Colonial rule (1565–1946)

Main articles: History of the Philippines (1565–1898) and History of the Philippines (1898–1946)

Magellan's Cross was planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers by order of Ferdinand
Magellan upon arriving in Cebu on March 1521.
In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the area, claimed the islands for
Spain, and was then killed at the Battle of Mactan.[46] Colonization began when Spanish
explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565, establishing control of Cebu,
Panay, and Luzon.[47][48] The Spaniards established Manila, at what is now Intramuros, as the
capital of the Spanish East Indies in 1571.[49] The Spanish considered their war with the
Muslims in Southeast Asia an extension of the Reconquista.[50]

Spanish rule brought what is now the Philippines into a single unified administration. From 1565
to 1821, the Philippines was governed as part of the Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain,
and then was administered directly from Madrid following the Mexican War of
Independence.[51] Manila galleons were constructed in Bicol and Cavite.[52] Manila became
the western hub of the trans-Pacific trade.[53]

Under Spanish rule, Catholic missionaries converted most of the lowland inhabitants to
Christianity.[54] They also founded schools, a university, hospitals, and churches.[55] To defend
their settlements, the Spaniards constructed and manned a network of military fortresses across
the archipelago.[56] The Spanish also decreed the introduction of free public schooling in
1863.[57] Slavery was also abolished. As a result of these policies the Philippine population
increased exponentially.[58][59]

During its rule, Spain quelled various indigenous revolts, as well as defending against external
military challenges[60] The Philippines was expensive during Spanish rule. War against the
Dutch from the West, in the 17th century, together with conflict with the Muslims in the South
and combating Japanese-Chinese Wokou piracy from the North nearly bankrupted the colonial
treasury.[61] There was a high desertion rate among the Latino soldiers sent from Mexico[62]
and Peru,[63][64] and also to Filipino warriors and laborers levied by Spain, this was due to
repeated wars, lack of wages, dislocation and near starvation. Immigration blurred the racial
caste system[65][66] Spain maintained in towns and cities.[67] Increasing difficulty in governing
the Philippines led to the Royal Fiscal of Manila writing to King Charles III of Spain, advising him
to abandon the colony. However, this was successfully opposed by the religious and missionary
orders that argued that the Philippines was a launching pad for further religious conversion in
the Far East.[68]