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Philippines

Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa

For God, People, Nature, and Country

Location

The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia.  It is sounded by water, in the west by the South China Sea, in the east by the Pacific Ocean, in the south by the Sulu and Celebes Seas, and in the north by the Bashi Channel.  Its capital and main port of entry is Manila. Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms. 

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Land Area

The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of 7,100 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers.  It has three major island groups-Luzon in the north, Visayas in the middle and Mindanao further down in the South. 

 

Population

The current population of the Philippines is about 118 million people. Filipinos are basically of Indo-Malay racial stock, mixed with some Chinese and Spanish ancestry.
 

Climate

The country has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons-wet and dry.  November – February tend to be the cooler part of the season while March to May are hot and dry.   June to October tend to be the rainy season with July and September characterized by typhoons. 

 

Language

The national language is Filipino, which is based on the language of Tagalog, the national language.  There are eight predominant languages spoken:  Tagalog, Cebuano, IIonggo, Bicol, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinense and with more than 87 dialects in the country. English is also considered an official language as it is taught, spoken, and understood throughout the Philippines and used in business, government and schools.

 

Religion
More than 80% of the population is Roman Catholic. Other major religions include Muslim and Protestant.

 

Literacy

The literacy rate in the country is 92.6%

 

Poverty:

  • 2024 – 13.6% (16.0 million people)

  • 2023 – 15.5% (17.5 milllion people)

  • 2022 – 15.5% (17.9 million people)

  • 2021 – 18.1% (19.9 miliion people)

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Monetary Unit and Unit of Measure
The unit of currency is the Philippine peso (PHP).   The Philippines generally use the metric system in most trade and transactions.

 

Brief History of the Philippines

A Spanish colony for more than three centuries, and named after a 16th Century Spanish king, was taken over by the United States in the early 20th Century after a protracted rebellion against rule from Madrid.  Spanish and United States influences remain strong, especially in terms of language, religion and government. Self-rule in 1935 was followed by full independence in 1946 under their own constitution.

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Spanish Colonial Period:

Ferdinand Magellan came to the Philippines on March 16, 1521 and claimed the country for the Spanish crown. A colonial government was established in Manila in 1571. Spain introduced changes in the political, social and cultural life of the people. One of these is Christianity.  In 1896, the Filipinos staged the first nationalistic revolution in Asia against the Spaniards. The 1896 Revolution was the culmination of revolts against Spanish oppression. The death by musketry of Dr. Jose Rizal who led the reform movement fueled the fires of revolution.  On June 12, 1898, leaders of the revolution declared the country a sovereign state and proclaimed the first Republic of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Spain declared war against the United States over Cuba and was defeated. As an offshoot, the Philippines were ceded to America by Spain through the Treaty of Paris.

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The American Influence:
Under the Americans, agriculture, commerce and trade rapidly developed. Among the changes they introduced were: the modernization of transportation and communication, the improvement of banking and currency, the American system of education, literature, language, arts and sciences. During the outbreak of the Second World War, Japan occupied the country. In 1945, the Americans liberated the country and granted it Independence on July 4, 1946.

 

People Power
In 1972, Martial Law was declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Political repression and economic deterioration during the Martial Law years resulted in the historic "People Power" Revolution on February 25, 1986. This led to the proclamation of Corazon C. Aquino as President of the Philippines. Still one of the strongest democracies in Asia.

 

The Government Today

Presidential Form of Government.  The Philippines today is a democratic and republican state with a presidential form of government as provided under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Separation of powers are ensured through checks and balances among the three branches of government; the Executive, represented by the President and his/her Cabinet; the Legislative, represented by a Bicameral Congress composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the Judiciary, with the power of judicial review.
 

Autonomous Muslim Mindanao Region
One of the country's uniquely decentralized local governments is the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The ARMM was created by law to allow the four provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the southern island of Mindanao to have an autonomous regional government. As an autonomous government unit, the ARMM is authorized to initiate and attract direct foreign investments for the development and growth of its mainly Muslim population. 

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Some key dates in The Philippines' history:

  • 900AD - Laguna Copperplate Inscription, mostly written on Old Malay, is the earliest record of a Philippine language and the presence of writing in the islands.

  • 14th Century - Indian cultural traits such as linguistic terms and religious practices began to spread in the Philippines.

  • 1542 - Spanish expedition claims the islands and names them the Philippines after the heir to the Spanish throne.

  • 1896-98 - Philippine Revolution: Filipino revolutionaries fight against the Spanish colonial authorities in an attempt to win independence.

  • 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the US navy destroys the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States

  • 1898-1902 - Philippine-American War: Tensions arise after the United States annexes the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris at end of the Spanish-American War rather than acknowledging the Philippines' declaration of independence.

  • 1941-1945 - The Philippines are occupied by Japan during the World War Two

  • 1946 - The islands are granted full independence and renamed the Republic of the Philippines.

  • 1965 - Ferdinand Marcos is elected president; he declares martial law in 1972.

  • 1986 - Marcos ousted in "people power" revolt after claiming victory over Aquino's widow.

  • 2001 - President Joseph Estrada is forced out by a military-backed "people power" uprising.

  • 2014 - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group signs a peace deal with the government, ending one of Asia's longest and deadliest conflicts.

  • 2022 - Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the previous President, is elected president.

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