Las Islas del Poniente

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The Commonwealth of the West Indies
La Maharlikano Comunidad de la Islas del Poniente
Flag of The Philippine Commonwealth
Flag
Coat of Arms of The Philippine Commonwealth
Coat of Arms
Motto: El destino marcha como cualquier hombre
Destiny marches like any man
Anthem: Maharlikan Flight
Poniente Map.png
CapitalVigan City
Largest CityManila
Recognised regional languagesTagalog, Waray, Bicolano, Ilocano, Pangasinense, Bisaya, Moro, Pampangeno
Ethnic groups
(1820)
Malay (98.7%)
Chinese (0.6%)
Mestizo (0.2%)
Negrito (0.3%)
Caucasian (0.2%)
Negro (0.01%)
Demonym(s)Filipino, Ponienteian
GovernmentDevolved Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy
• Supreme Chief
Teodoro Lucero y Maal
• Triumvirate
Jose Villanueva
Rajah Matanda
Tarik Salah-al Din
LegislatureRajahanate Council
Independence 
from the Spanish Empire
• Declaration of Independence
January 24, 1744
• Antipolo Articles of Confederation
December 19, 1763
• Spanish Withdrawal
August 13, 1790
• Constitution
June 12, 1794
Population
• 1820 estimate
2, 400, 000
CurrencyPeso ()
Time zoneUTC+8 (Manila Time)
Date formatmm-dd-yyyy

Etymology

During his expeditions in 1542, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the islands of Leyte and Samar "Felipinas" in honor of Philip II of Spain. Eventually, the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover the archipelago's Spanish possessions. The demonym of Philippine is an anglicized translation of the Spanish name.

During the Ponienteian Revolution, the Antipolo Pact proclaimed the establishment of the La Maharlikano de las islas del Poniente or the Commonwealth of the West Indies. A Maharlika is a Tagalog word which refers to the feudal warrior class of the Tagalog Societies in the Luzon island.

History

Colonial rule (1565-1790)

A man poses along the walls of Intramuros, which is arrayed with a multitude of cannons. It serves to protect the city from local and foreign invaders.

Colonization of the Philippine Isles began when the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565. In 1571, Spanish Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies, encompassing all Spanish territories in Asia and the Pacific. As the native population are often divided by the many different cultures, ethnicities, and religions throughout the scattered islands, the spanish were able to successfully subjugate the the local states with the use of divide and conquer strategies, bringing what is now the Philippine Commonwealth into a single and unified administration. Catholic missionaries were able to convert the masses easily by consolidating the small barangay settlements into towns. From 1565 to 1790, the Philippines was governed as part of the Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain until the Spanish Withdrew from the islands. Manila was the western hub of a trans-Pacific trade route. Manila galleons were mostly constructed in Bicol and Cavite.

The colony received has endured multiple rebellions from the natives who are disgruntled by the mistreatment that are given to them, as well as constant raids and skirmishes from Bornean, Chinese, and Japanese pirates; not to mention threats of engagement from local Portuguese, Dutch, and British forces.

Geography

Demographics

Government and Politics

Military

Economy

Culture