Spain Rules The Philippines

Spanish explorers traveled to the Philippines in the late 1500s in search of new trade routes, and new products that they could bring back to Europe.

In 1565 the Spanish founded a colony on the island of Luzon, which they named Manila. Spanish officials were able to win the loyalty of local leaders throughout the Philippines, by promising to allow them to continue to rule their local regions.

Overtime the people of the Philippines adopted many of the practices and traditions of the Spanish, including Christianity.

Spain would continue to rule the Philippines until the late 1800s.