Philippines Military Records

Philippines Military Records

Military records describe the induction, draft, conscription, orders, discharge, grants, and pension requests of those who served in the military. There are two categories of records:


 * Spanish colonization records (pre-1900) are stored in the Archives Division of the Record Management and Archives Office.
 * Modern records (Post-1900) are in the National Census and Statistics Office.

Spanish Colonization Period Military Records
Records from the Spanish colonization period describe the conscription of recruits by the drawing of lots (quintas) and military personnel [Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) and hojas de servicio (military service records)]. These records generally include the name, age, and unit number of the soldier. Some include the parents and marital status and parents’ names as well. The records may not be in chronological order, and many are missing. If you make arrangements in advance, you may search these records at the Record Management and Archives Office at:


 * http://www.pnm.my/motw/philippines/3national_archives.htm.

The Family History Library has filmed the military records in the Record Management and Archives Office. See the Locality section of the FamilySearch Catalog, under “Military Records.”

To search military records, you must know at least the province where your ancestor lived when he was of age to serve in the military (late teens to early twenties).

Military Records (Guardia Civil, Quintas)
Research use: Useful in locating previous residence and vital data of soldiers.

Record type: Records of the old Spanish civil guard, conscription records of those eligible for military service, enlistment and service records.

Time Period: 1850-present.

Content: Biographical information, birth registers and lists of 17-21 year old males, their parents, residence, physical descriptions, length and place of service, unit number, date and place of enlistment, discharge data. Officers records may contain more information.

Location: National Bureau of Records Management, provincial and municipal archives.

Population coverage: 35%.

Reliability: Good.

Modern Records
The Family History Library has indexed service records of the Philippine National Guard for 1918 to 1919. The original records are in the Records Management and Archives Office.