Philippines Colonial Records

Spanish Colonization (1521-1898)
The islands were claimed for Spain in 1521. Colonization didn't really begin until 1565. The Spanish ceded the territory to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American war.

United States Colonization (1898-1942)
The United States took control from Spain in 1898. The Japanese invaded the islands in 1942 during World War II.

Japanese Colonization (1942-1945)
The Japanese invaded the islands in 1942. Allied troops defeated the Japanese in 1945. In 1946, the Philippines was officially recognized as an independent nation.