3-097-356 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Spain leading the Philippines to glory, 1888. The Philippines was part of the Spanish Empire for three hundred years and was the sole Spanish colony in Asia. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first encountered the Philippines in the 16th century, and named the islands after King Philip II of Spain. The Philippine Revolution for independence from Spain began in 1896, and in 1898 the Spanish-American War broke out, resulting in Spain losing its domain over the Philippines. The nation was transferred to the United States, which governed the Philippines until 1946.