- Early Philippines Period, 22,000 BC-1521 AD.
- Spanish Colonialism Period, 1521-1898.
- Period of Filipino Nationalism, 1872-1913.
- American Colonialism Period, 1898-1946.
- Japanese Occupation Period, 1941-1945.
- Period of the Philippine Republic, 1946-present.
The red arrow is where Marinduque is- my second home- Heart and Geographical Center of the Philippines. It is the location of Chateau Du Mer-our retirement home in the Philippines.
Brief History of the Philippines: Spain first settled in the Philippines in the 16th century. It would go on to colonize the country for more than 330 years, although the British briefly occupied Manila for 18 months from 1762 to 1764. This British occupation of Manila is not emphasize in Philippines History for reasons, I do not know.
In 1898, Spain was forced to sell the Philippines for $20 Million to the US following its defeat in the Spanish-American War. Americans who advocated annexation evinced a variety of motivations: desire for commercial opportunities in Asia, concern that the Filipinos were incapable of self-rule, and fear that if the United States did not take control of the islands, another power (such as Germany or Japan) might do so.
The US remained in power until Japan invaded during World War II. The Japanese were forced to leave after their defeat in 1945. Colonial remnants can still be felt today. From Spanish architecture to the widespread use of English, the Philippines is not unlike most other countries still reeling from centuries of colonial subjugation.
For decades, Filipinos thought their country was made up of 7,107 islands. But in 2013, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), which is part of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources, obtained new technology that allowed them to better assess land formations. As a result, NAMRIA discovered more than 500 previously unknown islands.
After the discovery, controversy ensued. Some critics alleged that the newfound "islands" were in fact just large rocks, islets, reefs, or sandbars, and that they did not meet the legal definition for an island.
Either way, most of the new islands won't be habitable. Currently, people live on just a quarter of the country's islands.
A majority of Filipinos are Catholic, although some portions of the southern island of Mindanao are majority Muslim. Filipinos tend to be extremely devout. For example, every year on Good Friday, some Catholics reenact the crucifixion of Jesus and flagellate themselves in his honor, although these practices are not endorsed by the official Catholic Church. These religious performances can be be quite bloody, drawing tourists from around the world to the Philippines to bear witness.
The island of Marinduque -my second Home is Famous for its Moriones Festival- A Week of Celebration during Easter- reenactment of the Crucificion of Jesus attracts nation wide tourism.
In 1999 Macrine and I built a retirement home and Beach house we called Chateau Du Mer. The beach house was burned last year, perhaps due to an electrical malfunction. However, the main house and the Conference Center are still in good condition.
https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/02/good-bye-chateau-du-mer-beach-house.html
The US isn't the only country with a major stake in the South China Sea debacle. In July 2016, an international tribunal at the Hague made a landmark ruling in favor of the Philippines in the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
The case was brought on by the Philippine government in response to China's claims of sovereignty over most of the area. The Hague rejected China's arguments and blamed Beijing for causing "irreparable harm" to the marine environment, endangering Philippine ships and interfering with Philippine fishing and oil exploration, according to The New York Times".
In My October 14 talk, I plan on talking on Filipino food, My employment with the FDA and last but not least is how to age gracefully.
I am looking forward for your attendance and participation in this planned open Forum On "All you Want to Know about the Philippines, But were Afraid to Ask" and "My Life at FDA and After Retirement". Put in your calendar _October 14, 2023, Saturday at 11 AM- THD Cinema
My Quote of the Day: Success is often defined as the ability to reach your goals in life, whatever those goals may be. In some ways, a better word for success might be attainment, accomplishment, or progress.
For summary of the Philippine Profile Read: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15521300
Philippines voted anew ( 12/2022) as best world Tourist Destination
