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. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Philippines," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines#Colonial_rule_(1565–1946), accessed 18 November 2020.</ref> | 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. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Philippines," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines#Colonial_rule_(1565–1946), accessed 18 November 2020.</ref> |