3. The oldest human fossil remains are found in Palawan, on the western fringe of the archipelago. These remains are about 30,000 years old, suggesting that the first human migrations to the islands took place during the last Ice Age, when land bridges' connected the archipelago to mainland Asia and Borneo.
4. The islands were eventually inhabited by different groups that developed domestic trade linkages
13. During the first two centuries of their occupation, Spaniards used the Philippines mainly as a connecting point for their China-Acapulco (Mexico) trade.
15. economic system The United States established an economic system giving the colonizers full rights to the country's resources.
16. Second World War flag independence was regained although the U.S. imposed certain conditions, including the disenfranchisement of progressive political parties, the retention of U.S. military bases and the signing of economic agreements allowing the U.S. continued control over the Philippine economy.