lt;/ref>
("For God, People, Nature, and Country") |image_map The Phillipines and ASEAN (orthographic projection).svg |map_caption |national_anthem [[Lupang Hinirang]]lt;br />("Chosen Land") |official_languages Filipino language (based on Tagalog language , English language |languages_type National language |languages Filipino language |regional_languages Bikol languages Cebuano language Hiligaynon language Ilokano language Kapampangan language Pangasinan language Tagalog language Waray-Waray language lt;ref name"About"/> ref|1|a}}Spanish language and Arabic lt;!--end hack-->http://www.chanrobles.com/article14language.htm 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article XIV, Section 7.] Retrieved 2009-11-21 from the http://www.chanrobles.com Chan Robles Virtual Law Library]. |demonym Filipino people lt;!---"Philippine" is not a demonym, because it does not refer to the people of the Philippines, only used in a geographic context---> |capital Manila |latd14 |latm35 |latNSN |longd121 |longm0 |longEWE |largest_city Quezon City |largest_metropolitan_area Manila |government_type Unitary state Presidential system Constitutional republic republic |leader_title1 President of the Philippines |leader_name1 Benigno Aquino III |leader_title2 Vice President of the Philippines |leader_name2 Jejomar Binay |leader_title3 President of the Senate of the Philippines |leader_name3Juan Ponce Enrile |leader_title4Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines |leader_name4Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. |leader_title5 Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court |leader_name5Renato Corona |area_km2 299,764 |area_footnote |area_sq_mi 115,831 |percent_water 0.61%lt;/ref> (inland waters) |population_estimate 91,983,000lt;/ref> |population_estimate_year 2009 |population_estimate_rank 12th |population_census 88,574,614lt;/ref> |population_census_year 2007 |population_density_km2 306.6 |population_density_sq_mi 794.1 |GDP_PPP_rank |GDP_PPP_per_capita $3,520 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank |GDP_nominal $160.991 billion |GDP_nominal_rank |GDP_nominal_year 2009 |GDP_nominal_per_capita $1,745 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank |HDI_year 2007 |HDI 0.751lt;/ref> |HDI_rank 105th |HDI_category medium |Gini 45.8 |Gini_year 2006 |Gini_category medium |sovereignty_type Philippine Revolution |sovereignty_note from Spainlt;br /> from United States |established_event1 Spanish East Indies |established_date1 April 27, 1565 |established_event2 Philippine Declaration of Independence |established_date2 June 12, 1898 |established_event3 Tydings-McDuffie Act |established_date3 March 24, 1934 |established_event4 Treaty of Manila (1946) |established_date4 July 4, 1946 |established_event5 Constitution of the Philippines |established_date5 February 2, 1987 |currency Philippine peso (Filipino:
File:PhilippinePeso.svg or ISO 4217 |currency_code |time_zone Philippine Standard Time |utc_offset +8 |time_zone_DST not observed |utc_offset_DST +8 |date_format |drives_on rightlt;/ref> |cctld .ph |calling_code +63 |ISO_3166-1_alpha2 PH |ISO_3166-1_alpha3 PHL |ISO_3166-1_numeric 608 |sport_code PHI (IOC & FIFA), PHL (ISO 3166-1) |vehicle_code RP |footnote1he 1987 Philippine constitution specifies, "Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis." |footnote2hilippine revolutionaries declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, but the Spanish claim of sovereignty was passed from Spain to the United States in the Treaty of Paris (1898) This led to the Philippine-American War |footnote3  } Rankings above were taken from associated Wikipedia pages as of December 2007 and may be based on data or data sources other than those appearing here. }} The Philippines (, 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 West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon Visayas and Mindanao Its capital city is Manila With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is List of countries by population An additional 11 million overseas Filipino Multiple Ethnic groups in the Philippines and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelagos earliest inhabitants. They were followed by Wave migration theory of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay people Hindu and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Culture of China cultural influences. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spain exploration, and eventual Spanish East Indies which lasted from 1565 to 1898. Manila emerged as the Asian hub of the Manila galleon Spanish treasure fleet Missionary work led to widespread Christianity 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 of the Philippines the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained Philippine independence The United States bequeathed to the Philippines the English language and a stronger affinity for Western culture. Since independence the Philippines has had an often tumultuous experience with democracy with popular "People power movements overthrowing a Ferdinand_Marcos#Dictatorship in one instance but also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in EDSA_II#Criticism

Etymology

The name Philippinesis derived from that of Philip II of Spain Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos during his expedition in 1542 named the islands of Leyte and Samar Felipinasafter the then Prince of Asturias (Spain). Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinaswould be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. Before it became commonplace, other names such as Islas del Poniente(Islands of the West) and Magellans name for the islands San Lázarowere also used by the Spanish to refer to the islands.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The official name of the Philippines has changed several times in the course of the countrys history. During the Philippine Revolution the Malolos Congress proclaimed the establishment of the República Filipinaor the [[First Philippine Republic|Philippine Republic]] From the period of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War until the Commonwealth of the Philippines period, American colonial authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands a translation of the Spanish name. During the American period the name Philippinesbegan to appear and it has since become the countrys common name.Manuel Quezon III (2005-03-28). http://www.quezon.ph/2005/03/28/323/ "The Philippines areor is"]. Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose Retrieved 2009-12-20. The official name of the country is now Republic of the Philippines The name "Philippines" is ultimately derived from the Greek language phrase Φίλος Ίππος Νησιά Fílos Íppos Ni̱símeaning "Islands of the Horse Friend."

History

The earliest known human remains found in the Philippines are those of the pre-Mongoloid Tabon Man of Palawan carbon-dated to around 24,000 years ago.|accessdate2009-12-16| publisherNational Museum}}lt;/ref> Negritos were another group of early inhabitants but their appearance in the Philippines has not been reliably dated.lt;/ref> They were followed by speakers of Malayo-Polynesian languages who began to arrive beginning around 4000 BCE, displacing the earlier arrivals.lt;/ref> By 1000 BCE, the inhabitants of the archipelago had developed into four kinds of social groups: hunter-gathering tribes, warrior societies, petty plutocracies, and maritime-centered harbor principalities.lt;/ref> The maritime-oriented peoples traded with other Asian countries during the subsequent period bringing influences from Hinduism Buddhism and Islam There was no unifying political state encompassing the entire Philippine Archipelago. Instead, the islands were divided among competing Thalassocracy ruled by various datu , rajah , or sultan . Among these were the kingdoms of Kingdom of Maynila Kingdom of Namayan and Kingdom of Tondo the rajahnates of Kingdom of Butuan and Rajahnate of Cebu and the sultanates of Sultanate of Maguindanao and Sulu Sultanate lt;/ref>lt;/ref>Zhang Xie. (1618) (in Chinese). Dong Xi Yang KaoA Study of the Eastern and Western Oceans [http://www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/directory/sumita/5A-161/volume05.html Volume 5](. ISBN Special:BookSources/7532515931 MID 00024687. Retrieved 2009-12-18.Bascar, C.M. (n.d.). http://www.royalsulu.com/history.html Sultanate of Sulu, "The Unconquered Kingdom"]. Retrieved 2009-12-19 from http://www.royalsulu.com/ The Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu & Sabah Official Website]. Some of these societies were part of the Malayan empires of Srivijaya Majapahit and Brunei lt;/ref>U.S. Department of State. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. (June 2009). http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2700.htm Background Note: Brunei]. Retrieved 2009-12-18. Islam was brought to the Philippines by traders and proselytizer from Malaysia and Indonesia.lt;/ref> By the 15th century, Islam was established in the Sulu Archipelago and by 1565 had reached Mindanao the Visayas and Luzon lt;/ref> File:Boxer codex.jpg Left, is a general from the Kingdom of Butuan and to the right is a princess of Kingdom of Tondo ]] In 1521, Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain.lt;/ref> Colonization began when Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed the first European settlements in Cebu. In 1571, after dealing with the local royal family in the wake of the Tondo Conspiracy and defeating the Chinese pirate warlord Limahong the Spanish established Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies Kurlansky, Mark. (1999). The Basque History of the World New York: Walker & Company. p. 64. ISBN 0-8027-1349-1.Nick Joaquin (1988). Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming Manila: Solar Publishing. Spanish rule contributed significantly to bringing political unity to the archipelago. From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was governed as a territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and then was administered directly from Madrid after the Mexican War of Independence The Manila galleons linking Manila to Acapulco traveled once or twice a year between the 16th and 19th century. Trade introduced foods such as maize tomatoes potatoes chili peppers and pineapples from the Americas. Roman Catholic missionaries converted most of the lowland inhabitants to Christianity and founded schools, a university, and hospitals. While a Spanish decree introduced free public schooling in 1863, efforts in mass public education mainly came to fruition during the American period.Dolan, Ronald E. (Ed.). (1991). http://countrystudies.us/philippines/53.htm "Education"]. http://countrystudies.us/philippines/ Philippines: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. Retrieved 2009-12-20 from http://countrystudies.us/ Country Studies US Website]. During its rule, the Spanish fought off various Philippine revolts against Spain and several external colonial challenges from Chinese pirates, the Dutch, and the Portuguese. In an extension of the fighting of the Seven Years' War Recruitment in the British Army under the command of William Draper (British Army officer) and Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet British occupation of the Philippines They found local allies like Diego Silang and Gabriela Silang who took the opportunity to lead a revolt against the Mexican-born acting Governor-General and Archbishop of Manila Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra but Spanish rule was eventually restored following the Treaty of Paris (1763) lt;/ref>lt;/ref> File:Filipino Ilustrados Jose Rizal Marcelo del Pilar Mariano Ponce.jpg n the 1800s, Philippine ports were opened to world trade and shifts were occurring within Philippine society. Many Spaniards born in the Philippines ([[criollos]] and those of mixed ancestry ([[mestizos]] became wealthy. The influx of Spanish and Latino settlers secularized churches and opened up government positions traditionally held by Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula ([[peninsulares]]. The ideals of revolution also began to spread through the islands. Criollodissatisfaction resulted in the Cavite Mutiny in 1872 that was a precursor to the Philippine Revolution.Nuguid, Nati. (1972). http://stuartxchange.com/CaviteMutiny.html "The Cavite Mutiny"]. in Mary R. Tagle. 12 Events that Have Influenced Philippine History Manila]: National Media Production Center. Retrieved 2009-12-20 from http://stuartxchange.com/ StuartXchange Website].Nick Joaquin A Question of Heroeslt;/ref> |edition2nd |isbn0-931613-17-5 |authorBautista, Veltisezar. |chapter3. The Philippine Revolution (1896-1898) |chapter-urlhttps://bookhaus2.securesites.net/philnewscentral/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?urlphilrev.html |year2002 |publisherBookhaus Publishers |locationNaperville, IL |accessdate2009-05-14}} Revolutionary sentiments were stoked in 1872 after three priests—Mariano Gómez José Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (collectively known as Gomburza —were accused of sedition by colonial authorities and executed. This would inspire a propaganda movement in Spain, organized by Marcelo H. del Pilar José Rizal and Mariano Ponce lobbying for political reforms in the Philippines. Rizal was eventually executed on December 30, 1896, on charges of rebellion.lt;/ref> As attempts at reform were meeting with resistance, Andrés Bonifacio in 1892 established the secret society called the Katipunan a society along the lines of the freemasons which sought independence from Spain through armed revolt. Bonifacio and the Katipunan started the Philippine Revolution in 1896. A faction of the Katipunan, the Magdalo (Katipunan faction) of Cavite province, eventually came to challenge Bonifacios position as the leader of the revolution and Emilio Aguinaldo took over. In 1898, the Spanish-American War began in Cuba and reached the Philippines. Aguinaldo Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898 and the First Philippine Republic was established the following year. Meanwhile, the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States for US$20 million dollars in the Treaty of Paris (1898) Price, Michael G. (2002). Foreward. In A. B. Feuer, http://books.google.com/books?idf-2Qef1JSjsC&printsecfrontcover&sourcegbs_navlinks_s#vonepage&q&ffalse America at War: the Philippines, 1898-1913 (pp. xiii-xvi). Westport, CT: Greenwood. Special:BookSources/0275968219 As it became increasingly clear the United States would not recognize the First Philippine Republic, the Philippine-American War broke out. It ended with American control over the islands.lt;/ref> File:Manuel Quezon inauguration.JPG in his inauguration as President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during the American period]]In 1935, the Philippines was granted Commonwealth of the Philippines status. Plans for independence over the next decade were interrupted by World War II when the Japanese Empire invaded and established a Second Philippine Republic Many atrocities and Japanese war crimes were committed during the war such as the Bataan Death March and the Manila massacre that culminated during the Battle of Manila (1945) White, Matthew. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/battles.htm#Manila "Death Tolls for the Man-made Megadeaths of the 20th Century"]. Retrieved 2007-08-01. Allied troops Philippines Campaign (1944–45) in 1945. By the end of the war it is estimated over a million Filipinos had died.Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). http://books.google.com/books?idChyilRml0hcC World War 2 Pacific Island Guide – A Geo-Military Study. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. http://books.google.com/books?idChyilRml0hcC&pgPA318&dq#vonepage&q&ffalse 318]. ISBN 0313313954. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines attained its independence.lt;/ref> Immediately after World War II the Philippines faced a number of challenges. The country had to be rebuilt from the ravages of war. It also had to come to terms with Japanese collaborators. Meanwhile, disgruntled remnants of the Hukbalahap communist rebel army that had previously fought against and resisted the Japanese continued to roam the rural Regions of the Philippines Eventually this threat was dealt with by Secretary of National Defense and later President Ramon Magsaysay but sporadic cases of communist insurgency continued to flare up long afterward.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president, his wife Imelda Marcos at his side. Nearing the end of his second term and constitutionally barred from seeking a third, he declared martial law on September 21, 1972. By using political divisions, the tension of the Cold War and the specter of communist rebellion and Islamic insurgency as justifications, he was able to govern by rule by decree lt;/ref> File:edsa shrine.jpg built at the EDSA Shrine after the People Power Revolution]] On August 21, 1983, Marcos chief rival opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. ignored warnings and returned from exile in the United States. He was assassinated as he was taken off the plane at the Manila International Airport (now called the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in his memory). With political pressure building Marcos eventually called for Philippine presidential election, 1986 Corazon Aquino Benignos widow, was convinced into becoming the presidential candidate and standard bearer of the opposition. The elections were widely thought of as rigged when Marcos was proclaimed the winner. This led to the People Power Revolution instigated when two long-time Marcos allies—Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief-of-Staff Fidel V. Ramos and Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile resigned and barricaded themselves in Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame Exhorted by the Cardinal (Catholicism) Archbishop of Manila Jaime Sin people gathered in support of the rebel leaders and protested on EDSA In the face of mass protests and military defections, Marcos and his allies fled to Hawaii and into exile. Corazon Aquino was recognized as president.lt;/ref> The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 were hampered by national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a persistent New People's Army and Moro National Liberation Front The economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected president in 1992.lt;/ref> However, the economic improvements were negated with the onset of the East Asian financial crisis in 1997. In 2001, amid charges of corruption and a stalled impeachment process, Ramos successor Joseph Estrada was ousted from the presidency by the 2001 EDSA Revolution and replaced by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo As a result of the Philippine presidential election, 2010 Benigno Aquino III was elected president.

Politics and government

File:Malacanang palace view.jpg - the official residence of the President of the Philippines ] The Philippines is a constitutional republic with a presidential system of government. It is governed as a unitary state with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is largely free from the national government. The President of the Philippines functions as both head of state and head of government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The president is elected by popular vote for a single six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the Cabinet (government) The bicameral Congress of the Philippines is composed of the Senate of the Philippines serving as the upper house with members elected to a six-year term, and the House of Representatives of the Philippines serving as the lower house with members elected to a three-year term. The senators are elected at large while the representatives are elected from both Legislative districts of the Philippines and through sectoral representation. The judiciary power is vested in the Supreme Court of the Philippines composed of a Chief Justice of the Philippines as its presiding officer and fourteen Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines all of whom are appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council There have been attempts to change the government to a federal government unicameral or parliamentary government since the Ramos administration.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>

Security and defense

File:Special Action Force Operators.jpg Special Action Force(SAF) operators]] Philippine defense is handled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and is composed of three branches: the Philippine Air Force the Philippine Army and the Philippine Navy (including the Philippine Marine Corps . Civilian security is handled by Philippine National Police under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (Philippines) In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the largest separatist organization, the Moro National Liberation Front is now engaging the government politically. Other more militant groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front the communist New People's Army and the Abu Sayyaf still roam the Provinces of the Philippines but their presence has decreased in recent years due to successful security provided by the Philippine government.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1695576.stm "Guide to the Philippines conflict"]. (2007-08-10). [[BBC News]] Retrieved 2009-12-16.World Bank. Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction Unit. (February 2005). [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTCPR/214578-1111996036679/20482477/WP24_Web.pdf The Mindanao Conflict in the Philippines: Roots, Costs, and Potential Peace Dividend]by Salvatore Schiavo-Campo and Mary Judd. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. (Social Development Paper No. 24). Retrieved 2009-12-16. The Philippines has been an Allies of World War II of the United States since World War II. It supported American policies during the Cold War and participated in the Korean War and Vietnam War wars. It was a member of the now dissolved Southeast Asian Treaty Organization a group that was intended to serve a role similar to NATO and that included Australia France New Zealand Pakistan Thailand the United Kingdom and the United States.Liefer, Michael. (2005). http://books.google.com/books?idB9kTZgZ0TWYC&printsecfrontcover&sourcegbs_navlinks_s#vonepage&q&ffalse Michael Liefer – Selected Works on Southeast Asia (Chin, Kin-Wah & Leo Suryadinata, Eds.). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Special:BookSources/9812302700 After the start of the War on Terror the Philippines was part of the coalition that gave support to the United States in Iraq.lt;/ref> The Philippines is currently working with the United States with the intention of ending its domestic insurgency in the Philippines

International relations

File:Philippines Embassy in US.JPG United States.]] The Philippines international relations are based on trade with other nations and the well-being of the 11 million overseas Filipino living outside the country.lt;/ref> As a founding and active member of the United Nations the Philippines has been elected several times into the United Nations Security Council Carlos P. Romulo was a former President of the United Nations General Assembly The country is an active participant in the Human Rights Council as well as in peacekeeping missions, particularly in United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations. ca. 2008]. http://www.un.int/philippines/about/ About Us]. Retrieved 2010-08-13.Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations. ca. 2008]. http://www.un.int/philippines/security_council/ The Philippines and the UN Security Council]. Retrieved 2008-01-12.United Nations Human Rights Council ca. 2009]. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/groups.htm Membership by regional groups from 19 June 2006-18 June 2007]. Retrieved 2010-03-21.United Nations Security Council (1999-10-25). http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DSS/RES/1272%20(1999)&LangE&AreaUNDOChttp://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DSS/RES/1272%20(1999)&LangE&AreaUNDOC Resolution 1272 S-RES-1272(1999) . Retrieved 2010-03-21. In addition to membership in the United Nations, the country is also a founding and active member of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), an organization designed to strengthen relations and promote economic and cultural growth among states in the Southeast Asian region.s:Bangkok Declaration (1967-08-08). Retrieved 2009-12-20 from Wikisource. It has hosted several ASEAN summit and is an active contributor to the direction and policies of the bloc.http://web.archive.org/web/20071217132852/http://www.summit99.ops.gov.ph/asean_structure.htm "ASEAN Primer"]. (1999). 3{{Smallsup|rd}} ASEAN Informal Summit Archived from http://www.summit99.ops.gov.ph/asean_structure.htm the original] on 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-13. The relations it currently enjoys with other Southeast Asian states are in contrast to its relations with them before the 1970s when it was Vietnam War with Vietnam and was heavily Sabah dispute with Malaysia although, disagreements continue to exist due to the Spratly Islands lt;/ref> The Philippines values its relations with the United States It supported the United States during the Cold War and the War on Terror and is a major non-NATO ally Despite this history of goodwill, controversies related to the presence of the now former United States military bases in Subic Bay and Clark Air Base and the current RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement have flared up from time to time. Japan the biggest contributor of official development assistance to the country,lt;/ref> is thought of as a friend. Although historical tensions still exist on issues such as the plight of comfort women much of the animosity inspired by memories of World War II have faded.Dolan, Ronald E. (Ed.). (1991). http://countrystudies.us/philippines/93.htm "Relations with Asian Neighbors"]. http://countrystudies.us/philippines/ Philippines: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. Retrieved 2010-01-05 from http://countrystudies.us/ Country Studies US Website]. Relations with other nations are generally positive. Shared democratic values ease relations with Western and European countries while similar economic concerns help in relations with other developing countries. Historical ties and cultural similarities also serve as a bridge in relations with Spain and Latin America Despite issues such as domestic abuse and war affecting overseas Filipino workers and obstacles posed by Islamic insurgency in Mindanao, relations with Middle East rn countries (including Egypt Iran Iraq Libya Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are friendly as seen in the continuous employment of more than two million overseas Filipinos living there. With communism no longer the threat it once was, once hostile relations in the 1950s between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China have improved greatly. Issues involving Taiwan, the Spratly Islands, and concerns of expanding Chinese influence, however, still encourage a degree of carefulness. Recent foreign policy has been mostly about economic relations with its Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific neighbors. International groups the Philippines is a member of include the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Latin Union the Group of 24 and the Non-Aligned Movement It is also seeking to strengthen relations with Islamic countries by campaigning for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference http://www.gmanews.tv/story/162925/DFA-Technicalities-blocking-RP-bid-for-OIC-observer-status "DFA: ‘Technicalities’ blocking RP bid for OIC observer status"]. (2009-05-26). GMA News Retrieved 2009-07-10.lt;/ref>

Administrative divisions

The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon Visayas and Mindanao these were divided into 17 Regions of the Philippines 80 Provinces of the Philippines 138 Cities of the Philippines 1,496 Municipalities of the Philippines and 42,025 barangays Republic of the Philippines. National Statistical Coordination Board. "http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listreg.asp List of Regions]". (March 2010). Retrieved 2010-05-21. In addition, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the country has acquired islands from Sabah (formerly North Borneo .http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno5446.html Republic Act No. 5446 – An Act to Amend Section One of Republic Act Numbered Thirty Hundred and Forty-Six, Entitled "An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines"]. Republic of the Philippines. (September 18, 1968). Retrieved 2009-11-21 from the http://www.chanrobles.com Chan Robles Virtual Law Library]. File:Ph regions and provinces.png | class"wikitable" border"1" style"margin: 1em auto 1em auto" |- ! Region !! Designation !! Regional center |- | Ilocos Region || Region I || San Fernando City, La Union La Union |- | Cagayan Valley || Region II || Tuguegarao City Cagayan |- | Central Luzon || Region III || City of San Fernando, Pampanga Pampanga |- | CALABARZON || Region IV-A || Calamba City Laguna (province) |- | MIMAROPA || Region IV-B || Calapan City Oriental Mindoro |- | Bicol Region || Region V || Legazpi City Albay |- | Western Visayas | Region VI || Iloilo City |- | Central Visayas || Region VII || Cebu City |- | Eastern Visayas || Region VIII || Tacloban City |- | Zamboanga Peninsula (Administrative Region) || Region IX || Pagadian City Zamboanga del Sur |- | Northern Mindanao || Region X || Cagayan de Oro City |- | Davao Region || Region XI || Davao City |- | SOCCSKSARGEN || Region XII || Koronadal City South Cotabato |- | Caraga || Region XIII || Butuan City |- | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao || ARMM || Cotabato City |- | Cordillera Administrative Region || CAR || Baguio City |- | Metro Manila || NCR || Manila |}

Geography

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area, including inland bodies of water, of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 square miles . Its 36,289 kilometers (22,549 miles) of coastline makes it the country with the 5th List of countries by length of coastline in the world.Central Intelligence Agency. (2009). https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2060.html "Field Listing :: Coastline"]. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 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 kilometers 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.http://www.gov.ph/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id200020&Itemid26 General Information] (2007). [http://www.gov.ph The Official Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines] Retrieved 2010-01-04. Most of the mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo It measures up to 2,954 meters (9,692 feet) above sea level and is located on the island of Mindanao. The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay the largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River Subic Bay the Davao Gulf and the Moro Gulf are other important bays. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar and Leyte but it is traversed by the San Juanico Bridge Republic of the Philippines. Department of Tourism. ca. 2008]. http://www.travelmart.net/philippines/leyte-hotels-resorts.html Leyte is Famous For...]. Retrieved 2010-03-21 from www.travelmart.net. Archived from http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?contentfamousefor&province4 the original]. Situated on the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The Benham Plateau to the east in the Philippine Sea is an undersea region active in Plate tectonics subduction lt;/ref> Around 20 earthquake are registered daily, though most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake La Putt, Juny P. ca. 2003]. http://www.cityofpines.com/baguioquake/quake.html The 1990 Baguio City Earthquake. Retrieved 2009-12-20 from http://www.cityofpines.com/ The City of Baguio] Website. There are many Active volcanoes in the Philippines such as the Mayon Volcano Mount Pinatubo and Taal Volcano The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century. lt;/ref> Not all notable geographic features are so violent or destructive. A more serene legacy of the geological disturbances is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River The white sand beaches that make Boracay a popular vacation getaway are made of coral remnants. Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, mineral deposits are abundant. The country is estimated to have the second-largest gold deposits after South Africa and one of the largest copper deposits in the world. lt;/ref> It is also rich in nickel, chromite, and zinc. Despite this, poor management, high population density, and environmental consciousness have resulted in these mineral resources remaining largely untapped. Geothermal energy however, is another product of volcanic activity that the country has harnessed more successfully. The Philippines is the worlds second-biggest geothermal producer behind the United States, with 18% of the countrys electricity needs being met by geothermal power.lt;/ref>

Flora and fauna

File:Philippine Eagle.jpg is a bird of prey found in the rainforests of the islands.]] The Philippines rainforests and its extensive coastlines make it home to a diverse range of birds, plants, animals, and sea creatures.http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/about_philippines/philippine_natural_resources.htm "Natural Resources and Environment in the Philippines"]. (n.d.). eTravel Pilipinas Retrieved January 22, 2009. It is one of the ten most biologically mega-diverse countries and is at or near the top in terms of biodiversity per unit area.Retrieved 2010-02-15 from gbgm-umc.org.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Around 1,100 land vertebrate species can be found in the Philippines including over 100 mammal species and 170 bird species not thought to exist elsewhere. lt;/ref> Endemism species include the tamaraw of Mindoro, the Visayan spotted deer the Philippine mouse deer the Visayan warty pig the Philippine flying lemur and several species of bat .Regalado, Jacinto C. Jr. and Lawrence R. Heaney. (1998). http://www.fieldmuseum.org/vanishing_treasures/V_Mammals.htm "Vanishing Treasures"]. In Lawrence R. Heaney, Vanishing Treasures of the Philippine Rain Forest Chicago: Field Museum Retrieved 2010-04-26 from the Field Museum Website. The Philippines lacks large predators, with the exception of snakes such as Pythonidae and cobra , and birds of prey such as the national bird known as the Philippine eagle lt;/ref> Other native animals include the Asian palm civet the dugong and the Philippine tarsier associated with Bohol With an estimated 13,500 plant species in the country, 3,200 of which are unique to the islands, Philippine rainforests boast an array of flora, including many rare types of orchids and rafflesia Conservation International Center for Applied Biodiversity Science. ca. 2007]. http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/philippines/Pages/default.aspx "Philippines"]. In Biodiversity Hotspots Retrieved 2009-12-20.Taguinod, Fioro. (2008-11-20). http://www.gmanews.tv/story/134682/Rare-flower-species-found-only-in-northern-Philippines "Rare flower species found only in northern Philippines"]. GMA News Retrieved 2009-12-14. The Pterocarpus indicus is considered as the most important type of hardwood de Vera, Ellayn and Charrissa M. Luci. (2005-07-17). "Balete Drive: White Lady, haunted houses and other myths". The Manila Bulletin Philippine territorial waters encompass as much as 2.2 million square kilometers (850,000 square miles) producing unique and diverse marine life and is an important part of the Coral Triangle There are 2,400 fish species and over 500 species of coral. The Apo Reef is the countrys largest contiguous coral reef system and the second-largest in the world.WWF-Philippines. (2008-09-02). http://www.wwf.org.ph/newsfacts.php?pgdet&id96 Apo Reef Set to Reclaim Old Glory: park opens for tourism, closes for fishing]. Retrieved 2010-04-26 from the WWF-Philippines Website. Philippine waters also sustain the cultivation of pearls, crabs, and seaweeds.http://www.philippine-history.org/about-philippines.htm "About the Philippines"]. (2009-10-17). Retrieved 2009-12-20 from the Philippine History Website. Deforestation often the result of illegal logging is an acute problem in the Philippines. Forest cover declined from 70% of the countrys total land area in 1900 to about 18.3% in 1999.Peralta, Eleno O. (2005). "http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/af349e/af349e0n.htm#bm23 21. Forests for poverty alleviation: the response of academic institutions in the Philippines]". In Sim, Appanah, and Hooda (Eds.). Proceedings of the workshop on forests for poverty reduction: changing role for research, development and training institutions(RAP Publication). Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Retrieved 2009-12-20.Heaney, Lawrence R. ca. 2002]. "http://www.fieldmuseum.org/Vanishing_Treasures/Deforestation_1.htm The Causes and Effects of Deforestation]". [[Field Museum of Natural History]] Retrieved 2009-12-20. Many species are endangered and scientists say that Southeast Asia which the Philippines is part of, faces a catastrophic extinction rate of 20% by the end of the century.Kirby, Alex. (2003-07-23). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3090071.stm SE Asia faces catastrophic extinction rate]. BBC News Retrieved 2009-12-20. According to Conservation International "the country is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety, both a hotspot and a megadiversity country, placing it among the top priority hotspots for global conservation."

Climate

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate and is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: tag-initor tag-araw the hot dry season or summer from March to May; tag-ulan the rainy season from June to November; and tag-lamig the cool dry season from December to February. The southwest monsoon (from May to October) is known as the Habagat, and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (from November to April), the Amihan. Temperatures usually range from 21°Celsius (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) although it can get cooler or hotter depending on the season. The coolest month is January; the warmest is May.Lonely Planet (n.d.). http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/weather Philippines: When to go & weather]. Retrieved 2009-01-23. The average yearly temperature is around 26.6°C (79.88°Fahrenheit .lt;/ref> In considering temperature, location in terms of latitude and longitude is not a significant factor. Whether in the extreme north, south, east, or west of the country, temperatures at sea level tend to be in the same range. Altitude usually has more of an impact. The average annual temperature of Baguio at an elevation of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level is 18.3°C (64.9°F), making it a popular destination during hot summers. Likewise, Tagaytay is a favored retreat. Sitting astride the Typhoons in the Philippines most of the islands experience annual torrential rains and thunderstorms from July to October,Library of Congress – Federal Research Division (March 2006). http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Philippines.pdf Country Profile: Philippines. Retrieved 2009-12-17. with around nineteen typhoons entering the Philippine area of responsibility in a typical year and eight or nine making landfall.lt;/ref>Session |dateJanuary 2009 |accessdate2009-12-17}}http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/reference/monthly/ Monthly Typhoon Tracking Charts. (2010). Retrieved 2010-04-24 from the National Institute of Informatics Kitamoto Laboratory, Digital Typhoon Website. Annual rainfall measures as much as 5,000 millimeters (200 inches) in the mountainous east coast section but less than 1,000 millimeters (39 inches) in some of the sheltered valleys.

Economy

The national economy of the Philippines is the List of countries by GDP (nominal) with an estimated 2009 gross domestic product (nominal) of $161 billion. 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 (₱ or PHP). A newly industrialized country the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. Of the countrys total labor force of around 38.1 million, the agriculture sector employs close to 32% but contributes to only about 13.8% of GDP. The industrial sector employs around 13.7% of the workforce and accounts for 30% of GDP. Meanwhile the 46.5% of workers involved in the services sector are responsible for 56.2% of GDP.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The unemployment rate as of July 2009 stands at around 7.6% and due to the global economic slowdown inflation as of September 2009 reads 0.70%. Gross international reserves as of February 2010 are $45.713 billion.Agcaoili, Lawrence. (2010-03-06). http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId555211&publicationSubCategoryId66 "Forex reserves hit a new high of $45.7 billion in February"]. [[The Philippine Star]] Retrieved 2010-03-28. In 2004, public debt as a percentage of GDP was estimated to be 74.2%; in 2008, 56.9%. Gross external debt has risen to $66.27 billion. The country is a net importer. File:Monument To Immortality.jpg with the statue of Benigno Aquino, Jr. ] After World War II, the country was for a time regarded as the second wealthiest in East Asia, next only to Japan.http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_idE1_RRPJDJ The Filipina sisterhood]. (2001-12-20). [[The Economist]] Retrieved 2009-11-09.lt;/ref> However, by the 1960s its economic performance started being overtaken. The economy stagnated under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos as the regime spawned economic mismanagement and political volatility. The country suffered from slow economic growth and bouts of economic recession Only in the 1990s with a program of economic liberalization did the economy begin to recover. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis affected the economy, resulting in a lingering decline of the value of the Philippine peso and falls in the stock market. But the extent it was affected initially was not as severe as that of some of its Asian neighbors. This was largely due to the fiscal conservatism of the government, partly as a result of decades of monitoring and fiscal supervision from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in comparison to the massive spending of its neighbors on the rapid acceleration of economic growth. There have been signs of progress since. In 2004, the economy experienced 6.4% GDP growth and 7.1% in 2007, its fastest pace of growth in three decades.Felix, Rocel. (2008-01-25). http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080125-114787/2007-GDP-seen-growing-at-fastest-rate-in-30-years 2007 GDP seen growing at fastest rate in 30 years]. The Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved 2010-05-29.http://web.archive.org/web/19960101-re_/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/20/ap3443340.html Philippines Aims to Boost Growth by 2009]. (2007-02-20). Forbes Associated Press. Archived from http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/20/ap3443340.html the original] on 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2008-01-09. Yet average annual GDP growth per capita for the period 1966–2007 still stands at 1.45% in comparison to an average of 5.96% for the East Asia and the Pacific region as a whole and the daily income for 45% of the population of the Philippines remains less than $2.Reddel, Paul. (2009-05-27). http://www.ppiaf.org/documents/Phil_presentation-May_2009-PR.pdf Infrastructure & Public-Private Partnerships in East Asia and the PhilippinesPowerPoint slides]. Presentation in Manila to the American Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines. Retrieved 2010-02-13 from the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) Website. Other incongruities and challenges exist. The economy is heavily reliant on remittances which surpass foreign direct investment as a source of foreign currency. Regional development is uneven with Luzon—Metro Manila in particular—gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of the other regions,http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht006433.htm Beyond Imperial Manila]. (2006-07-25). The [[Manila Standard Today]] Archived from http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?pageeditorial_july25_2006 the original] on unknown date. Retrieved 2009-12-16. although the government has taken steps to distribute economic growth by promoting investment in other areas of the country. Despite constraints, service industries such as tourism and business process outsourcing have been identified as areas with some of the best opportunities for growth for the country.lt;/ref> Goldman Sachs includes the country in its list of the "Next Eleven economies.Wilson, Dominic and Anna Stupnytska. (2007-03-28). http://www.chicagobooth.edu/alumni/clubs/pakistan/docs/next11dream-march%20%2707-goldmansachs.pdf "The N-11: More Than an Acronym" (Global Economics Paper No: 153)]. Goldman Sachs Economic Research. Retrieved 2009-11-07. But China and India have emerged as major economic competitors.Olchondra, Riza T. (2006-10-02). http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id24405 As India gets too costly, BPOs turn to Philippines]. [[The Philippine Daily Inquirer]] Retrieved 2009-12-16. The Philippines is a member of the World Bank the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asian Development Bank which is headquartered in Mandaluyong City the Colombo Plan and the Group of 77 among other groups and institutions.

Demographics

File:Philippines-demography.png The first Philippines census in the Philippines was carried out in 1877 and recorded a population of 5,567,685.Republic of the Philippines. National Statistical Coordination Board. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_popn.asp Population of the Philippines Census Years 1799 to 2007]. Retrieved 2009-12-11. By 2009, the Philippines has become the worlds 12th most populous nation, with a population of over 92 million.lt;/ref> It is estimated that half of the population resides on the island of Luzon. Manila the capital city, is the eleventh most populous metropolitan area in the world. The population of the Greater Manila Area is around 20 million.http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf Demographia World Urban Areas & Population Projections (5th ed.). (April 2009). Demographia. Retrieved 2009-12-20.http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x&mengcis&lngen&dat32&srtnpan&colaohdq&pta&va&srtpnan World: metropolitan areas]. (2009). World Gazetteer Retrieved 2009-12-20. The population growth rate between 1995 to 2000 was 3.21% but has decreased to an estimated 1.95% for the 2005 to 2010 period. The median age is 22.7 years with 60.9% of the population aged from 15 to 64 years old. Life expectancy at birth is 71.38 years, 74.45 years for females and 68.45 years for males.lt;/ref> Image:Philippine ethnic groups per province.PNG There are about 11 million Filipinos outside the Philippines.lt;/ref> Since the liberalization of United States immigration laws in 1965, the number of people in the United States having Filipino American ancestry has grown substantially. In 2007 there were an estimated 3.1 million.Asis, Maruja M.B. (January 2006). "http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID364 The Philippines Culture of Migration]". Migration Information Source Migration Policy Institute. Retrieved 2009-12-14.The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 American Community Survey counted 3,053,179 Filipinos; 2,445,126 native and naturalized citizens, 608,053 of whom were not U.S. citizens. According to the United States Census Bureau, immigrants from the Philippines made up the second largest group after Mexico that sought family reunification.Castles, Stephen and Mark J. Miller. (July 2009). "http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id733&feedrss Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region]". Migration Information Source Migration Policy Institute. Retrieved 2009-12-17. Some two million Filipinos work in the Middle East with nearly a million in Saudi Arabia alone.Ciria-Cruz, Rene P. (2004-07-26). http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file/chronicle/archive/2004/07/26/EDGD56NB0H1.DTL 2 million reasons for withdrawing 51 troops]. San Francisco Chronicle July 26, 2004.

Ethnicity

According to the 2000 census 28.1% of Filipinos are Tagalog, 13.1% Cebuano, 9% Ilocano, 7.6% Bisaya/Binisaya, 7.5% Hiligaynon Ilonggo, 6% Bikol, 3.4% Waray, and 25.3% are classified as other.lt;/ref> These general headings can be broken down further to yield more distinct non-tribal groups like the Moro people the Kapampangan people the Pangasinan people the Ibanag people and the Ivatan people "http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/456399/Philippines Philippines]". (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica Retrieved 2009-12-18 from Encyclopædia Britannica Online. There are also Indigenous peoples of the Philippines like the Igorot the Lumad the Mangyan the Bajau and the Ethnic Groups of Palawan Negrito , such as the Aeta and the Ati (ethnic group) are considered among the earliest inhabitants of the islands.Dolan, Ronald E. (Ed.). (1991). http://countrystudies.us/philippines/35.htm "Ethnicity, Regionalism, and Language"]. http://countrystudies.us/philippines/ Philippines: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. Retrieved 2010-04-08 from http://countrystudies.us/ Country Studies US Website]. Filipinos generally belong to several Asian people ethnic groups classified linguistically as part of the Austronesian peoples or Malayo-Polynesian languages speaking people. Its believed that thousands of years ago Taiwanese aborigines migrated to the Philippines from Taiwan, bringing with them knowledge of agriculture and ocean-sailing, and displacing the earlier Negrito groups of the islands.lt;/ref> Eventually Chinese, Spanish, and American arrivals intermarried with the various indigenous ethnic groups that had evolved. Their descendants are known as Filipino mestizo "http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Homepage99/impacts_of_spanish_rule_in_the_p.htm The Impact of Spanish Rule in the Philippines]". (2009). Tagalog at NIU Retrieved 2009-12-19 from the Northern Illinois University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, SEAsite Project. Chinese Filipino number about two million."http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/23/content_11930729.htm Chinese lunar new year might become national holiday in Philippines too]". (2009-08-23). Xinhua News Retrieved 2009-12-18. Other migrant ethnic groups who have settled in the country from elsewhere include Filipinos of Arab descent Britons, Ethnic groups in Europe Indonesians, Filipinos of Japanese descent Koreans in the Philippines and South Asians in the Philippines .

Cities

The figure below shows the top twenty largest cities in the Philippines.lt;/ref>

Language

| class"wikitable" border"1" table style"border:1px black; float:right; margin-left:1em;" |- ! style"background:#f99;" colspan"2"|Native Languages (2000)Philippine Census, 2000. Table 11. Household Population by Ethnicity, Sex, and Region: 2000. |- |Tagalog ||22 million |- |Cebuano ||20 million |- |Ilokano||7.7 million |- |Hiligaynon||7 million |- |Waray-Waray||3.1 million |}

[[Ethnologue]]lists 175 individual languages in the Philippines, 171 of which are living languages while 4 no longer have any known speakers. They are part of the Borneo-Philippines languages group of the Malayo-Polynesian languages which is itself a branch of the Austronesian languages family.Lewis, Paul M. (2009). http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?namePH Languages of Philippines]. Ethnologue: Languages of the World(16th ed.). Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Retrieved 2009-12-16. According to the Constitution of the Philippines Filipino language and English are the official languages. Filipino is a de facto version of Tagalog language spoken mainly in Metro Manila and other urban regions. Both Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business. The constitution designates regional languages such as include Bikol language Cebuano language Ilokano language Hiligaynon language or Ilonggo, Kapampangan language Pangasinan language Tagalog, and Waray-Waray language designated as auxiliary official languages, and mandates that Spanish language and Arabic language shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis. Other languages such as Aklanon language Boholano language Chavacano language Zamboangueño language Cuyonon language Ifugao language Itbayat Ivatan language Kalinga language Kamayo language Kankana-ey language Kinaray-a language Maguindanao language Maranao language Masbatenyo language Romblomanon language Surigaonon language Tausug language Yakan and several Visayan languages are prevalent in their respective provinces.

Religion

More than 90% of the population are Christians: about 80% belong to the Roman Catholicism Church while 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 in the Philippines Jehovah's Witnesses and the Orthodox Church in the Philippines lt;/ref> The Philippines is one of two Catholic Church by country countries in Asia, the other being East Timor Between 5% and 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 (Philippines) region.http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId472375&publicationSubCategoryId205 RP closer to becoming observer-state in Organization of Islamic Conference]. (2009-05-29). [[The Philippine Star]] Retrieved 2009-07-10.U.S. Department of State. (2008). [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108421.htm Philippines: International Religious Freedom Report 2008] Retrieved 2009-07-10. 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 Philippine mythology are still practiced by many aboriginal and tribal groups, often syncretic religion with Christianity and Islam. Animism folk religion and shamanism remain present as undercurrents of mainstream religion, through the [[albularyo]] the [[babaylan]] and the [[hilot|manghihilot]] Buddhism in the Philippines Taoism and Chinese folk religion are dominant in Chinese communities. There are also followers of Baha'i http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_bahai.html The Largest Bahai Communities]. (2005-09-30). Retrieved 2010-04-26 from www.adherents.com.

Education

File:UST Main Bldg Facade.jpg founded in 1611 is one of the Philippines and Asias oldest universities.]] The National Statistics Office (Philippines) reports a simple literacy rate of 93.4% and a functional literacy rate of 84.1% for 2003. Literacy is about equal for males and females. Spending for education is around 2.5% of GDP. According to the Department of Education (Philippines) or DepEd, there were 42,152 elementary schools and 8,455 high schools registered for the school year 2006–2007Republic of the Philippines. Department of Education. http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/factsheet2008(May12).pdf Basic Education Statistics Fact Sheet]. (2008-05-12). Author. Retrieved 2009-12-20. while the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) (CHED) lists 2,060 higher education institutions, 537 of which are public and 1,523 private.Republic of the Philippines. Commission on Higher Education. (September 2008). http://www.ched.gov.ph/hes/index.html Higher Education System]. Official Website of the Commission on Higher Education Retrieved 2009-12-24. Classes start in June and end in March. The majority of colleges and universities follow a semester calendar from June to October and November to March. There are a number of foreign schools with study programs. Republic Act No. 9155 gives the framework of basic education in the Philippines and provides for compulsory elementary education and free high school education.http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9155.html Republic Act No. 9155 - Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001.] Republic of the Philippines. Approved August 11, 2001. Retrieved 2009-12-11 from the http://www.chanrobles.com Chan Robles Virtual Law Library]. Several government agencies are involved with education. The Department of Education covers elementary, secondary, and nonformal education; the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) administers the post-secondary middle-level education training and development; and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) supervises the college and graduate academic programs and degrees as well as regulates standards in higher education.Department of Education, Republic of the Philippines. http://www.deped.gov.ph/about_deped/history.asp "Historical Perspective of the Philippine Educational System"]. Author. Retrieved 2009-12-14.

Health

File:Philippine General Hospital.jpg ] Most of the national burden of health care is taken up by private health providers. In 2006, total expenditures on health represented 3.8% of GDP. 67.1% of that came from private expenditures while 32.9% was from government. External resources accounted for 2.9% of the total. Health expenditures represented about 6.1% of total government spending. Per capita total expenditure at average exchange rate was $52.lt;/ref> The proposed national health budget for 2010 is ₱28 billion (about $597 million) or ₱310 ($7) per person.Philippine News Agency. (2009-12-14). http://www.gov.ph/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id2002495&Itemid2 "Senate approves proposed 2010 national budget"] Retrieved 2009-12-18 from the http://www.gov.ph/index.php Official Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines]. The government share of total spending on health has declined steadily, and with more people, there has been less to spend per person. There are an estimated 90,370 physicians or 1 per every 833 people, 480,910 nurses, 43,220 dentists, and 1 hospital bed per every 769 people. Retention of skilled practitioners is a problem. 70% of nursing graduates go overseas to work. The country is the biggest supplier of nurses.World Health Organization. (April 2006). http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_phl_en.pdf Philippines]. Country Cooperation Strategy at a Glance Retrieved 2009-12-23. In 2001 there were about 1,700 hospitals of which about 40% were government-run and 60% private. Cardiovascular diseases account for more than 25% of all deaths. According to official estimates, 1,965 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported in 2003, of which 636 had developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other estimates have as many as 12,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2005.United States Agency for International Development (May 2008). http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADM408.pdf USAID Country Health Statistical Report – Philippines. Retrieved 2010-04-08.

Infrastructure

Transportation

File:Jeepney Benz.jpg were originally made from U.S. military jeeps left over from World War II.]] The transportation infrastructure in the country is relatively underdeveloped. Partly this is due to the mountainous terrain and the scattered geography of the islands, but it is also the result of the governments persistent underinvestment in infrastructure. In 2003, only 3.6% of GDP went to infrastructure development which was significantly lower than that of some of its neighbors. Consequently, while there are 203,025 kilometers (126,154 miles) of roads in the country, only around 20% of the total is paved.World Bank. ca. 2010]. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/EXTEAPREGTOPTRANSPORT/0,,contentMDK:20458733~menuPK:2069348~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:574066,00.html Transport in the Philippines - Overview. Retrieved 2010-03-18 from the World Bank Website. Nevertheless there are many ways to get around, especially in urban areas. Buses, jeepneys taxis, and motorized tricycles are commonly available in major cities and towns. In 2007, there were about 5.53 million registered motor vehicles with registration increasing at an average annual rate of 4.55%.Republic of the Philippines. Land Transportation Office. http://www.lto.gov.ph/Stats2007/no_of_mv_registered_byMVType_2.htm Number of Motor Vehicles Registered]. (2008-01-29). Author. Retrieved January 22, 2009. Train services are provided by three main railway networks that serve different areas of Metro Manila and parts of Luzon: the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR). As an archipelago, inter-island travel via watercraft is often necessary. The busiest seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga.http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/philippines/pro-transportation.htm The Philippine Transportation System]. (2008-08-30). Asian Info Retrieved January 22, 2009. Passenger ships and other sea vessels such as those operated by Superferry Negros Navigation and Sulpicio Lines serve Manila, with links to various cities and towns. In 2003, the 919-kilometer (571-mile) Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), an integrated set of highway segments and ferry routes covering 17 cities was established.http://www.macapagal.com/gma/initiatives/roro.php Strong Republic Nautical Highway]. (n.d.). Official Website of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Retrieved January 22, 2009. Some rivers that pass through metropolitan areas, such as the Pasig River and Marikina River have air-conditioned commuter ferries. The Pasig River Ferry Service has numerous stops in Manila, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, and Marikina City.http://www.gmanews.tv/story/30644/Govt-revives-Pasig-River-ferry-service Govt revives Pasig River ferry service]. (2007-02-14). GMA News Retrieved 2009-12-18. There are 3,219 kilometers (2,000 miles) of navigable inland waterways. There are 85 public airports in the country, and around 111 more that are private. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main international airport. Other important airports include the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Francisco Bangoy International Airport Philippine Airlines Asias oldest commercial airline still operating under its original name, and Cebu Pacific the leading low-cost airline, are the major airlines serving most domestic and international destinations."http://www.philippineairlines.com/about_pal/about_pal.jsp About PAL]". ca. 2009]. http://www.philippineairlines.com/home/home.jsp Philippine Airlines Website]. Retrieved 2010-01-09.State of Hawaii. Department of Transportation. Airports Division. ca. 2005]. "http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/hawaii-commercial-aviation/philippine-air-lines/ Philippine Air Lines]". Hawaii Aviation Retrieved 2010-01-09.lt;/ref>

Communications

The Philippines has a sophisticated cellular phone industry and a high concentration of users. As of 2008, there are about 67.9 million cellular phone subscribers in the Philippines.Wireless Federation. (2009-03-06). http://wirelessfederation.com/news/14569-mobile-penetration-rate-reaches-the-mark-of-75-at-2008-end-philippines/ Mobile penetration rate reaches the mark of 75% at 2008-end (Philippines)]. Retrieved 2010-06-02 from the Wireless Federation Website. Text messaging is a popular form of communication and has fostered a culture of quick greetings and forwarded jokes among Filipinos. In 2007, the nation sent an average of one billion Short message service messages per day.Francisco, Rosemarie. (2008-03-04). http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20080304-122775/Filipinos-sent-1-billion-text-messages-daily-in-2007/ Filipinos sent 1 billion text messages daily in 2007]. [[The Philippine Daily Inquirer]] Reuters. Retrieved 2009-12-18. Out of this growing number of avid text message senders, over five million of them use their cellular phones as virtual wallets, making it a leader among developing nations in providing financial transactions over cellular networks.Teves, Oliver. (2007-10-29). http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2007-09-29-philippines-cell-phones_N.htm Cell phones double as electronic wallets in Philippines]. USA Today Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-12-11. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company commonly known as PLDT is the leading telecommunications provider. It is also the largest company in the country.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/37/biz_asiafab08_PLDT-Philippine-Long-Distance-Telephone_YIW4.html "Asias Fab 50 Companies: PLDT-Philippine Long Distance Telephone"]. Forbes 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2009-13-14.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Counrty_10.html Special Report: The Global 2000]. (2008-04-02). Forbes p.10. Retrieved 2009-12-14. Its wholly owned subsidiaries Smart Communications and Piltel along with Globe Telecom of the Ayala Corporation BayanTel and Sun Cellular are the major cellular service providers in the country. There are approximately 383 AM and 659 FM radio stations and 297 television and 873 cable television stations.lt;/ref> Estimates for Internet in the Philippines penetration in the Philippines vary widely ranging from a low of 2.5 million to a high of 24 million people.lt;/ref>Internet World Stats. (2009). http://www.internetworldstats.com/asia/ph.htm Philippines: Internet Usage Stats and Marketing Report]. Miniwatts Marketing Group. Retrieved January 22, 2009. Social networking in the Philippines and watching videos are among the most frequent internet activities.Universal McCann. http://www.archive.org/details/UniversalMccannWave3PowerToThePeople Power To The People: Social Media Tracker, Wave3. (March 2008). Author. Archived from http://www.universalmccann.com/Assets/wave_3_20080403093750.pdf the original]. Retrieved 2010-03-21.lt;!-- Replacing old but dead link Dead link|dateJuly 2009}} -->

Culture and society

File:Kulintang 06.jpg ensemble, an example of pre-Hispanic musical tradition]] Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern culture and Western culture . The Philippines exhibits aspects found in other Asia countries with a Malay people lt;ref>Baringer, Sally E. ca. 2006]. http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html "The Philippines"]. In Countries and Their Cultures Advameg Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-20 from www.everyculture.com. heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Culture of Spain and Culture of the United States influences. 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. lt;/ref> File:San agustin facade.jpg in Manila, the oldest church in the Philippines]] One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos among Filipinos. However, a Spanish name and surname does not necessarily denote Spanish ancestry. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree, the Clavería edict, for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming customs on the population.lt;/ref> The names of many streets, towns, and provinces are also in Spanish. Spanish architecture has left an imprint in the Philippines in the way many towns were designed around a central square or plaza mayor but many of the buildings bearing its influence were demolished during World War II. Some examples remain, mainly among the countrys churches, government buildings, and universities. Four Philippine baroque churches are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites the San Agustin Church, Manila in Manila, the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Santa María) Church in Ilocos Sur, and the Santo Tomás de Villanueva Church in Iloilo.lt;/ref> Vigan in Ilocos Sur is also known for the many Hispanic-styled houses and buildings preserved there.lt;/ref> The common use of the English language is an example of the American impact on Philippine society. It has contributed to the ready acceptance and influence of pop culture This affinity 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 Bakeshop and most notably Jollibee the leading fast food chain in the country, have emerged and compete successfully against their foreign rivals.lt;/ref> Filipinos regularly listen to and watch contemporary American, Asian, and European music and film just as they enjoy Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) and Cinema in the Philippines

Cuisine

File:Halo halo1.jpg is a dessert made of ice, milk, various fruits, and ice cream.]] Philippine cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malayo-Polynesian origins to become a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic Chinese cuisine Cuisine of the United States and other Asian cuisine influences that 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 [[paella]]sand [[cozido|cocidos]]created for fiestas. Popular dishes include [[lechón]] [[Adobo (Filipino cuisine)|adobo]] [[sinigang]] [[kare-kare]] [[Tapa (Filipino cuisine)|tapa]] crispy pata [[pancit]] [[lumpia]] and [[halo-halo]] Some common local ingredients used in cooking are calamondin , coconuts, saba(a kind of short wide plantain , mangoes milkfish and fish sauce Filipino taste buds tend to favor robust flavors but the cuisine is not as spicy as those of its neighbors. lt;/ref> 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 and main dishes with broth in Philippine cuisine, the main pairing of utensils seen at the Filipino dining table is that of spoon and fork, not knife and fork. lt;/ref> The traditional way of eating with the hands known as kamayanis seen more often in less urbanized areas. lt;/ref>

Mythology and literature

Philippine mythology has been handed down primarily through the traditional oral folk literature of the Filipino people. While each unique ethnic group has its own stories and myths to tell Hindu and Spanish influence can nonetheless be detected in many cases. Many of the myths are creation stories or stories about supernatural creatures, such as the [[aswang]](vampire), the [[diwata]](fairy), and Nature. Some popular figures from Philippine mythologies are Maria Makiling Biag ni Lam-Ang and the sarimanok lt;/ref> Philippine literature comprises works usually written in Filipino, Spanish, or English. Some of the most known were created in the 19th century. Francisco Balagtas the poet and playwright who wrote [[Florante at Laura]]is recognized as a preeminent writer in the Filipino language. José Rizal wrote the novels [[Noli Me Tangere (novel)|Noli Me Tangere]](Touch Me Not and [[El Filibusterismo]](The Filibustering also known as The Reign of Greed and is considered a national hero. His depiction of the injustices of Spanish rule, and his death by firing squad, inspired other Philippine revolutionaries to seek independence. In the 20th century, among those officially recognized as National Artists of the Philippines in literature are N.V.M. Gonzalez Nick Joaquin F. Sionil Jose and Alejandro Roces Republic of the Philippines. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca/org-awards/org-awards-national-artist-list.php The National Artists of the Philippines]. Retrieved 2009-12-26 from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Website.

Media

Media in the Philippines uses mainly Filipino and English. Other Philippine languages, including various Visayan languages are also used, especially in radio due to its ability to reach remote rural locations that might otherwise not be serviced by other kinds of media. The dominant Television in the Philippines networks ABS-CBN and GMA Network also have extensive radio presence.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1262783.stm Country profile: The Philippines]. (2009-12-08). BBC News Retrieved 2009-12-20. The entertainment industry is vibrant and feeds Newspapers in the Philippines with an unending supply of details about List of Filipino actors and sensationalist scandals du jour. Philippine drama and Fantaserye are anticipated as are Latin telenovelas Asianovela , and anime Daytime television is dominated by game shows, variety shows, and talk shows such as [[Eat Bulaga]] [[Showtime (TV show)|Showtime]] and [[Pilipinas Win Na Win]]Santiago, Erwin. (2010-04-12). http://www.pep.ph/news/25288/AGB-Mega-Manila-TV-Ratings-%28April-7-11%29:-Agua-Bendita-pulls-away AGB Mega Manila TV Ratings (April 7-11): Agua Benditapulls away]. Retrieved 2010-05-23 from the Philippine Entertainment Portal Website. Cinema of the Philippines has a long history and is popular domestically, but has faced increasing competition from Cinema of the United States and Cinema of Europe Critically acclaimed directors and actors include Lino Brocka and Nora Aunor for films like [[Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag]](Manila: In the Claws of Light and [[Himala]](Miracle. In recent years it has become common to see celebrities flitting between television and movies and then moving into politics provoking concerns.http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id9084791 "The Philippines celebrity-obsessed elections"]. (2007-04-26). [[The Economist]] Retrieved 2010-01-15.

Sports and recreation

File:Purefoodsvsredbullgamefour.jpg and Barako Bull Energy Boosters ] Various Sport in the Philippines and pastimes are popular in the Philippines including Basketball in the Philippines boxing volleyball football badminton taekwondo billiards ten-pin bowling chess and sipa Motocross cycling and mountaineering are also becoming popular. Basketball is played at both amateur and professional levels and is considered to be the most popular sport in the Philippines.Viera, Odete Maria and Swarnalata Vemuri. ca. 2002]. http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/philippines/sports.html Philippines: Sports and Recreation]. Cultural Profiles Project Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Retrieved 2009-12-20. In almost every corner of the cities, there is a basketball court. Some Filipinos recognized for their achievements include Francisco Guilledo Flash Elorde and Manny Pacquiao in boxing; Paulino Alcántara in football (soccer); Carlos Loyzaga Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez in basketball; Efren Reyes in billiards; Eugene Torre in chess; and Rafael Nepomuceno in bowling.http://home.bca-pool.com/displaycommon.cfm?an1&subarticlenbr30 "Billiard Congress of America: Hall of Fame Inductees"]. (2009). Retrieved 2009-12-20 from the Billiard Congress of America Website.http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/254403/9-named-philippine-sports-hall-fame "9 named to Philippine Sports Hall of Fame"]. (2010-04-24). The Manila Bulletin Retrieved 2010-04-24.http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/modules_in_Tagalog/mga_kilalang_pilipino.htm Mga Kilalang Pilipino] Known Filipinos]. (n.d.) (in Filipino). Tagalog at NIU Retrieved 2010-04-25 from the Northern Illinois University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, SEAsite Project. Traditional games in the Philippines such as luksung baka patintero piko and tumbang presoare still played primarily as children's games among the youth.http://web.archive.org/web/20071106053308/http://www.hagonoy.com/lbcorpus/halbc010.html Mga Larong Kinagisnan] Games One Grows Up With]. Hagonoy.com. (archived from http://www.hagonoy.com/lbcorpus/halbc010.html the original] on 2007-11-06)http://www.seasite.niu.edu./Tagalog/Filipino_Games/mga_larong_pilipino.htm Mga Larong Pilipino] Philippine Games]. (2009). Tagalog at NIU Retrieved 2009-12-19 from the Northern Illinois University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, SEAsite Project. [[Sungka]]is a traditional native Filipino board game. Card games are popular during festivities, with some, including pusoyand tong-its being used as a form of illegal gambling Mahjong is played in some Filipino communities. The yo-yo a popular toy in the Philippines, was introduced in its modern form by Pedro Flores (yo-yo manufacture) with its name from the Ilokano language lt;/ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yo-yo Yo-yo]. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved 2010-01-10. [[Filipino martial arts|Arnis]]is the national martial art and sport.Republic of the Philippines. (Approved: 2009-12-11). http://www.senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%209850.pdf An Act Declaring Arnis as the National Martial Art and Sport of the Philippines]. Retrieved 2010-02-18 from the Senate of the Philippines Website.

See also

*List of Philippines-related topics *International rankings of the Philippines

References

External links

; Government *http://www.congress.gov.ph Official website of the House of Representatives of the Philippines] *http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph Official website of the Supreme Court of the Philippines] *http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP or Central Bank of the Philippines)] *http://localweb.neda.gov.ph/ National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – Economic Indicators Online] *http://countrystat.bas.gov.ph/ Bureau of Agricultural Statistics – CountrySTAT Philippines] *https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-p/philippines.html Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members] ; General information * *http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/philippines.htm Philippines] at UCB Libraries GovPubs * *http://wiki.answers.com/Q/FAQ/2802 WikiAnswers: Q&A about the Philippines] ;Pictures *http://journeyphilippines.net/ Around Philippines Photos] *http://asiaphilippines.net/ Asia Philippines Photos] *http://philippinesdailyphotos.com/ Philippines Daily Photos] ;Books and articles *http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/b#a2296 History of the Philippine Islands] in many volumes, from Project Gutenberg (indexed under Emma Helen Blair the general editor) *http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/america/philippines/ Washington Post – How the Philippines Sees America] ; Other *http://www.adb.org Asian Development Bank (ADB)] *http://www.aer.ph AER - Economic and social issues in the Philippines] at Action For Economic Reforms *http://www.filipiniana.net/ Filipinana.net - Free digital library and a research portal] ; Wikimedia * meta:Wikimedia Philippines * * http://www.wikimapia.org/#y12554564&x122915039&z6&l0&ma WikiSatellite view of Philippines] at WikiMapia * eographic locale |list [[Geographic coordinate system|Lat. and Long.]] {{Coord|14|35|N|121|0|E|display=inline}} (Manila) }} }} }}}} Category:Philippines Category:Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states Category:Countries bordering the Pacific Ocean Category:Countries bordering the Philippine Sea Category:Countries bordering the South China Sea Category:English-speaking countries and territories Category:First republics in Asia Category:Former Spanish colonies Category:Island countries Category:Liberal democracies Category:Republics Category:Southeast Asian countries Category:States and territories established in 1565 Category:States and territories established in 1898 Category:States and territories established in 1946 Category:Volcanic arc islands ace:Filipina af:Filippyne als:Philippinen ar:الفلبين an:Filipinas frp:Felipines as:ফিলিপাইন ast:Filipines az:Filippin bn:ফিলিপাইন zh-min-nan:Hui-li̍p-pin map-bms:Filipina be:Філіпіны be-x-old:Філіпіны bcl:Filipinas bo:ཕི་ལི་པིན། bs:Filipini br:Filipinez bg:Филипини ca:Filipines cv:Филиппин ceb:Pilipinas cs:Filipíny cbk-zam:Filipinas cy:Pilipinas da:Filippinerne de:Philippinen dv:ފިލިޕީންސް nv:Kéyah Dańlíinii et:Filipiinid el:Φιλιππίνες es:Filipinas eo:Filipinoj ext:Hilipinas eu:Filipinak fa:فیلیپین hif:Philippines fo:Filipsoyggjar fr:Philippines fy:Filipinen ga:Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha gv:Ny h-Ellanyn Philippeenagh gd:Na h-Eileanan Filipineach gl:Filipinas - Pilipinas gan:菲律賓 gu:ફીલીપાઈન્સ hak:Fî-li̍t-pîn xal:Пилипмудин Орн ko:필리핀 haw:ʻĀina Pilipino hy:Ֆիլիպիններ hi:फ़िलीपीन्स hsb:Philippiny hr:Filipini io:Filipini ilo:Filipinas bpy:ফিলিপাইন id:Filipina ia:Philippinas ie:Filipines os:Филиппинтæ is:Filippseyjar it:Filippine he:הפיליפינים jv:Filipina kn:ಫಿಲಿಪ್ಪೀನ್ಸ್ pam:Filipinas ka:ფილიპინები ks:फिलिपीन्स kk:Филиппиндер kw:Filipinys sw:Ufilipino kv:Филиппинъяс ht:Filipin ku:Filîpîn la:Philippinae lv:Filipīnas lb:Philippinen lt:Filipinai lij:Filippinn-e li:Filipiene lmo:Filipinn hu:Fülöp-szigetek mk:Филипини ml:ഫിലിപ്പീൻസ് mr:फिलिपाईन्स arz:الفيليبين ms:Filipina mn:Филиппин my:ဖိလစ်ပိုင်နိုင်ငံ nah:Filipinas na:Philippines fj:Filipinas nl:Filipijnen ja:フィリピン pih:Felapiins no:Filippinene nn:Filippinane nov:Filipines oc:Filipinas mhr:Филиппин-влак uz:Filippin pag:Filipinas pnb:فلپائن pap:Filipinas ps:فلپاين km:ហ្វីលីពីន pms:Filipin-e tpi:Ol Pilipin nds:Philippinen pl:Filipiny pt:Filipinas crh:Filippinler ro:Filipine qu:Philipinakuna ru:Филиппины sah:Пилипиин se:Filippiinnat sm:Filipaina sa:फिलिपीन्स sg:Filipîni sq:Filipinet simple:Philippines sk:Filipíny sl:Filipini szl:Filipiny sr:Филипини sh:Filipini su:Pilipina fi:Filippiinit sv:Filippinerna tl:Pilipinas ta:பிலிப்பைன்ஸ் tt:Филиппиннар te:ఫిలిప్పీన్స్ tet:Filipinas th:ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์ tg:Филиппин tr:Filipinler tk:Filippinler udm:Филиппин uk:Філіппіни ur:فلپائن ug:فىلىپپىن vec:Filipine vi:Philippines vo:Filipuäns wa:Filipenes zh-classical:菲律賓 war:Pilipinas wo:Filipiin wuu:菲律宾 yi:פיליפינען yo:Filipínì zh-yue:菲律賓 diq:Filipin bat-smg:Fėlėpinā zh:菲律宾