philippine military history

PHILIPPINE MILITARY HISTORY

OVERVIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN PHILIPPINE MILITARY HISTORY

HISTORY DEFINED

o History is any integrated narrative description, or analysis of past events or facts written in a spirit of critical inquiry for the whole truth.

o Military History is officially defined as an objective, accurate, descriptive, and interpretive record of all activities of the Armed Forces in peace and war.

PRE-SPANISH OCCUPATION

Battle of Mactan on 27 Apr 1521

• first recorded organized resistance took place in the

Visayas

• Lapu-lapu: father of AFP

• He fought against the Spaniards led by Magellan

• The foreigners lost in the battle and Magellan was killed.

SPANISH OCCUPATION

• Rajah Soliman: the Muslim leader

• In 1570, he resisted the Spaniards’ efforts to land in Manila.

• In 1571, Legaspi conquered Manila and made it as the capital of the Philippines.

• Diego Silang led an uprising which displayed his exemplary military leadership style and tactics in defeating the Spaniards.

• Filipino soldiers were also organized to fight for Spain and to support some expedition.

SPANISH OCCUPATION• Marcelo H del Pilar, Graceano Lopez Jaena and Jose

Rizal: famous propagandists whose works nurtured the national spirit.

• Andres Bonifacio: father of the Philippine Army, founded a more radical group called the “Katipunan” on 7 Jul 1892

• In August 23, 1896, the Cry of Pugad Lawin signaled the start of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

• Magdalo led by Aguinaldo and the Magdiwang led by Bonifacio

• On 22 Mar 1897, Tejeros Convention resolved conflict between the 2 factions.

• Aguinaldo won the presidency and this occasion also gave birth to Philippine Army.

AMERICAN INFLUENCE

• On 23 April 1898, the Americans convinced to

cooperate with the Americans against Spain.

• Aguinaldo declared war against Spain.

• 12 June 1898, Philippine Independence from

Spain declared in Kawit, Cavite.

• 22 June 1898, the Philippine Navy was created by

the Revolutionary Army.

AMERICAN INFLUENCE

• Treaty of Paris (February 10, 1763): Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States.

• Finding the archipelago as a lucrative place for some economic activities, the United States strengthened their presence in the Philippines.

• This prompted the Filipinos to again unite and fight for the freedom they have just won.

• The capture of General Aguinaldo by the Americans in Palanan, Isabela in March 23, 1901 and the laying down of arms of General Malvar in April 16, 1902 ended the organized resistance against the American forces.

AMERICAN INFLUENCE• The Philippine Constabulary was organized on August 8,

1901

• Followed by the establishment of the Philippine Military

Academy on February 7, 1905.

• On December 21, 1935, the National Defense Act was

enacted which created the AFP.

• The Philippine Air Force was later established on July 1,

1947.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION• Invading Japanese Forces landed in Vigan and Aparri in Luzon

on December 10, 1945.

• Japanese strikes caused the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942 and Corregidor on May 6, 1942.

• Successful come back of the liberating US Forces under Gen Douglas Mc Arthur who landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944.

EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS

• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

• Commonwealth Act Number 1: National Defense Act

provided the legal basis for the conduct of ROTC

instruction, the need for a citizen reserve force had

been realized as early as before the American

occupation of the Philippines.


• Fr. Domingo Collantes, OP (University of Sto Tomas)

• He organized a group of around two hundred (200)

students from UST and Colegio de San Juan de Letran

who underwent military training at Sto Tomas Plaza in

Intramuros, Manila.

• Father Collantes was assisted by a sergeant in the Royal

Spanish Army in setting up a battalion of young students

for military instruction.


• Brigadier General Jose Syjuco, author of the Military education in the Philippines: most military historians marked the year 1912 as the beginning of the genuine ROTC instruction in the country.

• In that year, the Philippine Constabulary (PC) started conducting military instructions at the University of the Philippines (UP)

• All able- bodied male students in all colleges, institutes, and schools of the university were required to undergo military training that focused initially on infantry and use of rifles.

• Appointed as the first military instructor was Captain Silvino Gallardo, who assumed office in the first semester of 1912.


• In 1912, during the American regime, UP and Ateneo de

Manila started to offer military training.

• But their graduates could not find a career in military

unless they joined the PC or the Philippine Scouts (PS).

• Governor General Leonard Wood encouraged the

development of ROTC units, which were quite similar to

those he had organized in the United States.


• March 17, 1922, the Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) was formally organized in UP.

• Objectives were to:

1) develop patriotic, physically sound, upright and disciplined citizens;

2) create a corps of trained officers for the reserve force; and

3) take the lead in fostering the university spirit.

• On July 3, 1922, with the first ROTC unit in the country having been organized, formal military instruction began in UP.


• The country’s national defense plan was put into motion by the combined efforts of Gen Douglas McArthur and Manuel Quezon.

• Quezon personally hand-picked Gen McArthur to become the military adviser of the Commonwealth, with the responsibility of formulating the Philippine Defense system.

• Quezon later conferred the status of “Field Marshall”, the highest military rank known in international usage, on McArthur.

EVOLUTION AND ROLE OF THE ROTC IN THE PREVIOUS WARS • March 2001 : death of University of Santo Tomas ROTC

Cadet Mark Chua who was allegedly hazed by senior ROTC cadets for his expose’ of several malpractices in the ROTC program.

• His death was the strongest clamor for ROTC abolition.

• Republic Act 9163 or National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001, making the ROTC as just one of the three components of the NSTP where the students can choose from.

• The ROTC training period was also reduced from two years to one year. Students can also select any component of the NSTP, thus making ROTC optional.

NSTP COMPONENTS

1. ROTC - provide military training to students to prepare for national defense, the Department of National Defense (DND) implements the ROTC component.

2. Literacy Training Service (LTS) - train students to become teachers to school children, out of school youth and other segments of the society who are in dire need of their service, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) implements the LTS component.

3. Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), which will involve the students to activities to contribute to general welfare and betterment of life, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) implements the CWTS component.