Historical markers of the Philippines

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and its predecessor agencies install historical markers (Filipino: Panandang pangkasaysayan; Spanish: Marcador histórico or Placa histórica) in the Philippines and overseas to signify important and historic events, persons, sites, structures, and institutions. The commemorative plaques are permanent signs installed by the NHCP in publicly visible locations on buildings, monuments, or in special locations. The NHCP also allows local municipalities and cities to install markers of figures and events of local significance, although these markers are barred from using the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.
As of December 2023, the total number of historical markers (designated as Level II) included in the NHCP's registry is 1,381; however, the number of markers from all these lists is more than 1,600 including those unlisted, decommissioned, lost, and of unknown location.
Monuments and plaques have been placed under the Spanish colonial government, marking relevant personages and events, such as the dedication monument to Ferdinand Magellan, erected in 1866. During the American era, several civic efforts have been initiated to create monuments and to mark historic sites and events, such as Cry of Balintawak, José Rizal Monument, and the birthplace of Andrés Bonifacio. However, many more historical sites have not been recognized or marked.
The earliest predecessor of the NHCP was the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC). Established on October 23, 1933 via Executive Order 451 during the governorship of Frank Murphy during the American colonial era, one of its tasks was to mark cultural and historical antiquities in Manila, which was later expanded to cover the rest of the Philippines. The first markers were installed in 1934, including ones for Church of San Agustin, Fort Santiago, Plaza McKinley, Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila, San Sebastian Church, Concordia College, Manila Railroad Company, Dr. Lorenzo Negrao, Church of Nuestra Señora de Guia, and University of Santo Tomas (Intramuros site). Issuance of markers stopped during the Second World War (although the marker Ang Unang Limbagan sa Pilipinas is dated 1943). Some of these markers were either lost or destroyed during the war and new markers were installed as replacements for San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral. Throughout the years, some markers have also been reportedly missing as they were stolen and sold as scrap metal. The installation of markers was continued by the successors of the PHRMC: the Philippines Historical Committee (PHC), National Historical Institute (NHI), and the National Historical Commission (NHCP). The standard style of markers has changed throughout the years.
The language of the markers are mostly and primarily in Filipino, with markers also in English, Spanish, and regional languages. The first marker to contain a regional language was installed to commemorate the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City. The markers, both in Cebuano and Filipino, were installed in 2008. The first marker in Ilocano was installed to commemorate Mansion House in Baguio in 2009. The first marker in Kapampangan was installed to commemorate the Holy Rosary Parish Church in Angeles in 2017. Historical markers outside of the Philippines may also be written in the local language of the country where the marker is installed such as German in Berlin, Germany and French in Ghent, Belgium (both markers commemorate José Rizal). Two of the first markers outside of the Philippines were installed in Ghent, Belgium, commemorating the residence of José Rizal when the El Filibusterismo was published, and in Dezhou, China, commemorating Paduka Batara, a King of Sulu who paid tribute to the Yongle Emperor and died there. Both were installed in 1959.
Markers related to Rizal number the most, and Filipino historian Teodoro A. Agoncillo revealed that during his time (he served the NHCP from 1963 to 1985), their efforts in the board were mostly spent on approving, discussing, and rewriting the marker texts. With the number of marker requests relating to Rizal, he joked "Aba! Pati ba naman eskinitang inihian ni Rizal ibig lagyan ng marker!" (What, they even want us to mark obscure side streets where Rizal relieved himself!).
In 2002, during the unveiling ceremony of the marker National Federation of Women's Clubs in the Philippines in Manila Hotel, former president Fidel Ramos joked that the curtain raising reminded him of striptease, and everybody laughed. It was the last time that the curtains were pulled upward, and from then, the unveiling involves curtain pulling instead.
In 2011, the NHCP stated it will pursue more markers for Visayas and Mindanao for their further inclusion in national history, citing the concentration of markers in Luzon.
The Kudan, the Philippine embassy building in Tokyo, has been declared a national historical landmark by the NHCP and was granted a historical marker on March 3, 2014. It is the first overseas site to be granted such status. During the unveiling of the marker, Ambassador Manuel Lopez called the building as the crown jewel of Philippine foreign service.
On June 3, 2016, the NHCP, for the first time, installed a marker for a nameless personality. A marker was installed in Macabebe, commemorating the leader of the Battle of Bangkusay Channel, the "first native to give up his life for independence."
In 2021, the NHCP issued Quincentennial markers series, while starting 2023, the agency issued Philippine Nationhood Trail markers series.
From March to October 2021, the NHCP and National Quincentennial Committee issued quincentennial markers as part of the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP).
Thirty-four historical markers will be unveiled among several sites in regions of Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro. The markers were installed on site with the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Of these markers, ten were installed in Eastern Visayas. The first marker unveiled was the Suluan marker in the island of the same name in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on March 16, 2021.
The markers collectively depict select events of the Magellan-Elcano voyage in the Philippine archipelago. Each marker consists of a pedestal with a globe motif on top as a finial. The tiltation of the globe element was also certified by the Philippine Space Agency. On one side of the pedestal is the commemoration plaque and on another side is a dust marble relief which has a design dependent on the specific site of the marker. The reliefs are made by sculptors Jonas Roces and Francis Apiles and are based on sketches by muralist Derrick Macutay. The NHCP described the designs as a deviation from typical "orientalist" depictions by foreigners of pre-colonial Filipinos as savages. The markers are an attempt to depict events of the expedition from a Filipino point of view.
In 2023, the NHCP launched a marker series Landas ng Pagkabansang Pilipino (Philippine Nationhood Trail), commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Philippine declaration of independence in 1898 including the subsequent struggles of the First Philippine Republic leading to General Emilio Aguinaldo's capture in 1901. The commission said, "The markers will highlight the struggle of Asia's first democratic constitutional republic against colonialism as it fought to survive by moving across the country where it met and was aided by Filipinos of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds." The marker locations will follow the sites of the movement of the capitals of the Philippines during the revolutionary period.
The markers series track events that gave birth to the Philippine nation, starting from Kawit, Cavite (proclamation of Independence) to Palanan, Isabela (site of Emilio Aguinaldo's capture by the Americans). Three markers were revealed in 2023, 43 will be revealed in 2024, and the total markers released by 2026 will be 74. The series is expected to yield 100 markers with a standard memorial marker and pedestal.
The following are the policies issued by the NHCP on the installation of markers:
The following are lists and counts of NHCP historical markers by region, including a list of NHCP markers installed overseas:
Some historical markers have also caused issues and controversies due to different reasons.