Geography
Area: 300,000 sq. km. (117,187 sq. mi.).
Major cities (2005 estimate): Capital: Manila (pop. 11.29 million in metropolitan area); other cities: Davao City (1.33 million); Cebu City (0.82 million).
Terrain: Islands, 65% mountainous, with narrow coastal lowlands.
Climate: Tropical, astride typhoon belt.
Wellcome to Philippines
The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas; RP), is an archipelagic country placed in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, bordering countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau and Taiwan.
Curious Facts about Philippines
- The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country with a population coming on 90 million people.
- Its national economy is the 37th largest in the world with a 2006 GDP (GDP) of over US$117.562 billion.
- There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos living worldwide, the largest diaspora networks in the world, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines.
Some Philippines History and Politics
The Philippines was settled mostly by Malayo-Polynesian-speaking peoples. The Philippines became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, and an American territory at the beginning of the 20th century. The Katipunan led the Philippine Revolution of 1896 that won independence from Spain. The U.S. occupation of the Philippines during the Spanish-American War led to the outbreak of the Philippine-American War. The Philippines gained its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946 after the Pacific War (the Second World War) via the Treaty of Manila. Martial law was declared in 1972 by Ferdinand Marcos. The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. led to the People Power Revolution of 1986 that overthrew authoritarian rule. Political upheavals and corruption scandals alternated with the peaceful transition of power during the period that followed the restoration of democracy.
Modern Philippines
Modern Philippines has many affinities with the Western world, derived mainly from the cultures of Spain, Latin America, and the United States. Roman Catholicism is the country's predominant religion, although pre-Hispanic indigenous religious practices still exist; there are also followers of Islam. Spanish was an official language of the Philippines until 1973. Since then, the two official national languages are Filipino and English.
Related Web Sites
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
official site of the Philippine president featuring biography, speeches, initiative, and accomplishments.
Republic of the Philippines
official government portal of the Republic of the Phillippines. Includes information and contacts for local officials and government institutions.
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
includes updates on foreign policy.
Office of the Press Secretary
state-run source of news and Philippines-related information.
Philippine Constitutions
text of the present 1987 constitution, and the 1973, 1935, and 1899 constitutions.
Who are the Abu Sayyaf?
profile of the Muslim rebel group that call themselves the "Sword of God". From the BBC.
See also
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