He was famous for his remarks:

“I prefer a country run like hell by Filipinos to a country run like heaven by Americans. Because, however bad a Filipino government might be, we can always change it.”

I don’t necessarily agree with that quote above, and i’m not being a US suck up.

He redeemed himself by saying this:

“My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.”

1896 – Rizal was executed at Bagumbayan Field of what is now popularly called Luneta Park. Revolution ensued because of it.

1897 – The Katipunan was replaced by a new government headed by Emilio Aguinaldo as president. Andres Bonifacio resisted and built his own government, but was executed together with his brother for treason.

1898 – The US bought the Philippines for US$ 20 million from Spain, and staged a mock Battle of Manila Bay to make it appear as a legitimate war between the US and Spain.

1899 – The start of Philippine-American War that lasted for three years.

1571 – Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Manila, and became the governor general. As a result Catholicism spread like wildfire.

1646 – Spaniards successfully defended the city against the Dutch in Manila Bay.

1762 – The British grabbed Manila from the Spaniards.

1764 – Spaniards successfully drove out the British.