History of the Philippines 

The Philippines dated all the way back 24,000 years ago. This was of course proven by scientists through carbon dating. In 1521, a Portuguese explorer by the name of Ferdinand Magellan, arrived in the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain. Colonization began when a Spanish explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi, arrived from Mexico in 1565. From the 16th to 19th century, Roman-Catholic missionaries converted most of the population. The Philippines participated in the campaign against the Japanese in WWII. Immediately after they gained Independence from Spain.