PHILIPPINE MILITARY HISTORY

Overview of the Significant Events in

Philippine Military History

Presented By:

JESRYL D ALBISO
CDT 2LT (ROTC) 2CL
 LESSON OBJECTIVES
Task: To provide an overview of the
evolution, development and
milestones of warfare in the
Philippines.
Standards: Students will:
a. have a better appreciation of the
highlights of Philippine Military History;
b. be cognizant of the nature of warfare in our
country, the socio-economic-political causes
and impact of war; and
c. appreciate positive leadership qualities of
great Filipino military leaders.
 HISTORY DEFINED
* History is any integrated narrative
description, or analysis of past events or
facts written in a spirit of critical inquiry
for the whole truth.
* Military History is officially defined as an
objective, accurate, descriptive, and
interpretive record of all activities of the
Armed Forces in peace and war.
 TYPES OF MILITARY HISTORY

* Jomini recognized three kinds of military

history:
× Pure Version where the minute details of a given
battle are recounted.
× Use of a campaign or battle to examine the
principles of waging war.
× Politico-Military History which examines war in
its broadest spectrum through association of
military with political, social, and economic factors.
 USES OF MILITARY HISTORY

* Sharpen judgment, improve

perception, and broaden perspective
* Compensate for deficiencies in
individual experience
* Improve professional qualification
* Develop useful theories, ideas, and
interpretations about the practice of
the military profession.
 CAVEAT IS NECESSARY

* principles are not immutable rules,

which the commander is forbidden to
violate. Nor should a theory be based
on historical examples arbitrarily
selected to support an unfounded
conception. depth breadth context
 Ten Threads of Continuity

* 1.) Military Theory and Doctrines

* 2.) Military Professionalism
* 3.) Generalship
* 4.) Strategy
* 5.) Tactics
* 6.) Logistics and Administration
 Ten Threads of Continuity

* 5.) Tactics
* 6.) Logistics and Administration
* 7.) Technology
* 8.) Political Factors
* 9.) Social Factors
* 10.) Economic Factors
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
Filipinos in Spanish
Military Service
American Era Third Republic Post-EDSA
Pre-Colonial Legazpi, Urdaneta Independence Independence
Times EDSA
1570 1898 1946 1986

1521 1872 1941 1972

Magellan GomBurZa WW II Martial Law
Spanish Japanese
Conquest Philippine Marcos Years
Revolution Occupation
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
Pre-Colonial Citizen Soldiers
Battle of Mactan
Disorganized armed groups
AllegianceLapulapu
to personal - 1,500 warriors
leaders
Pre-Colonial Magellan
Kris, bolo, - 60 Spanish, 1,500 natives
kampilan,
Legazpi, Urdaneta Independence
Result: Independence EDSA
artillery - lantaka
Times 1570 Discovery
1898 Magellan of -9 the
1946
SpanishPhilippines 1986
& 4 natives killed
1521 1872 Lapulapu
1941 -of15
Search killedIslands
Spice 1972
Magellan GomBurZa WW II Martial Law
Convert to Christianity
Pre-colonial Times
Power struggle between Sula &
Barangay Culture: Lapulapu
Justice System * Non-conformist,
Social Classes * Individualists who
Islam like to resist regimentation
Pagans * Valued individual human life
and rights.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History

Legazpi, Urdaneta The Spaniards

Independence employed conquer-
Independence EDSA
1571 – de Goiti attacked and
1570 An divide
1898 and rule.
1946 Recruit
informal military aspect also Filipino
1986
destroyed Maynilad under Rajah
warriors
emerged. Intermittentto subdueuprisingother tribes.
against
1521 1872 Soliman
1941 and Rajah Lakandula.
1972
Magellan Spain. Ironically,
GomBurZa Famous WW ofIIbecame theMartial
them is making
Eventually,
first Law
Dagohoy formal
Manila, the
Spanish military
Rebellion servicefor rendered
w/c capital
lasted by the
of the85Newyears. Not Colony.
Spanish
just a Filipinos.
charismatic and effective leader
Conquest but possesses organizing capability.
February
Created1570 the– Miguel
first Lopez de Legaspi
institution-oriented
Andres de Urdaneta
military organization.
Martin de Goiti
Juan de Salcedo
Displayed diplomatic and tactical skills
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
Filipinos in Spanish Of particular interest is the
Military Service formation of the 73rd Native
Filipinos were accounted for the
Regiment.
Legazpi, Urdaneta Independence
larger Independence
component of EDSA
Spanish
1570 1898
expedition1946 1986
to Moluccas, Celebes, and
1521 Papua.
1941 In all these, 1972they distinguish
Magellan
1872 themselves
WW II by their courage,
Martial Law loyalty,
GomBurZa
and leadership. Pedro Cabinlit rose to
senior ranks despite unofficial policy
Spaniards realized that they need Filipinos
allowing the help to
of rise
the to the rank
Native Filipinos to keepof themselves in power.
senior sergeants only.
Subsequently, they recruited large number of
Filipinos in their military service either as auxiliary,
infantry, or support forces.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History

Legazpi, Urdaneta Independence Independence

EDSA
1898 In The
This Tejeros
First Phase
formal Convention
– of
peasant-initiated
military organization1897,
1570
ThearmyinfantisPA
1946 not
hadmuchits different
1986
baptism of
the
from revolutionary
revolution
came theto thethe
earlierfore.government
spearheadedThe first
uprising by was
the
inofunits
terms
fire as Army an
1521 organized.
1941 Katipunan Onup March
to1972
the 22,
time 1897
of –
WWofIIwere formedMartial
weapons, according
training,to war and
1872
Magellan independent RepublicLaw when
General Artemio
Biak-na-Bato
provinces Pact.Ricarteleadership.
became
GomBurZa broke out with
battlefield the
the educated
tactical
with American on
the first Phase
Second
members
However, Captain-General
of
this – army
those from
areas of
theisas the
return
truly
Philippine Revolutionary
February
of Aguinaldo
leaders.
national
4, 1899.
Army.
up
in 30,000
The
to proclamation
character and
Army
Provisions not
has about men of whom
Revolution were of
based
16,000
made
Philippine
on were forIndependence.
class, the formations
tribe,
fully geography
armed
of
not
the various
-blood
more
orcounting
The first formal Filipino military organization formal
relations
came arms
and – onartillery,
better
but than of
love
about 50,000 poorly-
after 323 years. The pent-up feelingscavalry,
thethose
of the of
native
armed
ordnance,
the first phase.
land.
Filipinos
militia.
commisary,
exploded in the Philippine Revolutionquartermaster,
in 1896. The signal, medical
Filipino Army of this revolution was anddrawn
dentalofservices
the as well as the
local “sandatahan”
secret society founded by Andres Bonifacio, KKK. militia.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History

American Era
Legazpi, Urdaneta
PA OnofJulyIndependence
the Independencewas
commonwealth
26, 1941 US President EDSA
1570 1898 1946 1986
reactivated
Franklin Don January
Roosevelt 11,
called into1936
1521 pursuant to EOofNr
the services the11USwith Philippine
Army the 1972
1872
Constabulary
1941
elements as
2 regular and 10 II its nucleus.
WWreserve
Magellan Martial Law
Advisers
Divisions
GomBurZa in of
thetheformation
PA to become of the
Commonwealth
part of the US Army ArmyForces – General
in
With the passing
Vicente
the FarLim ofand
East.the General
Tydings-Mcduffe
Douglas Mc Law in
1934, Arthur.
Commonwealth
Pres Quezon of thehoped Philippines
that Mac was
inaugurated in 1935.
Arthur’s statureThe andfirst law passed
influence by this
on the
government was Commonwealth
American Government will result Act Nr. to 1 of
1935. This Act provides
favorable actions for the
by establishment
the US of
the National Defense Forces.
government.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
Many officers
Initially sufferingand men refused
a series of defeats to
surrender
on and fled to
the peninsula the hills
from to form
January to
guerilla
About bands
February, the with
70,000 such
Japanese fancy
Filipinos names
regrouped
and
as15,000
and Tattoo Guerilla,
rebuiltAmerican
their forces.Quezon’s
troops April
were Own,2,
and
Japanesethe Legazpi,
like.
launched Urdaneta
One unit
their in particular
final assault
Independence Independence
taken prisoner in Bataan and EDSA
didmade
on not Fil-Am
the haveundergo
to its
1570 origin
forces andwith
the now- the
forced
1898 1946 1986
established
American
infamous militaryMarch
commander
Death but Maj emerged
whileGen
1521 1872 1941 1972
from
Edward the
another King
Magellan peasantry
to surrender
16,000 and on
Americans dominated
April
and 9, Martial Law
by2,000
1942. localA Filipinos
communist.
follow-upwere They
aerial called
and
captured
GomBurZa their WW IIJapanese
artillery
in
unit HUKBALAHAP.
bombardment
Corregidor. As the warthe
Inofsurrendering
Corregidor drew
Island
toCorregidor
a close,ingarrison,
culminated these forces
an amphibious grew
landing in
Occupation
Wainwright
strength
forced
also American and
directed World
the capability,
Commander
War II came
surrender often
Ltof Gen
to the Philippines on December 8,
launching
Jonathan
the Fil-Am in thesemi-conventional
Wainwright
1941 when tothesurrender
Visayas Japanese
and bombed various targets in
operations
Corregidor
Mindanao. ongarrison
theircountry.
the own. onThe May 6,
Japanese Commander Lt Gen
1942. Masaharu Homma failed to appreciates the Fil-Am
withdrawal to Bataan and forced to fight the Battle of
Bataan from Jan 9 to April 9, 1942.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
HUKBALAHAP
The President-Third
First ugliest episode (Hukbong Bayan
involving
Republic Laban
the
Manuel sa
military
Roxas.
Hapon),
July
during1,
1950,
Reorganized 1957,
(7)this
Armyrenamed
the HPA
period
Commands
Armed was
was to organized
HUKBONG
the(26)
and
Forces with
infamous
by issuing
MAGPAPALAYA
Brig
Jabidah
BattalionGenCombat
Executive Leoncio
Massacre
Order SA NrTan
Teams BAYAN
of
921968. as Commanding
(BCT)
dated (People’s
The
were
October Army 4,
Third Republic
Liberation
General.
organized.
1947. Late
Army
Special Legazpi,
Forces
The(5)1960’s,
or these
HMB)
recruited
Urdaneta
of
Army thewas Army
posed
scores
BCTs was
ofa Muslims
took
renamed
Independence serious
utilized
theIndependence EDSA
threat
both
for
turns
Armed as toa
special the
National
in serving
Forces newly
training
1570with Defense
of thereconstituted
on Force
Corregidor
thePhilippines
Philippine
1898 Republic.
and
Island. as
and its 1946 1986
Scout
nation-builder.
Unknown Rangers
Expeditionary
Headquarters to these were
Subsequently,
organized
recruits,
Forces
called tothey
the the
were
Korea by Army
then
being
National
Captain
Corps 1521 of
projected
(PEFTOK)
Defense Rafael Engineers
for
from Ileto.
clandestine Experimented
with
1872
1950-1953. the
operations 51st
1941
On1948, onin4
Magellan Forces. On May 6, 1972
tactics,
Engineer
Sabah, Areas
December
Military organization
Brigade
Malaysia
30 of in
were that asand
order
same
activated nucleus
totechniques
year,
replacingWWwas
undermine the
II Martial Law
GomBurZa
they
organized.
cameQuirino
Malaysian
President
10 Military up
Early
control
Districtswith
1970,
ofand
issued the
the thetoScout
Army have
Ranger
buttress
Executive
pre-war years. (1)
the
On
method
regular
country’s
Order
the Division
Nr.
same of
claim
359date,(1st
warfare.
to “Tabak”
that
which area.
the provided The
Division),
No for
Military Army
one (1)
can
Training
decimated
built-up
specifically
the creation
Command, Division
the
pinpoint
the of ranks
composed
who (4)
the
Off-Shore of Major
gave
Patrol the
mainly
the Huks
order
and thebut of
Air
leading
trainees to
the factwere
Services
Corps (3rd
is,its neutralization.
in theseInfantryAFP,Division)
the recruits
elevated were and
to namely
major : three
mercilessly
commands
independent
massacred by
Philippine
designated Brigades
Army,
respectively (2nd,
their Special 4th
theand
Forces
Philippine
as 5th) as
cadres.
Philippine
well
Only as onesupporting
Constabulary,
Ground escapedPhilippine
Forces, anti-tank,
and he lived
Philippine artillery
Navy
Navalto tell and
the
Patrol
independent
tale Philippine
and
and to
theCongress armor
Philippine and
Air company-size
the Force.
Force.
Air units.
to the world.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
MarcosThe bowed
September NPA regained
Oppositionist 21,toAgapito
1972, its lost
international strength
President
Aquino, and Marcos and
public
and
The
grew early
by martial
leaps law bounds
and years saw the army
reaching its
pressure
proclaimed
Manila and called
Martial
Archbishop for a “snap”
Law.
Jaime He election
dissolved
Cardinal for
fighting
Senator
zenith in on1986 two
Benignowith fronts. Aquino
25,000 The army
guerrillas wasfromthen
February
congress,
Sin 7,
joined 1986
imprisoned
the if
fray only
his
when to consolidate
political
they opponents
publicly his
decided
assassinated
its former to strength
hold onallthethe of secessionists
tarmac
3,000 in of in the
the
1979. It
rule.
andurged The the opposition
concentrated people to rallied
power
surroundin behind
his thehands Senator
camps using
south
Manila
was with
at mobilized
International
this time thatreservists
Airport
the while on their
professional,
Aquino’s
thein policewidow
order and
Legazpi, to Mrs.
the protect
Urdaneta Corazon
military. A
the Aquino.
serious
Enrile The
resurgent
and
best
August troops
technical 21,
and were
1983 standards
ethical pitted
when heagainst
Independence
of came
the the
armyIndependence EDSA
election
of Ramos wasForces
communist as chaotic
insurgency
from and
Marcos’ bloody
led by
troops as theany
usingNew in
communist
home
fell from
drastically
1570guerrillas
voluntary
with exilein to
casualties 1898 the
the US north 1946
exceeding 1986
Philippine
People’s history
Army
their bodies.in Thus and
(NPA) up
and to
what Withanow the
Muslim-dominated
later came result
to be is
particularly
ostensibly
1,000 a year to Isabela.
forseek
several a meeting
years the
while capture
with killing
an open
1521 question.
secessionist
known as movement
the Defense
EDSA 1872 underMinister
People the
PowerEnrile
1941 Moro 1972
and
only neutralization
Marcos
Magellanhalf asto many of
draft their
communist a more prominent
national
guerrillas.
tried to mount
National
Revolution. Liberation aMilitary
coupFront d’etat
support against
(MNLF) for Marcos
followed.
Marcos Martial Law
leaders
This like
reconciliation
is NPA Chief
program.
primarily GomBurZa Bernabe
The
because damage Buscayno
WW II
several
using
Marcos
eroded elements
expanded
swiftly ofthe he
and the
Army 49th
from 29,000
accepted Infantry
the US. in
a.k.a.
to to Ka
the65,000
commanders Dante
image and
ofwere Jose
the Aromin
military
promotedMaria
during Sison,
Battalion
1972
offer to offly then
him Major
inout1986of and and
strengthened
Malacanang the and
Palace. 3rdthe Marcos Years
Communist
this period
designated Party
took
to theirof
a the
long Philippines
time
positions onto heal
the (CPP)
basis
Scout He Ranger
3 independent
was Battalion
Brigades
eventually under
forcedto fullinto then Major
Divisions.
exile in
Chairman,
and
of even
their the
now,
loyalty communist
the and AFP not isinsurgency
ofstill their
Brillantes.
During
Hawaii this
whereThe
time,heplanseveral
died failed
in units
1989. when
were
It was counter-
activated
one
declined
haunted
qualifications.for
by a
human few rightsyears.
Resentment issues. Then,
within AFP
the
intelligence
toofenable
the most units
the of
armed
bloodless then AFP
forces. Chief
The
“revolutions” of Staff
Philippine
in
redirected
military grewits and mainin such effortantoenvironment,
the south
General
Army
history. Fabian
Light VerArmor uncovered Regiment the plot wasand
forcing MNLF to
the2 Reform thenegotiate with the (RAM) Tripoli
these
organized officers andand a AFP
the fewFirstMovement
others were arrested
Scout Ranger
Agreement
had its beginnings. of 1976 as the result.
on February
Regiment 22, reactivated.
was 1986.
 Milestone of Philippine
Military History
The period following the departure of Marcos
and Gen. Ver were the most confusing in
The war against the NPA is being lost
AFP history. The People Power Revolution
and casualties continued to mount. To
of 1986 restored to a great degree the faith of
Post-EDSA
top it all,
Legazpi, elementsIndependence
Urdaneta of the AFP Independence
were EDSA
the Filipino people in the AFP. But most of
involved1570 in anti-government
1898 actions and
1946 1986
the members of the AFP, although they
between February 25, 1986 to the
refused
1521 to obey Marcos’1872 order to attack and
end of Mrs. Aquino’s term 1941
on June 1972
shed the people’s GomBurZa
Magellan blood, nevertheless
WW II found Martial Law
30, 1992, no less than five (5)
it extremely difficult to accept Mrs.
attempted coups and three (3)
Aquino as President and
rebellions had to be suppressed.
Commander-in-Chief. Matters were made
worse by agitator elements, many of them
identified with Marcos Loyalists, who stoked
fires of discontent. The military is in a state
of painful transition and wracked by internal
wrangling.
 ANG
TAGAL
NAMAN
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