YEAR MONTH DAY Description

1400 - 1500 - - Vigan historic town on Luzon was established by Chinese traders.
1521 March 16 Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines.
1521 Apr 7 Ferdinand Magellan landed on Cebu Island of the Philippines
1521 Apr 27 Ferdinand Magellan was killed in a fight with natives on Mactan Island.
1565 Apr 27 First Spanish settlement in the Philippines was established in Cebu City.
DURING SPANISH ERA
- There was no such term as "Philippine citizens"
- 3 Royal decrees were undisputably made applicable to Spaniards in the Philipines:
a. Order de la Regencia of August 14, 1841
b. Royal Decree of August 23, 1868
c. Ley Extranjera de Ultramar of July 04, 1870
- The Spanish Constitution of 1876 was never extended to the Philippine Islands
- Only the Civil Code of Spain was made effective in the Philippines on December 18, 1889.
Who were Spanish Citizens:
a. Persons born in Spanish territory.
b. Children of a Spanish father or mother, even if they were born outside of Spain.
c. Foreigners who have obtained naturalization papers.
c. Those who, without such papers, may have become domiciled inhabitants of any town of the Monarchy.

1882 Chinese Exclusion Law

- Law in force in US. Ordered by the Head of military government established on Sep. 26, 1882 to effect in the Philippines.
- Only affirmed by U.S War Department in 1901 in the Philippines.

1888 Spanish Civil Code

- became applicable in the Philippines on December 8, 1889.
- inspired the 1899 Malolos Constitution.

1898 Treaty of Paris

Article IX
- inhabitants of the Philippine Islands were not intended to include in citizenship of the United States.
- Henceforth, Article IX of the said treaty provides the following ruling:
a. Spanish subjects, natives of the Peninsula would remain its Spanish nationality if they would leave the ceded territory;
b. Remain and preserve their alliance to the Crown of Spain by positively declaring within 18 months from April 11, 1899
exchange of the ratification of the treaty up to October 1900. Failure to do so, it was presumed they have renounced their
nationality and adopt the nationality of the ceded territory.

1899 Malolos Constitution

- the first republican constitution in Asia
- promulgated in January 21, 1899.
Title IV, Article IX
The following are Filipinos:
1. All persons born in the Philippine territory. A vessel of Philippine registry is considered, for this purpose, as part ot Phili
2. Children of a Filipino father or mother, although born outside of the Philippines.
3. Foreigners who have obtained certificate of naturalization.

4. Those who, without such certificate, have acquired a domicile in any town within Philippine territory. It is understood t
acquired by uninterrupted residence for two (2) years in any locality within Philipppine territory, with an open abode and k
occupation, and contributing to all the taxes imp;osed by the Nation.

The condition of being Filipino is lost in accordance with law.

- The Malolos Constitution did not provide naturalization requires renouncing of former nationality of a foreigner.
- Primarily the principle of "jus soli" (law of the soil) was enunciated.

1901 Chinese Exlusion Law

- Affirmed the previous order by Brig-Gen. Elwell S. Otis by U.S. War Department
- General rule: Chinese immigrants were barred from entry to the Philippines
- Exempted: Chinese officials, teachers, students, merchants, and "travelers for curiosity or pleasure".

1902 Chinese Exlusion Law

- Only this time it became official legislation in the Philippines.
- An act of U.S. Congress, which Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed into law in April 1902.

Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act

- Invention of Philippine citizenship.
- Signed into law on July 1, 1902. Philippines' first organic act.
- Section 4 adopts the U.S. Chinese Exclusion Law to the Philippines
- Established the rule of "jus sanguinis" (law of the blood).
- Amended by the Act of Congress in March 23, 1912:
- introduced legislation in acquiring Philippine citizenship of the following:
a. Natives of the Philippines who was not Spanish subjects;
b. Natives of the insular possessions of the United States;
c. Citizens of the United States residing in the Philippine territory;

Philippine Autonomy Act 1916 or Jones Law:

- restated above provision in Cooper Act in acquiring of Philippine citizenship.

1935 Philippine Constitution

- It was in accordance with the Philippine Independence Act of 1934. The 1935 Constitution was ratified by the Filipino peo
national plebiscite, on May 14, 1935 and came into full force and effect on November 15, 1935 with the inauguration of th
Commonwealth of the Philippines.
- Section 1, Article III. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
1. Those who are citizens of the Philipine Islands at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
2. Those born in the Philippines Islands of foreign parents who, before the adoption of this Constitution, had been electe
in the Philipine Islands.
3. Those whose fathers are citizens of the Philippines;
4. Those whose mothers are citizens of the Philippines and upon reaching thea age of majority, elect Philippine citizenshi
5. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

- no. 4 pertains only to illegitimate children of a Filipino wife of a foreigner. General rule was that women automatically los
citizenship and acquire of their foreign husbands. Hence, incapacitated women to transmit her Filipino citizenship to her le
children, and required illegitimate children to elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority of 21.

1973 Philippine Constitution

- ratified and in full force in January 17, 1973
- Section 1, Article III. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
1. Those who are citizens of the Philipines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines.
3. Those who elect Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of the Constittution of nineteen hundred and thirty-fi
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
- Section 2, Article III provides:
A female citizen of the Philippines who marries an alien retains her Philippines citizenship, unlesss by her act or omission
under the law to have renounced her citizenship.

1987 Philippine Constitution

- Section 1, Article IV. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.
2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
3. Those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of maj
4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
 he Monarchy.

o effect in the Philippines.

leave the ceded territory; or

months from April 11, 1899 the date of the
they have renounced their Spanish

his purpose, as part ot Philippine territory.

territory. It is understood that domicile is

, with an open abode and known

lity of a foreigner.
ratified by the Filipino people through a
with the inauguration of the

nstitution, had been elected to public office

, elect Philippine citizenship.

t women automatically lose their Filipino

Filipino citizenship to her legitimate
of majority of 21.

eteen hundred and thirty-five (1935);

esss by her act or omission she is deemed,

on reaching the age of majority.