Philippines' Military History

Spanish Colonization of the Philippines

• Took place during the 16th century, beginning in 1521 with the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan.
• Lasted for over 300 years, ending in 1898 with the Spanish-American War.

Philippine Revolution

• Occurred from 1896 to 1898.
• Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, aiming for independence from Spain.

Philippine History: 20th Century

• United States occupied the Philippines following the Philippine-American War (1899-1902).
• Japan invaded the Philippines during World War II (1941-1945).
• Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) established in 1935, prior to independence.

Topographic Maps

• Topographic maps include geographic coordinates and elevations for both natural (mountains, rivers) and man-made (roads, buildings) features.
• Contour lines represent lines of equal elevation, connecting points of the same height.
• Closer contour lines indicate steeper terrain, while farther apart lines represent gentle slopes.

Orientating a Map with a Compass

• Aligning the north arrow of the compass with the north direction on the map.
• This helps correctly understand the direction of features and the relationship between the map and the actual landscape.

Benefits of Map Reading

• Understanding geographical features like mountains, rivers, forests, and cities.
• Navigating effectively in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
• Planning routes for hiking, driving, and other outdoor activities.