military, American soldiers and 15, ...
. **
Taft Avenue Taft Avenue (; ) is a major road in southern Metro Manila. It passes through three cities in the metropolis: Manila, Pasay, and Parañaque. The road was named after the former Governor-General of the Philippines and President of the United Stat ...
("Calle Rizal") was laid out. * 1900 - The Instituto de Mujeres and the American Circulating Library was established.


20th century


1900s-1940s

* 1901 ** The City of Manila administrative entity was created, composed of
Binondo Binondo (; ) is a district in Manila and is referred to as the city's Chinatown. Its influence extends beyond to the places of Quiapo, Manila, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Manila, Santa Cruz, San Nicolas, Manila, San Nicolas and Tondo, Manila, Tondo. ...
,
Ermita Ermita is a district in central Manila, Philippines. It is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of Manila, bearing the seat of city government and a large portion of the area's e ...
,
Intramuros Intramuros () is the historic walled area within the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration with the help of the city government of Manila. Intramuros comprises a centuries-old hist ...
,
Malate Malic acid is an organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a dicarboxylic acid that is made by all living organisms, contributes to the sour taste of fruits, and is used as a food additive. Malic acid has two stereoisomeric forms ( ...
,
Pandacan Pandacan is a district in Manila, Philippines, which is known in recent history as the former site of the Pandacan oil depot, Pandacan Oil Depot which supplied the majority of oil exports in the country. Etymology Pandacan is a corrupted term ...
,
Quiapo Quiapo may refer to: * Quiapo, Chile, a location in Arauco Province *Quiapo, Manila, a district in the Philippines ** Quiapo Church The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (), commonly known as Quiapo Church and canonically ...
, Santa Cruz, Barrio San Nicolas, San Miguel, San Fernando de Dilao (modern day Paco), Sampaloc and Tondo. ** The capital of the Philippines was relocated to Manila from
Malolos Malolos , officially the City of Malolos (), is a component city and capital of the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 261,189 people. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the ...
. ** Arsenio Cruz-Herrera became
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
. ** The
National Museum of the Philippines The National Museum of the Philippines () is an umbrella government organization that oversees a number of national museums in the Philippines, including Ethnography, ethnographic, Anthropology, anthropological, Archaeology, archaeological, an ...
was established. ** The
Philippine Normal University The Philippine Normal University (PNU; ) is a public university, public coeducational teacher education and research university in the Philippines. It was established in 1901 through Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission ''"for the education ...
was established. ** The United States military camp,
Fort William McKinley Fort Andres Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley) is the site of the national headquarters of the Philippine Army (Headquarters Philippine Army or HPA) located in Taguig, Philippines. The camp is named after Andres Bonifacio, the revolutio ...
was established near the city. ** The
Philippine Constabulary The Philippine Constabulary (PC; , ''HPP''; ) was a gendarmerie-type military police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Police. It was created by the Insular Government, American occupat ...
was established and the general headquarters and military camp bases were located in the capital city. ** The
Philippine Scouts The Philippine Scouts ( Filipino: ''Maghahanap ng Pilipinas''/''Hukbong Maghahanap ng Pilipinas'') was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until after the end of World War II. These troops were generally Filipinos and ...
was established and the general headquarters and military camp bases were located near the capital city. * 1902 - **Manila's border was expanded to include Santa Ana de Sapa. **The Manila Grand Opera House opened in Santa Cruz. * 1903 ** Population: 219,928 city; 330,345 metro. *
Trozo Fire
in Manila (May 1903) * 1905 ** The Manila Elks Club was established. ** Félix Roxas became mayor. * 1908 ** The
University of the Philippines Manila The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, public research university located in Ermita, Manila, Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It is the oldest of eight constituent ...
was founded. ** The famou
Manila Carnival
was held for the first time. * 1909 - The Philippine Library was established. * 1910 ** Basketball, volleyball, and boy scouting were started in the Philippines at the Manila YMCA by YMCA Physical Director Elwood Stanley Brown. ** Th
"Great Fire in Manila"
transpired in Binondo, the damage was worth over two million pesos. * 1911 - De La Salle College, known as
De La Salle University De La Salle University (), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools with main campus in Taft Avenue, Malate, Man ...
was founded. * 1912 - The
Manila Hotel The Manila Hotel is a 550-room, historic five-star hotel located along Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines.
opened. * 1913 ** The first
Far Eastern Championship Games The Far Eastern Championship Games (also known as the Far Eastern Championships, Far Eastern Games or Far East Games) was an Asian multi-sport event considered to be a precursor to the Asian Games. History In 1913, Elwood Brown, president of ...
, also called "the first Oriental Olympic Games," were held at the Carnival grounds (later the site of the Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium) in Malate, on the 3rd to the 7th of February, with participants from the US Philippine Islands, China, Japan, the British East Indies (Malaya), Thailand, and British Hong Kong. ** The
Rizal Monument The Rizal Monument (original title: ''Motto Stella''; Latin: "guiding star") is a memorial in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, José Rizal. The monument consists of a standing bronze scu ...
was erected. * 1917 -
Justo Lukban Justo Lukbán y Rilles (May 28, 1863 – September 2, 1927) was a Filipinos, Filipino physician and politician, Lukban was elected to the Philippine Assembly and was the 3rd Mayor of Manila from 1917 until 1920, he also served as the 3rd Mayor ...
became mayor. * 1918 - Population: 285,306 city; 469,955 metro. * 1919 - The United States Air Service established Camp Nichols near Fort William McKinley, just south of Manila. * 1920 - Ramón Fernández became mayor. * 1923 - The Peking Council, Tokyo Council and the Manila Council - the first
Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...
Councils in Asia, were organized. (The 1973 Golden Jubilee Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was dated from this year.) * 1924 - Miguel Romuáldez became mayor. * 1926 - The Legislative Building was inaugurated in
Ermita Ermita is a district in central Manila, Philippines. It is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of Manila, bearing the seat of city government and a large portion of the area's e ...
. * 1927 - Tomás Earnshaw became mayor. * 1928 - The Institute of Accountancy, which later became the
Far Eastern University Far Eastern University (), also referred to by its acronym FEU, is a Private university, private research non-sectarian university in Manila, Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and ...
, was founded in Sampaloc by Nicanor Reyes et al. * 1930 - The Legazpi-Urdaneta Monument was erected. * 1935 ** Metropolitan Theater was built. ** Valeriano Fugoso became mayor. ** Grace Park Airfield began its operation in
Caloocan Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines. Caloo ...
. ** The city became the capital of the newly-formed
Commonwealth of the Philippines The Commonwealth of the Philippines (; ) was an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territory and Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), commonwealth of the United States that existed from 1935 to 1946. It was established following the ...
. ** The
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...
was established and the general headquarters and military camp bases were established in the capital city. * 1939 - Population: 623,492. * 1941 ** The City of Greater Manila was formed, which merged the city and municipal governments of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pasay, and San Juan. **
Jorge B. Vargas Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis (August 24, 1890 – February 22, 1980) was a Filipino lawyer, diplomat and youth advocate born in Bago, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 an ...
became mayor. ** The
Manila City Hall The Manila City Hall () is the official seat of government of the City of Manila, located in the historic center of Ermita, Manila. It is where the Mayor of Manila holds office and the chambers of the Manila City Council is located. It was or ...
was completed. ** The
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...
's general headquarters and camp base in the city's capital were disestablished, and was occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces. * 1942 ** The Japanese occupation began. ** León G. Guinto, Sr. became mayor. ** The general headquarters and military camp bases of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...
were moved to the provinces. * 1945 ** February: The
Manila massacre The Manila massacre ( or ''Masaker sa Maynila''), also called the Rape of Manila (), involved atrocities committed against Filipino people, Filipino civilians in the Manila, City of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, by Empire of Japan ...
initiated by the Japanese forces transpired. ** 3 February - 3 March: The World War II
Battle of Manila (1945) The Battle of Manila (; ; ; ) was a major battle during the Philippines Campaign (1944–45), Philippine campaign of 1944–45, during the Second World War. It was fought by forces from both the United States and the Commonwealth of the Philip ...
ensued; the Japanese forces were defeated. ** 1 August: The City of Greater Manila was disestablished. ** Juan L. Nolasco became mayor. ** The General Headquarters and military camp bases of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...
and the
Philippine Constabulary The Philippine Constabulary (PC; , ''HPP''; ) was a gendarmerie-type military police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Police. It was created by the Insular Government, American occupat ...
was re-established and reactivated in the city's capital after liberation from the Japanese. * 1946 - The city became part of the newly inaugurated
Third Republic of the Philippines Third or 3rd may refer to: Numbers * 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3 * , a fraction of one third * 1⁄60 of a ''second'', i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system Places * 3rd Street (dis ...
. * 1947 - The Republic Theatre opened. * 1948 ** The capital of the Philippines was relocated from Manila to
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
. ** Manuel A. Roxas High School was established in Paco. ** Manuel de la Fuente became mayor. ** Population: 983,906 city; 1,569,148 metro. ** The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial was established near the city. * 1949 - 18 June: City legislative districts for
House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives (; '','' thus commonly referred to as ''Kamara'') is the lower house of Congress of the Philippines, Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the Senate of the Philippines as the upper house. The ...
was expanded from two to four.


1950s-1990s

* 1952 **
Arsenio Lacson Arsenio Hilario Sison Lacson Sr. (December 26, 1912 – April 15, 1962) was a Filipino lawyer, journalist and politician who gained widespread attention as 1st to be elected and 15th Mayor of Manila from 1952 to 1962. An active executive liken ...
became mayor. ** National Press Club established their headquarters in the city. * 1954 - Holy Child Catholic School opened in Tondo. * 1959 - The Ramon Magsaysay High School was established in España, Manila. * 1960 ** The
Araneta Coliseum The Araneta Coliseum, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Smart Araneta Coliseum, is an indoor multi-purpose arena, sports arena that is part of the Araneta City in the Quezon City#Cubao, Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines. ...
opened in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
. ** Population: 1,138,611 city; 2,462,288 metro. * 1961 - The new terminal of Manila Airport opened. * 1962 -
Antonio Villegas Antonio de Jesus Villegas (January 9, 1928 – November 16, 1984) was a Philippines, Filipino politician who served as the 16th Mayor of Manila from 1962 to 1971. His term was after the term of Arsenio Lacson as mayor of Manila, and before the ...
became mayor. * 1966 - The
Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP; ) is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) established to preserve, develop and promote Arts in the Philippines, arts and Culture of the Philippines, culture in the Philippines.Presid ...
was founded. ** 24-25 October: Manila Summit Conference. * 1970 ** Zone One Tondo Organization was established. ** Population: 1,330,788 city; 3,966,685 metro. * 1971 -
Ramon Bagatsing Ramon Delaraga Bagatsing Sr. (August 19, 1916 – February 14, 2006) was a Filipino politician. He was the only Filipino of Indian ancestry and person with disability (an amputee) who served as 17th Mayor of Manila from 1971 to 1986. Bagatsi ...
became mayor. ** 21 August: Plaza Miranda Bombing. * 1973 - Some 3000 Boy Scouts camped out and conducted a massive clean-up of
Intramuros Intramuros () is the historic walled area within the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration with the help of the city government of Manila. Intramuros comprises a centuries-old hist ...
, from the 9th to the 11th of February. * 1974 - Miss Universe 1974 pageant was held. * 1975 ** 1 October:
Thrilla in Manila Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, billed as the ''Thrilla in Manila'', was the third and final professional boxing match between undisputed champion Muhammad Ali, and former champion Joe Frazier, for the heavyweight championship of the world. ...
. ** Metropolitan Manila Commission was created to administer not just the city of Manila but also
Caloocan Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines. Caloo ...
,
Mandaluyong Mandaluyong ( ; ), officially the City of Mandaluyong (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly-urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popula ...
,
Makati Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...
,
Malabon Malabon, officially the City of Malabon (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 380,522 people. Located just north of the city of Manila, Malabon is ...
,
Marikina Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 4 ...
,
Muntinlupa Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
,
Navotas Navotas, officially the City of Navotas (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it ha ...
,
Pasay Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
,
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig (), is a highly-urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the eastern border of Metro Mani ...
,
Las Piñas Las Piñas (, officially the City of Las Piñas (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of ...
,
Parañaque Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
,
Pateros Pateros, officially the Municipality of Pateros (; ), is the lone municipality of the Philippines, municipality of Metropolitan Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 65,227 people. This munic ...
,
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
,
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...
, San Pedro,
Taguig Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...
, and
Valenzuela Valenzuela may refer to: Places * Valenzuela, Paraguay * Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines * Valenzuela, Spain * Valenzuela de Calatrava, Spain * Valenzuela, Louisiana Other uses * Valenzuela (surname), including a list of people with the ...
. ** The
Metro Manila Film Festival The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is an annual film festival organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority and held nationwide in the Philippines. The festival, which runs from Christmas Day through New Year's Day and into first weeke ...
was first held. ** Population: 1,479,116 city; 4,880,006 metro. * 1976 ** Capital of the Philippines was relocated to Manila from
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
. **
Philippine International Convention Center The Philippine International Convention Center (; PICC) is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay, Philippines. The Brutalist facility has been the host of numerous local and foreign conventions, ...
was built in
Pasay Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
. **
Ali Mall Ali Mall is a shopping mall at the Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City. Standing along P. Tuazon Boulevard and bounded by major roads along the Araneta City complex, the mall is located across SM Araneta City, and is owned by The Araneta City ...
, the first shopping mall in the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
, opened in Quezon City. **
Harrison Plaza Harrison Plaza (HP) was a shopping mall situated along Adriatico Street corner Ocampo Street in the district of Malate in Manila, Philippines. Opened in 1976 and closed at the end of 2019, it was the first modern and major shopping mall loca ...
opened in
Malate, Manila Malate is a district of Manila, Philippines. Together with the district of Ermita, Manila, Ermita, it serves as Manila's center for commerce and tourism. Etymology The name ''Malate'' is derived from a corruption of the Tagalog language, Tagal ...
. * 1979 - Sampaloc flea market was officially inaugurated. * 1980 - Population: 5,924,563 metro. * 1981 **
Sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inte ...
relationship was established with
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
, USA. ** Catholic pope visited the city. * 1982 - Metro Manila Commission for Squatters was established. * 1983 ** 21 August: Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. at
Manila International Airport Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA ; ; ), also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about south of ...
. ** 31 August: Funeral procession of Benigno Aquino, Jr. passed by the capital from the Santo Domingo Church en route to Parañaque. * 1984 **
Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1 The Light Rail Transit Line 1, commonly referred to as LRT Line 1 or LRT-1, is a state-owned (through Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)) but privately operated (by Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC)) light rapid transit system line in Me ...
began its operation. ** Population: 1,728,441 city; 6,720,050 urban agglomeration (estimate). * 1985 - SM City North EDSA opened as the 1st
SM Supermall SM Supermalls, or simply SM, is a chain of shopping malls owned by the Philippines-based SM Prime. , it has a total of 96 malls (88 in the Philippines and 8 in China). It also has 9 malls under construction (7 in the Philippines and 2 in China ...
. * 1986 ** February:
People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, were a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
. ** May: Mel Lopez became mayor. * 1987 ** First Coup Attempt ** City legislative districts for the House of Representatives expanded to the present six. * 1989 - Second Coup Attempt * 1987 - January:
Mendiola Massacre The Mendiola massacre was an incident that took place on Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila, Philippines on January 22, 1987, in which state security forces under President Corazon Aquino violently dispersed a farmers' march to Malacañang ...
. * 1992 -
Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...
became mayor. * 1993 - the Easter Regatta, later called the President's Cup Regatta, was held for the first time in Manila Bay * 1994 ** Museo Pambata opened in
Ermita Ermita is a district in central Manila, Philippines. It is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of Manila, bearing the seat of city government and a large portion of the area's e ...
. ** 20 May:
Miss Universe 1994 Miss Universe 1994 was the 43rd Miss Universe pageant, held on 21 May 1994 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines. Seventy-seven contestants competed during this year. Outgoing titleh ...
pageant was held. ** Population: 8,594,150 urban agglomeration (estimate). * 1995 **
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; ) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital city of Manila, the cities of Quezon City, Caloocan, ...
was established. ** Catholic pope visited the city. * 1996 - Ozone Disco fire * 1998 -
Lito Atienza Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician, who served as a 21st Mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, He also served as the 30th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources f ...
became mayor. * 1999 - Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 began its operation. * 2000 ** 30 December: Rizal Day bombings. ** Green Papaya Art Projects was founded. ** Population: 1,581,082 city; 9,932,560 metro.


21st century

* 2001 ** January 16–20:
Second EDSA Revolution The Second EDSA Revolution (), also known as the Second People Power Revolution, EDSA 2001, or EDSA II (pronounced ''EDSA Two'' or ''EDSA Dos'', the Spanish word for "two"), was a political protest from January 17–20, 2001 which peacefully ...
. ** April 25–May 1:
EDSA III The May 1 Riots, or EDSA III (pronounced as ''EDSA Three'' or ''EDSA Tres'', the Spanish word for "three"), were protests sparked by the arrest of newly deposed president Joseph Estrada of the Philippines from April 25 to May 1, 2001. Th ...
protest. * 2002 - Bus bombing. * 2003 ** Army mutiny. **
Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 The Light Rail Transit Line 2, also known as LRT Line 2, LRT-2, or Megatren, is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila in the Philippines owned and operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA). The line generally runs in an east–west di ...
began its operation. * 2006 - May:
Mall of Asia SM Mall of Asia (also abbreviated as SM MoA, or simply Mall of Asia or MoA; ), is a large shopping mall in the Philippines, located at Bay City, Metro Manila, Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila within the SM Central Business Park, a reclaimed area w ...
opened in
Pasay Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
. * 2007 ** June 30:
Alfredo Lim Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...
was re-elected as mayor. ** October 19:
explosion An explosion is a rapid expansion in volume of a given amount of matter associated with an extreme outward release of energy, usually with the generation of high temperatures and release of high-pressure gases. Explosions may also be generated ...
in
Glorietta Glorietta (; stylized in all lowercase), also known as Ayala Malls Glorietta and formerly known as Quad, is a shopping mall complex in the Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. The mall is owned by Ayala Land and operated through its ...
** November 29: Coup attempt. ** Asian Network of Major Cities 21 met in Manila. ** MO_Space art gallery was founded. * 2009 - September: Typhoon. * 2010 ** 23 August:
Manila hostage crisis The Manila hostage crisis, officially known as the Rizal Park hostage-taking incident (), took place when a disgruntled former Philippine National Police officer named Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus in Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines, ...
in
Rizal Park Rizal Park (), also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area of . The site on where the park is situated was ...
. ** 26 September: School bombing. ** Population: 1,652,171 city; 11,855,975 metro. * 2012 - August: Flooding. * 2013 ** August: Million People March. **
Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...
became mayor. * 2015 ** January: Catholic pope visited the city. ** Population: 1,780,148. * 2016 **22 May: Concert tragedy. **14 August:
Tornado A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with the surface of Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the ...
. * 2017 **30 January:
Miss Universe 2016 Miss Universe 2016 was the 65th Miss Universe pageant, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines on January 30, 2017. This was the second time that the pageant skipped a year, after Miss Universe 2014 was held i ...
pageant was held. **June: Gunman Attack in
Resorts World Manila Newport World Resorts (formerly Resorts World Manila) is an integrated resort, located in Newport City, opposite Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. The resort is owned and operated by Tr ...
. * 2018 - May:
National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. With 4.4 ...
opened in Ermita. * 2019 **30 June:
Isko Moreno Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso (; born October 24, 1974) is a Filipino politician, actor, host and entrepreneur who is the mayor-elect of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, having been 2025 Manila local elections, elected in 202 ...
became mayor of Manila. * 2022 **30 June:
Honey Lacuna Maria Sheilah "Honey" Honrado Lacuna-Pangan (born May 6, 1965) is a Filipina physician and politician who has served as the 24th and current mayor of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, since 2022. The first woman to serve as the city ...
became mayor of Manila. She is the first female to hold the position.


See also

*
History of Manila The earliest recorded History of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, dates back to the year 900 AD, as documented in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. By the thirteenth century, the city consisted of a fortified settlement and trading q ...
*
Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...
* List of mayors of Manila * Other names of Manila * List of historical markers in Manila *
Greater Manila Area The Greater Manila Area () is the contiguous urbanization region surrounding the Metro Manila, Metropolitan Manila area of the Philippines. This built-up zone includes Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces of Bulacan to the north, Cavite and ...
*
Mega Manila Mega Manila is a megalopolis on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. There are varying definitions of the megalopolis, but it is generally seen as encompassing the administrative regions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila. On so ...
*
Timeline of Philippine history This is a timeline of Philippine history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in the Philippines and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see history of the Philippines. Pr ...
*
List of cities by population density This is a list of cities worldwide by population density. The population, population density and land area for the cities listed are based on the entire city proper, the defined boundary or border of a city or the city limits of the city. The p ...


References


Bibliography

Published in the 19th century * * * * * * * * Published in the 20th century * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Edilberto De Jesus. 'Manila's first factories', Philippine Historical Review, 4 (1971) * * * Daniel F. Doeppers. Manila, 1900-1941: Social change in a late colonial metropolis (New Haven: Yale University Southeast Asia Studies, 1984). * * * * Melinda Tria Kerkvliet, Manila workers' unions, 1900-1950 (Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1992). * * * * Xavier Huetz de Lemps. 'Shifts in meaning of "Manila" in the nineteenth century', in Old ties and new solidarities: Studies on Philippine communities, ed. C. J.-H. Macdonald and G. M. Pesigan (Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2000) Published in the 21st century * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

{{Years in the Philippines Years in the Philippines
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
Manila-related lists
manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...