Philippine historical events is a daily guide to the important events that shaped the Philippines to what it is today. It is a compilation of significant events for the month of January including the birth and death of famous Filipinos as well as laws promulgated by authorities. The list is constantly updated to incorporate the most recent events.
Philippine Historical Events in January
| Day | Year | Event |
| 1 | 1571 | Miguel Lopez De Legaspi established the first Spanish settlement in Cebu. |
| 1 | 1890 | Negros Island is split into two provinces: Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental |
| 1 | 1892 | Birth of President Manuel Roxas in Roxas City, Capiz |
| 2 | 1942 | Japanese Forces entered Manila during World War II. |
| 3 | 1942 | Proclamation of Japanese Military Administration in the Philippines. |
| 4 | 1897 | 11 Bicolano Martyrs were excuted by the Spaniards at Luneta. |
| 5 | 1897 | Death of Francisco Mercado, father of Jose Rizal. |
| 6 | 1964 | President Emilio Aguinaldo died of coronary thrombosis in Quezon City. |
| 7 | 1901 | Revolutionary leaders were deported to Guam by General Arthur MacArthur. |
| 8 | 1851 | Birth of Severino de las Alas in Cavite. He was one of the signatories of the Biak-Na-Bato Constitution. |
| 8 | 1933 | Birth of Ricardo M. Lantican – 2005 National Scientist |
| 9 | 1945 | American liberation forces landed at Lingayen, Pangasinan during World War II. |
| 10 | 1882 | Birth of Jesus Balmori in Manila. He was a writer using the penname Baticuling. |
| 11 | 1851 | Birth of Higino Benitez, a lawyer and member of the Malolos Congress who helped draft the Malolos Constitution. |
| 11 | 1902 | Honorata “Atang” de la Rama was born in Manila. She was proclaimed National Artist in 1987 for theater and music. |
| 12 | 1911 | The University of the Philippines College of Law is formally established. |
| 12 | 1937 | President Quezon appointed the first members of the Institute of National Language with Jaime de Veyra as the first chairman. |
| 12 | 2007 | Biofuels Act or Republic Act no. 9367 is signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| 12 | 2020 | Taal Volcano in Batangas erupted. |
| 13 | 1966 | Culatingan Massacre in Concepcion, Tarlac where seven farmers who were suspected Huk members were arbitrarily shot by military men. |
| 14 | 1899 | Birth of General Carlos P. Romulo in Manila. |
| 15 | 1945 | Execution of General Vicente Lim by the Japanese Imperial Army in Manila. |
| 15 | 1894 | Birth of Hilario Lara – 1985 National Scientist |
| 15 | 2015 | Arrival of Pope Francis for his 5-day state visit to the Philippines |
| 16 | 1973 | Creation of the Integrated bar of the Philippines was approved by the Supreme Court. |
| 16 | 1888 | Mariano Jesus Cuenco was born in Carmen, Cebu. He was senate president from 1949 to 1952. |
| 16 | 2012 | Start of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the senate. |
| 17 | 1981 | President Ferdinand Marcos lifted martial law. |
| 17 | 2001 | Impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada abruptly ended; Start of People Power II. |
| 18 | 1988 | First local election under the 1987 Constitution. |
| 19 | 1812 | Masonry was prohibited in the Philippines by a Royal Decree. |
| 20 | 1872 | Breakout of the Cavite mutiny leading to the arrest and execution of Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora. |
| 20 | 1964 | Birth of Aquilino Martin de la Llana Pimentel III, 28th senate president |
| 20 | 2001 | Then Vice-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took oath as president replacing President Joseph Estrada during people Power II. |
| 20 | 2020 | President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10157 or the Kindergarten Education Act. |
| 21 | 1883 | Birth of former Senator Eulogio A. Rodriguez in Montalban (now Rodriguez), Rizal. |
| 21 | 1899 | Ratification of the Malolos Constitution |
| 22 | 1878 | Sultan Jamalul A’lam of Sulu leased to British traders Dent and Overbeck his territory of Sabah (North Borneo). |
| 22 | 1987 | Mendiola Massacre – 12 peasants were killed when a group of rallying farmers were fired at |
| 23 | 1790 | Manila was opened to world trade. |
| 24 | 1980 | Death of Jorge B. Vargas, first executive secretary under President Quezon, appointed mayor of Manila in 1941 and became chairman of the Japanese sponsored Philippine Executive Commission. |
| 25 | 1901 | Pablo S. Antonio was born in Balanga, Bataan. He was named National Artist for architecture in 1976. |
| 25 | 1933 | Birth of President Corazon C. Aquino. |
| 25 | 2015 | Mamasapano massacre in Maguindanao where 44 members of Special Acion Force (SAF), 18 from Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and five civilians died. |
| 26 | 1930 | Birth of Napoleon C. Abueva, scupltor and National Artist. One of his outstanding creation was the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat, Bataan. |
| 27 | 1867 | Birth of Juan Crisostomo Soto in Bacolor, Pampanga. He is considered the Father of Pampango Literature. |
| 27 | 2019 | Bombing of the Jolo Cathedral by terrorists. At least 27 were reportedly killed and more than a hundred injured. |
| 28 | 1948 | Philippine collaborators with the Japanese during World War II were given full amnesty. |
| 29 | 1889 | Birth of Francisco Santiago in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. He was the first Filipino to finish a masteral and doctoral degree in Music. |
| 30 | 1907 | First national election was held for 80 delegates to the Philippine Assembly. |
| 31 | 1876 | Birth of Pedro Abad Santos in Pampanga, founder of the Socialist Party of the Philippines. |
RELATED: Philippine Historical Events in February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
See also:
List of Philippine Provinces with a link to their profile and history
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