Filipino cuisine is steadily gaining popularity around the world for its spice-packed flavorful dishes. Over thousands of years, other countries’ occupation in the Philippines have influenced the Filipino food we know today. Filipino cuisine is constantly growing and changing –– from the their first encounter with the Chinese, who introduced the small group of islands in the Pacific to rice, soy sauce, and the egg roll (aka future lumpia), siu mai (hello pockets!) to their interaction with the Spanish, who introduced cutlery, tomatoes and cattle-raising, and the Americans who brought canned meats and kitchen appliances. While the cuisine is always evolving, traditional Filipino culture and cooking are still represented in each dish, some even with a hint of peaceful resistance.

Our timeline offers a brief look at the history of the Philippines and how wars, political events and cultural mingling continue to influence Filipino cooking and flavors. We sourced the information from all over the internet, and may have left some holes in our timeline. If you find that to be the case, please do let us know! We are happy to add or edit any data points to make this a more accurate and holistic representation of history of the Philippines.

For more in-depth information on Filipino food culture, dive into Nastasha Alli’s website and podcast, Exploring Filipino Kitchens. Alli’s podcast references her experiences with Filipino food history while also drawing on the expertise of writers such as Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, author of The Governor General’s Kitchen, a written history of Filipino food.

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES & ITS FOOD:
A TIMELINE