Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was followed by an invasion of the Philippines. Manila was declared an open city and fell to the Japanese in 1942. The Bataan Death March and a brutal occupation fueled a strong Filipino resistance. The U.S., led by General Douglas MacArthur, returned in 1944, liberating the Philippines after fierce battles like the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Manila. The Philippines gained full independence on July 4, 1946. The early post-independence era focused on economic and social reforms under presidents like Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino, who also secured U.S. loans and military base agreements. Ramon Magsaysay's presidency (1953-1957) is often remembered as the "Golden Years" for his fight against communism and reforms, and Diosdado Macapagal changed Independence Day to June 12.

Ferdinand Marcos's presidency (1965-1986) began with promises of reform but devolved into a brutal dictatorship. Marcos suppressed dissent, enacted martial law in 1972, and manipulated the constitution to extend his rule, enriching himself and his allies. International pressure and internal unrest, sparked by the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., led to a snap election in 1986. Marcos's fraudulent victory and subsequent attempted coup led to his overthrow and exile, with Corazon Aquino becoming president. Aquino's administration restored democracy, drafted a new constitution, and sought peace, though it faced internal conflicts and natural disasters like the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Subsequent presidents like Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada continued to grapple with political instability. More recently, Rodrigo Duterte's presidency (2016-2022) was marked by controversial anti-drug campaigns and a reorientation of foreign policy, while Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Bongbong) took office in 2022, addressing pandemic recovery and policy shifts. The Philippines continues to navigate complex international relations, particularly concerning China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands on the Ring of Fire, is rich in minerals but prone to seismic activity. Early human presence dates back 47,000 years, with Austronesian ancestors migrating from Taiwan and the Asian mainland around 3,000 BCE. Early settlements, isolated by geography, formed barangays (city-states) with complex social structures and trade networks, including the Maritime Jade Road. Written history begins around 900 CE with the Laguna Copper Plate Inscription. Indigenous Filipinos practiced animism and were later influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, which arrived in 1380.

The first European contact occurred in 1521 with Ferdinand Magellan's expedition. Magellan claimed the islands for Spain and converted local leaders to Catholicism. However, his interference in local conflicts led to his death at the Battle of Mactan against Lapulapu. Initial Spanish colonization attempts failed, but in 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established the first permanent Spanish colony in Cebu. Manila was conquered in 1571, becoming the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Spain used the Philippines for resources and as a strategic outpost, integrating it into the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Attempts by local datus to overthrow Spanish rule and external threats from Chinese pirates, Muslim states, and the Dutch were largely unsuccessful.

During the Seven Years' War, Britain attacked and occupied Manila in 1762, demanding a ransom. Despite the occupation, a Spanish government-in-exile resisted British control. The occupation ended in 1764, returning the archipelago to Spain. The 19th century brought significant changes: Spain opened Philippine ports to global trade in 1834, leading to the emergence of a Filipino middle and wealthy class. Exposure to Western ideas of freedom sparked the Propaganda Movement, advocating for civil rights and equal status with Spain. While this movement initially sought reforms within the Spanish system, it eventually paved the way for the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement aiming for full independence.

The Philippine Revolution began in 1898, aiming for independence from Spain. The Spanish-American War saw the U.S. intervene, culminating in the Battle of Manila Bay. Although the First Philippine Republic was declared in 1899, the U.S. refused to recognize it, leading to the Philippine–American War. The Filipinos, outmatched, resorted to guerrilla warfare, which the U.S. countered with brutal tactics, including scorched-earth policies and civilian internment camps, leading to significant loss of Filipino life. The Philippines became an American territory, with the U.S. beginning to prepare it for independence, establishing an insular government and eventually setting a timeline for independence in 1934.