Philippines

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Philippines

PhilippinesRepublic of the Philippines Republika ng Pilipinas

FlagCoat of arms

Motto:Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa]("For God, People, Nature, and Country")

Anthem:Lupang Hinirang("Chosen Land")

Location of Philippines(green) in ASEAN(dark grey) [Legend]

CapitalManila1435N 1210E / 14.583N 121E / 14.583; 121

(and largest city)Quezon City

Official languagesFilipino (based in Tagalog) , English

Recognised regionallanguagesBikol, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Pangasinan, Tagalog, Tausug, Waray-Waray

National languageFilipino

DemonymFilipino or Pinoy

GovernmentUnitary presidential constitutional republic

-PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo

-Vice PresidentNoli de Castro

-Senate PresidentJuan Ponce Enrile

-House SpeakerProspero C. Nograles

-Supreme Court Chief JusticeReynato Puno

Independencefrom Spainfrom United States

-EstablishedApril 27, 1565

-DeclaredJune 12, 1898

-Self-governmentMarch 24, 1934

-RecognizedJuly 4, 1946

-Current constitutionFebruary 2, 1987

Area

-Total300,000km2(72nd)115,831sqmi

-Water(%)0.61%

Population

-2009estimate91,983,000(12th)

-2007census88,574,614

-Density306.6/km2(44th)794.1/sqmi

GDP(PPP)2008estimate

-Total$317.964 billion(36th)

-Per capita$3,515(123rd)

GDP (nominal)2008estimate

-Total$166.909 billion(47th)

-Per capita$1,845(121st)

Gini(2006)45.8(medium)

HDI(2007) 0.751(medium)(105th)

CurrencyPeso (Filipino: piso ) (PHP)

Time zonePST (UTC+8)

-Summer(DST)not observed(UTC+0)

The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas [plpins]) officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. To its west across the South China Sea is Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest separates it from the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines has the 5th longest coastline in the world. The islands are categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila.With an estimated population of about 92,000,000 people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are about 11,000,000 overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Ecologically, the Philippines with its tropical climate is one of the most diverse countries in the world.In ancient times the archipelago was populated by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spanish interest and eventually dominance. The Philippines became the Asian hub of the Manila-Acapulco galleon treasure fleet. Christianity became widespread. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there followed in quick succession the short-lived Philippine Revolution, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War. In the aftermath, the United States replaced Spain as the dominant power. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained independence. The United States bequeathed to the Philippines the English language and its democratic presidential system of government. Since independence the Philippines has had an often tumultuous experience with democracy, with popular "People Power" movements overthrowing a dictatorship in one instance but also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in others.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the current President of the Philippines.

The Malacaang Palace is the official residence of the President of the Philippines

Administrative divisions

Provinces and regions of the Philippines.The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These are divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 120 cities, 1,511 municipalities and 42,008 barangays. In addition, the Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the country has acquired islands from Sabah formerly (North Borneo).RegionDesignationRegional center

Ilocos RegionRegion ISan Fernando, La Union

Cagayan ValleyRegion IITuguegarao, Cagayan

Central LuzonRegion IIISan Fernando, Pampanga

CALABARZONRegion IV-ACalamba City, Laguna

MIMAROPARegion IV-BCalapan, Oriental Mindoro

Bicol RegionRegion VLegazpi, Albay

Western VisayasRegion VIIloilo City

Central VisayasRegion VIICebu City

Eastern VisayasRegion VIIITacloban

Zamboanga PeninsulaRegion IXPagadian, Zamboanga del Sur

Northern MindanaoRegion XCagayan de Oro City

Davao RegionRegion XIDavao City

SOCCSKSARGENRegion XIIKoronadal, South Cotabato

CaragaRegion XIIIButuan

Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoARMMCotabato City

Cordillera Administrative RegionCARBaguio

National Capital RegionNCRManila

GeographyMain article: Geography of the Philippines

Chocolate Hills in Bohol.The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometres (116,000square miles). It is located between 116 40', and 126 34' E. longitude and 4 40' and 21 10' N. latitude and borders the Philippine Sea on the east, the South China Sea on the west, and the Celebes Sea on the south. The island of Borneo is located a few hundred kilometres southwest and Taiwan is located directly to the north. The Moluccas and Sulawesi are located to the south-southwest and Palau is located to the east of the islands.

Mayon Volcano in Luzon.Most of the mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo, located in Mindanao measuring at 2,954 metres (9,692ft) above sea level. There are many active volcanos such as the Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo and Taal Volcano. The islands are also located within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific, and approximately 19 typhoons strike per year.Located on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Around 20 earthquakes are registered daily, though most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century.The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay is connected to Laguna de Bay by means of the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf and the Moro Gulf are some of the important bays. Traversing the San Juanico Strait is the San Juanico Bridge that connects the islands of Samar, and Leyte.

EconomyMain article: Economy of the Philippines

The Makati City skylineThe national economy of the Philippines is the 47th largest in the world, with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP nominal) of over US$ 166.9 billion (nominal). Primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits. Major trading partners include China, Japan, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia. Its unit of currency is the Philippine peso (PHP).

Demographics

Map of the dominant ethnicities of the Philippines by province.There are about 11 million Filipinos outside the Philippines.[13] Since the liberalization of United States immigration laws in 1965,[105] the number of people in the United States having Filipino ancestry had grown substantially to 3.1 million according to the 2007 estimates by the United States Census Bureau.[106] According to the US Census Bureau, immigrants from the Philippines made up the second largest group after Mexico that sought family reunification.[107] Some 2 million Filipinos work in the Middle East, with nearly a million in Saudi Arabia alone.[108]EthnicityMain article: Ethnic groups of the PhilippinesFilipinos belong to several Asian ethnic groups, grouped within the Malay or Malayo-Polynesian speaking people, who speak Austronesian languages. They originated from a population of Taiwanese aborigines,[109] that migrated to the Philippines thousands of years ago from Taiwan, and brought with them knowledge of agriculture and ocean-sailing technology. Various people of different races and nationalities have intermarried with various indigenous ethnic groups.[110] Their descendants are known as mestizos.[111] The official population of all types of mixed blood individuals living in the country remain unknown. The islands are composed of a multitude of different ethnic groups and cultures. These include non-tribal peoples such as the Visayan, the Tagalog, comprising about one-fifth of the countrys total population, the Ilocano, the Moro, the Kapampangan, the Bicolano, the Pangasinense, the Ibanag and the Ivatan.[112] Indigenous peoples are also present including the Igorot, the Lumad, the Mangyan, the Badjao, and the tribes of Palawan.[109] Negritos, such as the Aeta and the Ati, are considered the aboriginal inhabitants of the islands and are estimated to number around 300,000 people (0.3%).[109] Migrant ethnic groups who have settled in the country from elsewhere include Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, Arabs, British, Europeans, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, and South Asians. Chinese Filipinos number about 2 million.[113]

CitiesThe figure below shows the top twenty largest cities in the Philippines.Largest cities in the Philippines

RankCityRegionPopulationRankCityRegionPopulationviewtalkedit

Manila

Makati

Pasig

1Quezon CityNational Capital2,679,45011DasmariasRegion IV-A556,330

2ManilaNational Capital1,660,71412Cagayan de OroRegion X553,966

3CaloocanNational Capital1,378,85613ParaaqueNational Capital552,660

4Davao CityRegion XI1,363,33714Las PiasNational Capital532,330

5Cebu CityRegion VII798,80915General SantosRegion XII529,542

6Zamboanga CityRegion IX774,40716MakatiNational Capital510,383

7AntipoloRegion IV-A633,97117BacolodRegion VI499,497

8PasigNational Capital617,30118MuntinlupaNational Capital452,493

9TaguigNational Capital613,34319San Jose del MonteRegion III439,090

10ValenzuelaNational Capital568,92820MarikinaNational Capital424,610

Philippines 2007 Census

LanguageNative Languages (2000)[114]

Tagalog22 million

Cebuano20 million

Ilokano7.7 million

Hiligaynon7 million

Waray-Waray3.1 million

Kapampangan2.9 million

Bicol Central2.5 million

Chavacano creoles2.5 million

Pangasinan2.4 million

Bicol Albay1.2 million

Maranao1.2 million

Maguindanao1.1 million

Kinaray-A1.1 million

Tausug1 million

Surigaonon0.6 million

Masbateo0.5 million

Aklanon0.5 million

Ibanag0.3 million

Over 180 native languages and dialects are spoken in the Philippines. They are part of the Borneo-Philippines group of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is itself a branch of the Austronesian language family.[109]According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino and English are the official languages. Filipino is a de facto version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila and other urban regions. Both Tagalog and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media and business. Major languages recognized in the constitution include Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog and Waray-Waray. Spanish and Arabic are recognized as voluntary and optional languages.[115]Other languages such as Aklanon, Boholano, Chavacano, Zamboangueo, Cuyonon, Ifugao, Itbayat, Ivatan, Kalinga, Kamayo, Kankana-ey, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Masbatenyo, Romblomanon, Surigaonon, Tausug, Yakan and several Visayan languages are dominant in their respective provinces.[109]

ReligionMain article: Religion in the Philippines

The Basilica Minore de San Sebastin is a Catholic church that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. It is composed of several diocese and archdiocese. More than 90% of the population are Christians. About 80% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while the remaining 10% belong to other Christian denominations, such as the Philippine Independent Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Church of Christ and the Orthodox Church.[116]Several Baroque churches are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the San Agustn Church in Manila, the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin (Santa Mara) Church in Ilocos Sur, the Santo Toms de Villanueva Church in Iloilo and the Basilica Minore del Santo Nio in Cebu.Between 5% to 10% of the population are Muslim, most of whom live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan and the Sulu Archipelago, an area known as Bangsamoro or the Moro region.[117][118] Some have migrated into urban and rural areas in different parts of the country. Most Muslim Filipinos practice Shafi'i, a form of Sunni Islam, while other tribal groups such as the Bajau, practice a form mixed with animism.[116]Philippine traditional religions are still practiced by many aboriginal and tribal groups, often syncretized with Christianity and Islam. Animism, folk religion and shamanism remain present as undercurrents of mainstream religion, through the albularyo, the babaylan and the manghihilot.[116] Meanwhile, Buddhism, Taoism and Chinese folk religion, are dominant in Chinese communities.[118]Those belonging to the Bah' Faith, Hinduism, Judaism, or those with other spiritual beliefs, and those with no religion form the remaining minority.[citation needed]

Culture and societyMain articles: Culture of the Philippines, Literature of the Philippines, Music of the Philippines, and Original Pilipino Music

Islamic instruments of gongs and a drum that make up the Philippine kulintang ensemble, an example of pre-Hispanic musical tradition.Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines shares many aspects with other Asian countries, with a traditional Malay[135] heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Spanish[136] and American influences. These influences are evident in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.Traditional festivities known as barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate the feast days of patron saints are common. The Moriones Festival and Sinulog Festival are a couple of the most well-known. These community celebrations are times for feasting, music, and dancing. Some traditions, however, are changing or gradually being forgotten due to modernization. The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company has been lauded for preserving many of the various traditional folk dances found throughout the Philippines. They are famed for their iconic performances of Philippine dances such as the tinikling and singkil that both feature the use of clashing bamboo poles.[137]

An Ifugao (Malayo-Polynesian) sculpture.One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Spanish surnames and names among Filipinos. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree, the Clavera edict, for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system on the population. A Spanish name and surname among the majority of Filipinos does not always denote Spanish ancestry. The majority of street names, towns and provinces are in Spanish. Spanish architecture made somewhat of an imprint in the Philippines, but many buildings bearing that influence were demolished during World War II. The remaining influences can be seen in the country's churches, government buildings, and universities. Many Hispanic-styled houses and buildings are preserved, like the towns in Vigan among others.The use of the English language in the Philippines is the United States' most visible legacy. It has contributed to the influence of American pop cultural trends. This is seen in Filipinos' love of fast food, film and music. Fast food outlets are found on many street corners. American global fast food chain stalwarts have entered the market, but local fast food chains like Goldilocks and most notably Jollibee, the leading fast food chain in the country, have emerged and successfully compete against their foreign rivals.[138] Modern day Filipinos also listen and watch contemporary American and European music and film. However, Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) and local films are also appreciated.

CuisineMain article: Filipino cuisine

The Halo-halo is a dessert made of ice, milk, various fruits and ice cream.Filipino cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malayo-Polynesian origins to become a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences. These influences have been adapted to local ingredients and the Filipino palate to create distinctively Filipino dishes.Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the elaborate, such as the paellas and cocidos created for fiestas. Popular dishes include lechn, adobo, sinigang, kare-kare, tapa, crispy pata, pancit, lumpia, and halo-halo.Unlike many of their Asian counterparts, Filipinos do not eat with chopsticks. They use western cutlery. However, possibly due to rice being the primary staple food and the popularity of a large number of stews or broth based main dishes in Filipino cuisine, the main pairing of utensils seen at the Filipino dining table is that of spoon and fork, not knife and fork.[139] The traditional way of eating with the hands known as kamayan is seen more often in less urbanized areas.[citation needed]