Difference between revisions of "Philippines" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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| area_magnitude = 1 E11
 
| area_magnitude = 1 E11
 
| percent_water = 0.6
 
| percent_water = 0.6
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| population_estimate = 85,236,913<!--This figure doesn't correspond to the source: 90,420,000—><ref name="population">[http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/popprojtab.html Philippine Census 2005 Population Projection]</ref>
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| population_estimate = 90,420,000
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| population_estimate_year = 2006
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| population_estimate_year = 2005
 
| population_estimate_rank = 12th
 
| population_estimate_rank = 12th
 
| population_census = 76,504,077
 
| population_census = 76,504,077
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| footnotes = * [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Ilokano language|Ilokano]], [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]], [[Bikol language|Bikol]], [[Waray-Waray language|Waray-Waray]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]], [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]], [[Kinaray-a language|Kinaray-a]], [[Maranao language|Maranao]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Tausug language|Tausug]] are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions. [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] are promoted on an optional and voluntary basis.
 
| footnotes = * [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Ilokano language|Ilokano]], [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]], [[Bikol language|Bikol]], [[Waray-Waray language|Waray-Waray]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]], [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]], [[Kinaray-a language|Kinaray-a]], [[Maranao language|Maranao]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Tausug language|Tausug]] are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions. [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] are promoted on an optional and voluntary basis.
 
}}
 
}}
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{{portal}}
 
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The '''Philippines''' (<!--According to one view, Filipino language and Tagalog language are two different, and distinct languages—>[[Filipino language|Filipino]]: ''Pilipinas''), officially the '''Republic of the Philippines''' (''Republika ng Pilipinas''; '''RP'''), is an [[island nation]] located in the [[Malay Archipelago]] in [[Southeast Asia]], with [[Manila]] as its capital. It comprises 7,107 islands called the Philippine Archipelago, with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers or 116,000 square miles, making it the [[List of countries and outlying territories by area#Philippines|72nd largest country by area]].
 
  
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Modern day [[Filipino people|Filipino]]s are mostly of [[Austronesian people|Austronesian]] ancestry, although there are a number of Filipinos with [[Spanish-Filipino|Spanish]], [[Chinese-Filipino|Chinese]], [[American-Filipino|American]], and [[Arabs in the Philippines|Arab]] ancestry.<ref name="About the Philippines">[http://www.tourism.gov.ph/discover/people.asp WOW Philippines] www.tourism.gov.ph. Accessed September 30,2006</ref>
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The '''Philippines''', officially the '''Republic of the Philippines''' (''Republika ng Pilipinas''; '''RP'''), is an island nation located in the Malay Archipelago in [[Southeast Asia]].  
  
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The country was named ''"Las Islas Filipinas"'' (The Philippine Islands) by [[Ruy López de Villalobos]] after [[Philip II of Spain|King Philip II of Spain]]. Spanish colonial rule began in 1565 and lasted for about three centuries until the [[Philippine Revolution]] of 1896. The United States gained possession of the Philippines after the [[Spanish-American War]] in 1898 and the [[Philippine-American War]] in 1899. The U.S. ruled the country until [[World War II]], when [[Japan]] occupied the country for four years. A year after the U.S. reoccupied the islands, the Philippines were granted independence. As a result, Philippine culture has many affinities with the [[Western world|West]]. [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] is the predominant religion, and <!--According to the 1987 constition, "For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are FILIPINO and, until otherwise provided by law, English". —> [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[English language|English]] are the official languages.<ref>[http://www.chanrobles.com/article14language.htm Constitition of the Republic of the Philippines, Article ZIV, Section 7] Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Accessed December 2, 2006.</ref>
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The country was named ''"Las Islas Filipinas"'' (The Philippine Islands) by [[Ruy López de Villalobos]] after King Philip II of Spain.
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Philippine culture has many affinities with the [[Western world|West]]. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino and English are the official languages.
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==Geography==
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The Philippines constitutes an archipelago of 7107 islands with a total land area of approximately 116,000square miles (300,000 square kilometres), making it 72nd largest country by area, or slightly larger than the United States state of Arizona.
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It borders the [[Philippine Sea]] on the east, on the [[South China Sea]] the west, and the [[Celebes Sea]] on the south. The island of [[Borneo]] lies a few hundred miles southwest and [[Taiwan]] directly north. The [[Moluccas]] and [[Sulawesi]] are to the south, and [[Palau]] is to the east beyond the [[Philippine Sea]].
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The local climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 79.7°F  (26.5°C). There are three recognized seasons: The hot season or summer from March to May, the rainy season from June to November, and the cold season from December to February. The southwest monsoon (May-October) is known as the "habagat" and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (November-April) as the "amihan". The country itself is undergoing desertification in places like Sorsogon, Baguio, Davao and the Sierra Madre mountain range.
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[[Image:Ph physical map.png|250px|thumb|right|Geography of the Philippines]]
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Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in tropical rainforest and are volcanic in origin. The highest point is Mount Apo on Mindanao at 9692 feet (2954 metres). There are many active volcanos such as Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The country also lies within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific and about 19 typhoons strike per year.
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Lying on the north-western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines sustains frequent seismic and volcanic activities. Some 20 earthquakes are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt. The last great earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake.  
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Environmental issues include uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
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The longest river is the Cagayan River of northern Luzon. The nearly circular Manila Bay, is connected to the Laguna de Bay by means of the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf and the Moro Gulf are some of the important bays. Transversing the San Juanico Strait is the San Juanico Bridge, that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.
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The busy port of [[Manila]], on the country’s largest island of Luzon, is the capital. With 1.5-million inhabitants, it is the second largest city after nearby Quezon City. Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area that is home to over 10 million people.  
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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<!--
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[[Image:Boxer_codex.jpg|thumb|left|A Tagalog couple of the ''maharlika'' nobility caste]]
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This section is meant to be a summary, not to discuss the whole history, so there'll always be gaps. Any additions which are not needed will be removed, unless agreed upon at the talk page.
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[[Image:Pinatubo ash plume 910612.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Mount Pinatubo]] erupted in 1991.]]
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Archeological and paleontological evidence suggests that ''Homo sapiens'' existed in the large island province of Palawan about 50,000 B.C.E. The indigenous Aeta people, who live in scattered, isolated mountainous areas, are thought to have arrived more than 30,000 B.C.E.., across land bridges, possibly from [[China]] or the [[Andaman Islands]].
  
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The section is long already. You may add your contributions on the History of the Philippines series.
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The oldest human fossil found in the Philippines thus far is the 22,000-year-old skull cap of a "Stone-Age Filipino" discovered inside Tabon Cave, Palawan, on May 28, 1962, and dubbed the "Tabon Man".
  
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Please suggest changes through the talk page.
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The ancestors of the vast majority of the Filipino people, the [[Austronesians]] from Taiwan, settled in northern Luzon around 2500 B.C.E. They spread to the rest of the Philippines and later colonized most of maritime Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Islands.  
  
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If you'll remove the {{fact}} tags, replace them with citations.
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The basic unit of settlement was the barangay, headed by a datu (chief). Within the barangay, there were ''maharlika'' (nobles), including the datu; ''timawa'' (freemen); and dependents, which included landless agricultural workers; and ''alipin'' (slaves), who were mostly war captives.
  
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Thanks.—>
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Muslim, Chinese and Indian traders made contact with the Philippines during the course of the next thousand years.
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{{main|History of the Philippines}}
 
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[[Archeology|Archeological]] and [[paleontology|paleontological]] evidence suggests that ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' existed in [[Palawan]] about 50,000 B.C.E. The [[Aeta]]s are thought to have arrived in the Philippines more than 30,000 B.C.E. through land bridges, possibly from [[China]] or the [[Andaman Islands]].{{fact}}
 
  
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The ancestors of the vast majority of the Filipino people, the [[Austronesians]] from Taiwan, settled in northern Luzon around 2500 B.C.E. They spread to the rest of the Philippines and later colonized most of [[Maritime Southeast Asia]] and the Western Pacific Islands. Muslim, Chinese and Indian traders made contact with the Philippines during the course of the next thousand years until the arrival of the Europeans.
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Traders and proselytizers from the Indonesian islands brought [[Islam]], which by the sixteenth century, was established in the Sulu Archipelago and spread from there to Mindanao, and reached the Manila area by 1565. Animism remained the religion of the majority of the Philippine islands.  
  
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Sailing for the Spanish, the Portuguese explorer [[Ferdinand Magellan]] and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the archipelago in 1521. Magellan was killed by indigenous warriors in [[Mactan Island]] while being involved with political conflicts with [[Lapu-Lapu]]. [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] arrived in 1565 and formed the first Spanish settlements, and paved the way for colonization. [[Roman Catholic]] missionaries converted most of the inhabitants. In the next 333 years, the Spanish military fought off various local indigenous revolts and various external colonial challenges. Such challenges came from the British, Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Portuguese. The most significant loss for Spain was the temporary occupation of the capital, Manila, by the British during the [[Seven Years' War]]. The Philippines was ruled as a territory of [[New Spain]] from 1565 to 1821, before it was administered directly from Spain. The [[Manila Galleon]] which linked Manila to [[Acapulco]], [[Mexico]] travelled once or twice a year, beginning in the late 16th century. The Philippines opened itself to world trade on [[September 6]], [[1834]].  
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Muslim immigrants introduced a political concept of territorial states ruled by rajas or sultans who exercised suzerainty over the datu. Neither the political state concept of the Muslim rulers nor the limited territorial concept of the sedentary rice farmers of Luzon, however, spread beyond the areas where they originated.
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[[Image:Ferdinand Magellan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ferdinand Magellan]] arrived in the Philippines in 1521.]]
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Sailing for the Spanish, the Portuguese explorer [[Ferdinand Magellan]] and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the archipelago in 1521. Magellan was killed by indigenous warriors in Mactan Island while being involved with political conflicts with Lapu-Lapu. [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] arrived in 1565 and formed the first Spanish settlements, and paved the way for colonization. [[Roman Catholic]] missionaries converted most of the inhabitants.  
  
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A propaganda movement began in the Spanish mainland, which included [[José Rizal]]. This was done in order to inform the government of the injustices of the administration in the Philippines as well as the abuses of the friars. In the 1880s and the 1890s, the propagandists clamored for political and social reforms, which included demands for greater representation in Spain. Unable to gain the reforms, Rizal returned to the country, and pushed for the reforms locally. Rizal was subsequently arrested, tried, and executed for [[treason]] on [[December 30]], [[1896]]. Earlier that year, the [[Katipunan]], led by [[Andrés Bonifacio]], already started a revolution, which was eventually continued by [[Emilio Aguinaldo]], who established a revolutionary government, although the Spanish governor general [[Fernando Primo de Rivera]] proclaimed the revolution over in [[May 17]], [[1897]]. <ref name="About">[http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/general.asp About the Philippines] [http://www.gov.ph Gov.Ph].Accessed September 15,2006</ref>
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In the next 333 years, the Spanish military fought off various local indigenous revolts and various external colonial challenges. Such challenges came from the British, Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Portuguese. The most significant loss for Spain was the temporary occupation of the capital, Manila, by the British during the [[Seven Years' War]]. The Philippines was ruled as a territory of New Spain from 1565 to 1821, before it was administered directly from Spain. The Manila Galleon, that linked Manila to Acapulco, [[Mexico]], travelled once or twice a year, beginning in the late sixteenth century. The Philippines opened itself to world trade on September 6, 1834.
  
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The [[Spanish-American War]] began in [[Cuba]] in 1898 and soon reached the Philippines when Commodore [[George Dewey]] defeated the Spanish squadron at [[Battle of Manila Bay|Manila Bay]]. Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines on [[June 12]], [[1898]], and was proclaimed head of state. As a result of its defeat in the War, Spain ceded the Philippines, together with [[Cuba]], [[Guam]] and [[Puerto Rico]] to the United States. By 1899, the [[Philippine-American War]] ensued between the United States and the Philippine revolutionaries, which continued the violence of the previous years. The US proclaimed the war ended when Aguinaldo was captured by American troops on [[March 23]], [[1901]], but the struggle continued until 1913. The country's status as a colony changed when it became the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] in 1935, which provided for more self-governance. Plans for increasing independence over the next decade were interrupted during [[World War II]] when [[Imperial Japan|Japan]] [[Battle of the Philippines (1941-42)|invaded]] and occupied the islands. After the Japanese were defeated in 1945, the Philippines achieved independence from the United States on [[July 4]], [[1946]].<ref name="About"/>
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In the 1880s and the 1890s, the propagandists clamored for political and social reforms, which included demands for greater representation in Spain. Unable to gain the reforms, José Rizal returned to the country, and pushed for the reforms locally. Rizal was subsequently arrested, tried, and executed for treason on December 30, 1896. Earlier that year, the Katipunan, led by Andrés Bonifacio, started a revolution, which was eventually continued by Emilio Aguinaldo, who established a revolutionary government, although the Spanish governor general Fernando Primo de Rivera proclaimed the revolution over in May 17, 1897.  
  
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Since 1946, the newly independent Philippine state has faced political instability with various rebel groups. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw economic development that was second in Asia, next to Japan. [[Ferdinand Marcos]] was, then, the elected president. Barred from seeking a third term, Marcos declared martial law on [[September 21]], [[1972]] and ruled the country by [[decree]]. Marcos extended both his power and tenure by force. His authoritarian rule became marred with unmitigated, pervasive corruption, cronyism and despotism.
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The Spanish-American War, which began in [[Cuba]] in 1898, soon reached the Philippines when Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at Manila Bay. Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines on June 12, 1898, and was proclaimed head of state. As a result of its defeat, Spain ceded the Philippines, together with [[Cuba]], [[Guam]] and [[Puerto Rico]] to the United States.
  
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Opposition leader [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]] was assassinated on [[August 21]], [[1983]] upon returning from exile. In January 1986, Marcos allowed for a [[Philippine presidential election, 1986|"snap" election]], after large protests. The election was believed to be fraudulent, and resulted in a standoff between military mutineers and the military loyalists. Protesters supported the mutineers, and was accompanied by resignations of prominent cabinet officials. [[Corazon Aquino]], the wife of [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]], was the recognized winner of the snap election. She took over government, and called for a constitutional convention to draft a new constitution, after the [[1986 EDSA Revolution]]. Marcos, his family and some of his allies fled to Hawaii.<ref name="About"/>
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By 1899, the United States was at war with Philippine revolutionaries. The US proclaimed the war over when Aguinaldo was captured by American troops on March 23, 1901, but the struggle continued until 1913.  
  
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The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 was hampered by massive national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Muslim separatist movement. The economy improved during the administration of [[Fidel V. Ramos]], who was elected in 1992. However, the economic improvements were negated at the onset of the [[East Asian financial crisis]] in 1997. The [[2001 EDSA Revolution]] led to the downfall of the following president, [[Joseph Estrada]]. The current administration of president [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] has been hounded by allegations of corruption and [[Hello Garci scandal|election rigging]].<ref name="About"/>
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The country's status as a colony changed when it became the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935, which provided for more self-governance.  
  
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==Politics and government==
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[[Image:Ww2 131.jpg|thumb|left|200px|As many as 10,000 people died in the [[Bataan Death March]].]]
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[[Empire of Japan|Japan]] launched a surprise attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941, just 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Philippine defense continued until the final surrender of United States-Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942 and on Corregidor in May. Most of the 80,000 prisoners of war captured by the Japanese at Bataan were forced to undertake the infamous Bataan Death March to a prison camp 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the north. It is estimated that about 10,000 Filipinos and 1,200 Americans died before reaching their destination. Japanese occupation of the Philippines was opposed by large-scale underground and guerrilla activity.
  
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U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's Allied forces landed on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Landings in other parts of the country followed, and the Allies pushed toward Manila. Fighting continued until Japan's formal surrender on September 2, 1945. An estimated 1 million Filipinos had been killed, and Manila was extensively damaged.
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[[Image:Ph pres marcos.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ferdinand Marcos]], president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986]]
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Elections were held in April 1946, with Manuel Roxas becoming the first president. The Philippines achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. World War II had left the Philippines demoralized and severely damaged. The task of reconstruction was complicated by the activities of the Communist-supported Hukbalahap guerrillas (known as "Huks"), who had evolved into a violent resistance force against the new Philippine government. Roxas suddenly died in office in 1948. The Huk movement had waned in the early 1950s, finally ending with the unconditional surrender of Huk leader Luis Taruc in May 1954.
  
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{{morepolitics|country=the Philippines}}
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After a series of presidents, [[Ferdinand Marcos]] was elected president in 1965. He initiated ambitious public works projects and intensified tax collection, which brought the country economic prosperity throughout the 1970s. Also due to massive loans and economic aid from the United States, his administration built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous administration. Barred from seeking a third term, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972, and ruled the country by decree. Marcos extended both his power and tenure by force. His authoritarian rule became marred with pervasive corruption, and cronyism.
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<!--Hidden until sources are given. {| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin: 1em; padding: 1em; width: 240px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; clear: right"
 
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|+ [[National symbols]] of the Philippines
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Flag'''
 
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| [[Flag of the Philippines|National Flag]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Anthem'''
 
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| ''[[Lupang Hinirang]]''
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Patriotic Song'''
 
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| ''[[Pilipinas Kong Mahal]]'', ''[[Bayan Ko]]''
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Gem'''
 
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| [[Pearl|South Sea pearls]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Dance'''
 
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| ''[[Cariñosa]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Animal'''
 
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| [[Carabao]]
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Bird'''
 
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| [[Philippine Eagle]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Fish'''
 
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| [[Milkfish]] (''Bangus'')
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Flower'''
 
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| [[Jasminum sambac|Arabian Jasmine]] (''Sampaguita'')
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Tree'''
 
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| [[Angsana]] (''Narra'')
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Leaf'''
 
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| [[Livistona|Fan palm]] (''Anahaw'')
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Fruit'''
 
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| [[Mango]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Sport'''
 
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| [[Sipa]]
 
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|-
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Costume'''
 
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| [[Barong Tagalog|Barong]] and [[Baro't saya]]
 
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| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Hero'''
 
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| [[José Rizal]]
 
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The government of the Philippines is organized as a [[President|presidential]]-[[Unitary state|unitary]] [[republic]], where the [[President of the Philippines|President]] functions as [[head of state]], the [[head of government]], and the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Military of the Philippines|armed forces]]. The president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the [[cabinet]] of secretaries.<ref name="About"/>
 
  
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The [[bicameral]] [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] comprises the [[Senate of the Philippines|Senate]] and the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]]; members of the former are elected at large and those of the latter by geographical district. The 24 senators serve six-year terms, with half retiring every three years, while the House of Representatives comprises 250 members serving three-year terms.<ref name="About"/>
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Opposition leader [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]] was assassinated on August 21, 1983, upon returning from exile. Under pressure from the United States, and after large protests, Marcos allowed for a presidential election. The election, held on February 7, 1986, was believed to be fraudulent, and resulted in a heavily disputed outcome and a stand-off between military mutineers and the military loyalists. Protesters supported the mutineers. Prominent cabinet officials resigned.
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[[Image:Marcos Flees!.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Philippine Daily Inquirer|Inquirer's]] headline on 26 Feb 1986]]
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A radio call for mass protest on February 22, 1986, sparked the EDSA Revolution, also known as the ''People Power Revolution of 1986.'' Four days of peaceful action by millions of Filipinos in Manila led to the downfall of the authoritarian regime of Marcos and the installation of [[Corazon Aquino]] as president. EDSA stands for ''Epifanio de los Santos Avenue'', a main highway in Manila and the main site of the demonstrations.
  
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The [[judiciary|judicial]] branch of government is headed by the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines|Supreme Court]], with a [[Chief Justice]] as its head and 14 associate justices, all appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the [[Judicial and Bar Council]]. Other courts include the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts, and the Metropolitan Trial Courts.<ref name="About"/>
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Massive national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Muslim separatist movement has hampered the return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986. The economy improved during the administration of [[Fidel V. Ramos]], who was elected in 1992. However, the economic improvements were negated at the onset of the East Asian financial crisis in 1997.  
  
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As of June 2006, President [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] is hoping to get agreement to amend the constitution to a [[unicameral]] [[parliament]] under a [[federal republic|federal]] setting similar to what they believe to be the German constitution. The country would be split into "states" with each one having a local legislature responsible for certain functions. Included in the amendments are plans to remove/ease the current ban on foreign ownership of property, land, and commercial organizations in the Philippines. Plans have been announced to decentralize government by moving departments from Manila to the provinces, such as the Department of Tourism to Cebu City, the Department of Foreign Affairs to Angeles City, and the Department of Agrarian Reform to [[Iloilo City]].
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A 2001 EDSA Revolution led to the downfall of president Joseph Estrada. Thousands of citizens converged at the EDSA Shrine to protest against President Joseph Estrada, following his aborted impeachment trial at the Senate of the Philippines. Estrada was a former movie actor who was popular with the masses, but was reviled by the upper and elite classes for his alleged corruption.  
  
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The Philippines is a founding and active member of the [[United Nations]] since its inception on [[October 24]], [[1945]] and is a founding member of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN). The Philippines is also a member of the [[East Asia Summit]] (EAS), an active player in the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC), the [[Latin Union]], and a member of the [[Group of 24]]. The country is a [[major non-NATO ally]] of the U.S. but also a member of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]].<ref name="About"/>
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The administration of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, since 2001, has been hounded by allegations of corruption and election rigging.
  
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The Philippines, along with the nation of [[Malta]], is one of only two nations in the world where all civil marriages are for life, because civil [[divorce]] (for violations coming after the marriage) is banned, although [[annulment]] (for violations before the marriage, although it may manifest itself after the solemnization) is permitted.<ref> [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=16820&sec=36&con=27 Philippines legislation] [http://www.wwrn.org]</ref>
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==Politics and government==
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[[Image:Sin2001.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] was sworn in as president at the [[2001 EDSA Revolution]].]]
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The government of the Philippines is organized as a presidential unitary republic, where the president functions as head of state, the head of government, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the cabinet of secretaries.
  
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The Philippines is currently in a dispute with [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Vietnam]], and [[Malaysia]] over the [[Petroleum|oil]]- and [[natural gas]]-rich [[Spratly Islands]] and [[Scarborough Shoal]], and with Malaysia over [[Sabah]]. The Sultan of [[Sulu]], who received Sabah as a gift in 1703 having helped the Sultan of [[Brunei]] defeat a rebellion, has given the Philippine government power to reclaim its lost territory. To this day, the [[Sultan of Sulu]]'s family receives "rental" payments for Sabah from the Malaysian government.<ref>[http://www.epilipinas.com/SabahClaim.htm Philippines' Claim to Sabah] [http://www.epilipinas.com]</ref>
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The bicameral Congress comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the Senate are elected at large, and those of the House of Representatives by geographical district. The 24 senators serve six-year terms, with half retiring every three years, while the House of Representatives comprises 250 members serving three-year terms.
  
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{{see also|Foreign relations of the Philippines|President of the Philippines|Constitution of the Philippines}}
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The Supreme Court heads the judicial branch of government, with a chief justice as its head and 14 associate justices, all appointed by the president from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. Other courts include the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts, and the Metropolitan Trial Courts.
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{{further|[[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]}}
 
  
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==Administrative divisions==
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The political parties in the Philippines are of diverse ideologies and are plentiful in number. The Philippines has a multi-party system with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.
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{{main|Administrative divisions of the Philippines}}
 
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[[Image:Ph regions and provinces2.png|250px|thumb|Provinces and regions of the Philippines]]
 
  
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The Philippines is divided into three geographical areas: [[Luzon]], [[Visayas]], and [[Mindanao]]. It has 17 [[Regions of the Philippines|region]]s, 81 [[Provinces of the Philippines|province]]s<ref>[[Shariff Kabunsuan]] was created out of [[Maguindanao province|Maguindanao]] after it was approved by the people in a [[Shariff Kabunsuan creation referendum, 2006|plebescite]]; [[Dinagat Island]] was also carved out from [[Surigao del Norte]].</ref>, 117 [[Cities of the Philippines|cities]], 1,501 [[Municipalities of the Philippines|municipalities]], and 41,982 [[barangay]]s.<ref>[http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/general.asp General Information of the Philippines] [http://www.gov.ph Gov.Ph]. Accessed September 30, 2006</ref>
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Philippine political parties are unique. Normally, political parties are created to represent various interest groups. Philippine political parties were created by American tutelage, comprising proteges of elite families educated at American Universities. Academic degrees masked the incompetence of this educated elite who had become alienated from Philippines society, and who tended to represent their clans' interest. The result was a legislature that is an arena not for public dialogue but as an elite clique engaged in profiteering and political showmanship.
  
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Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]].{{cn}}
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sought to amend the constitution to a unicameral parliament under a federal setting similar to what they believe to be the German constitution. The country would be split into "states" with each one having a local legislature responsible for certain functions. Included in the amendments are plans to ease a ban on foreign ownership of property, land, and commercial organizations.  
  
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On [[July 24]], [[2006]], the [[State of the Nation Address (Philippines)|State of the Nation Address]] of [[President of the Philippines|President]] [[Arroyo]] announced the proposal to create five economic [[Super regions of the Philippines|super regions]] to concentrate on the economic strengths in a specific area.<ref>[http://www.gov.ph/sona/sonatext2006.asp State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 3rd Regular Session of the 13th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines] [http://www.gov.ph Gov.Ph]. Accessed September 15, 2006</ref>
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The Philippines is a founding and active member of the [[United Nations]] and is a founding member of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN). The Philippines is also a member of the [[East Asia Summit]] (EAS), an active player in the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC), the [[Latin Union]], and a member of the [[Group of 24]]. The country is a [[major non-NATO ally]] of the U.S. but also a member of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]].
  
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The Philippines, along with the nation of [[Malta]], is one of only two nations in the world where all civil marriages are for life, because civil divorce (for violations coming after the marriage) is banned, although annulment (for violations before the marriage, although it may manifest itself after the solemnization) is permitted.  
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! Region !! Designation !! Government center
 
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| [[Ilocos Region]] || Region I || [[San Fernando City, La Union|San Fernando City]], [[La Union]]
 
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| [[Cagayan Valley|Cagayan Valley Region]] || Region II || [[Tuguegarao City]], [[Cagayan]]
 
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| [[Central Luzon|Central Luzon Region]] || Region III || [[San Fernando City, Pampanga|City of San Fernando]], [[Pampanga]]
 
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| [[CALABARZON|CALABARZON Region]]'''¹''' '''²''' || Region IV-A || [[Calamba City]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]]
 
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| [[MIMARO|MIMARO Region]]'''¹''' '''²''' '''³''' || Region IV-B || [[Calapan City]], [[Oriental Mindoro]]<!--Palawan is now at Region VI—>
 
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| [[Bicol Region]] || Region V || [[Legazpi City]], [[Albay]]
 
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| [[Western Visayas|Western Visayas Region]]'''³''' || Region VI || [[Iloilo City]]
 
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| [[Central Visayas|Central Visayas Region]] || Region VII || [[Cebu City]]
 
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| [[Eastern Visayas|Eastern Visayas Region]] || Region VIII || [[Tacloban City]], [[Leyte]]
 
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| [[Zamboanga Peninsula|Zamboanga Peninsula Region]] || Region IX || [[Pagadian City]], [[Zamboanga del Sur]]
 
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| [[Northern Mindanao|Northern Mindanao Region]] || Region X || [[Cagayan de Oro City]]
 
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| [[Davao Region]] || Region XI || [[Davao City]]
 
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| [[SOCCSKSARGEN|SOCCSKSARGEN Region]]'''¹''' || Region XII || [[Koronadal City]], [[South Cotabato]]
 
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| [[Caraga|Caraga Region]] || Region XIII || [[Butuan City]]
 
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| [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] || ARMM || [[Cotabato City]]
 
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| [[Cordillera Administrative Region]] || CAR || [[Baguio City]]
 
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| [[Metro Manila|National Capital Region]] || NCR || [[Manila]]
 
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'''¹''' Names are capitalized because they are [[acronym]]s, containing the names of the constituent provinces or cities (see [[Acronyms in the Philippines]]).<br>
 
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'''²''' These regions formed the former [[Southern Tagalog]] region, or Region IV.<br>
 
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'''³''' [[Palawan]] was moved from Region IV-B as known as MIMAROPA to Region VI. From November 2005, Region IV-B would be called MIMARO, decreased from five to four provinces and Region VI  increased from six to seven provinces.
 
  
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==Geography==
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The Philippines was in a dispute (in 2007) with [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Vietnam]], and [[Malaysia]] over the oil and natural gas-rich [[Spratly Islands]] and [[Scarborough Shoal]], and with Malaysia over [[Sabah]]. The Sultan of [[Sulu]], who received Sabah as a gift in 1703 having helped the Sultan of [[Brunei]] defeat a rebellion, has given the Philippine government power to reclaim its lost territory. The [[Sultan of Sulu]]'s family continues to receive "rental" payments for Sabah from the Malaysian government.
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{{main|Geography of the Philippines}}
 
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[[Image:Ph physical map.png|250px|thumb|right|Geography of the Philippines]]
 
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The Philippines constitutes an [[archipelago]] of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 [[square kilometre]]s (116,000&nbsp;[[square mile|sq.&nbsp;mi]]). It lies between 116° 40' and 126° 34' E. longitude, and 4° 40' and 21° 10' N. latitude, and borders the [[Philippine Sea]] on the east, on the [[South China Sea]] the west, and the [[Celebes Sea]] on the south. The island of [[Borneo]] lies a few hundred kilometers southwest and [[Taiwan]] directly north. The [[Moluccas]] and [[Sulawesi]] are to the south, and [[Palau]] is to the east beyond the [[Philippine Sea]].<ref name="About"/>
 
  
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The islands are commonly divided into three island groups: [[Luzon]] (Regions I to V, NCR and CAR), [[Visayas]] (VI to VIII), and [[Mindanao]] (IX to XIII and ARMM). The busy port of [[Manila]], on [[Luzon]], is the national [[capital]] and second largest [[city]] after its suburb [[Quezon City]].<ref name="About"/>
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[[Image:Ph regions and provinces2.png|250px|thumb|Provinces and regions of the Philippines]]
  
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The local [[climate]] is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5°[[Celsius|C]] (79.7°[[Fahrenheit|F]]). There are three recognized seasons: ''Tag-init'' or ''Tag-araw'' (the hot season or summer from March to May), ''Tag-ulan'' (the rainy season from June to November), and ''Taglamig'' (the cold season from December to February). The southwest [[monsoon]] (May-October) is known as the "habagat" and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (November-April) as the "amihan".<ref>[http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/climate.htm Climate of the Philippines] [http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph]. Accessed September 30, 2006</ref> The country itself is undergoing desertification in place like Sorsogon, Baguio, Davao and the Sierra Madre mountain range.
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The Philippines is divided into three geographical areas: [[Luzon]], [[Visayas]], and [[Mindanao]]. It has 17 regions, 81 provinces, 117 cities, 1501 municipalities, and 41,982 barangays. Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.  
  
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Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in [[tropical rainforest]] and are volcanic in origin. The highest point is [[Mount Apo]] on Mindanao at 2,954 metres (9,692 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]). There are many active [[volcano]]s such as [[Mayon Volcano]], [[Mount Pinatubo]], and [[Taal Volcano]]. The country also lies within the [[typhoon]] belt of the Western Pacific and about 19 typhoons strike per year.
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In 2006, Arroyo announced a proposal to create five economic super regions to concentrate on the economic strengths in a specific area.  
  
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Lying on the northwestern fringes of the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]], the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activities. Some 20 [[earthquake]]s are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt. The last great earthquake was the [[1990 Luzon earthquake]]. <ref>[http://www.cityofpines.com/baguioquake/quake.html The 1990 Baguio City Earthquake] [http://www.cityofpines.com]. Accessed October 3,2006</ref>
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The United States is one of the Philippines’ closest economic and political allies. The two countries are partners in counter-terrorism, as they both share intelligence. The two countries conduct military exercises in Mindanao, and are both heavily involved in trade and commerce.
  
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The longest river is the [[Cagayan River]] of northern Luzon. The nearly circular [[Manila Bay]], is connected to the [[Laguna de Bay]] by means of the [[Pasig River]]. [[Subic Bay]], the [[Davao Gulf]] and the [[Moro Gulf]] are some of the important bays. Transversing the [[San Juanico Strait]] is the [[San Juanico Bridge]], that connects the islands of [[Samar (island)|Samar]] and [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]]. <ref>[http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=famousefor&province=44 Leyte is Famous For...] [http://www.inq.net]. Accessed September 30,2006</ref>
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Organized under the supervision of General Douglas MacArthur, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are loosely based on the structure of the military of the United States. While modest in its material and technological capability, the Philippines soldiers are considered one of the most battle-hardened armies in the world due to their long exposure to counter-insurgency and anti-secessionist campaigns. Consisting of army, navy and air force, due to its close relationship with the United States military, the armed forces was considered the strongest national defense program in [[Asia]] &mdash; especially in the 1950s and 1960s.
  
 
==Economy==
 
==Economy==
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{{main|Economy of the Philippines}}
 
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<!--
 
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Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.
 
  
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The pictures are meant to represent the whole Philippines, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, not just Metro Manila. Where is Mindanao in the pictures?
 
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[[Image:Ortigas full moon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|San Miguel Avenue in [[Ortigas Center]], Mandaluyong - Pasig City Boundary]]
 
[[Image:Ortigas full moon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|San Miguel Avenue in [[Ortigas Center]], Mandaluyong - Pasig City Boundary]]
 
[[Image:Keppel and innove.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cebu City Business Park]]
 
[[Image:Keppel and innove.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cebu City Business Park]]
 
[[Image:Boracay_palm_trees1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Palm trees in tourist spot [[Boracay]]]]
 
[[Image:Boracay_palm_trees1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Palm trees in tourist spot [[Boracay]]]]
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The Philippines is a [[developing country]] with an agricultural base, light industry, and service-sector economy. The Philippines has one of the most vibrant [[business process outsourcing]] (BPO) industries in Asia. Numerous [[call centers]] and BPO firms have infused momentum into the Philippine market, generating thousands of jobs, including [[Fortune 500]] companies.<ref>[http://business.inq7.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=24405 As India gets too costly, BPOs turn to Philippines] [http://www.inq.net]. Accessed October 2, 2006</ref>
 
  
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The resiliency of the Philippine economy due to low foreign inflows and an agriculture-based economy allowed it to snap back from international crises as evidenced by 3% growth in 1999 and accelerated to 4% in 2000. By 2004, the Philippine economy catapulted to over 6% growth after the [[East Asian financial crisis]] of the late 1990s. President [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] pledged to turn the country into a [[First World]] state by 2020.<ref>[http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=23485 Philippines now "Second World"] [http://www.inq.net]. Accessed September 30,2006</ref>
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The Philippines is a developing country with an agricultural base, light industry, and service-sector economy. The Philippines has one of the busiest call-center industries in Asia, generating thousands of jobs. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the occupations of 40 percent of the 30 million people who are employed. People work seven days a week and take additional jobs to maintain or improve their lifestyle or pay for a child's education.
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The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by its high level of annual remittances from overseas workers, and no sustained run-up in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. From a 0.6 percent decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4 percent in 1999, and 4.4 percent in 2000, but slowed to 3.2 percent in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. GDP growth accelerated to about 5 percent between 2002 and 2006 reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, and improved exports and agricultural output.  
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A higher, sustained growth path is required to make progress in the alleviation of poverty given the Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also faces higher oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings, and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance infrastructure and social spending.  
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The Philippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a high debt level, and this situation has forced Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on debt service. Large unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the energy sector, contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress on privatization. Credit rating agencies have at times expressed concern about the Philippines' ability to service the debt, though central bank reserves appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable. The implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2005 boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the peso, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06.
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Government initiatives are designed to match the pace of development in the [[newly industrialized countries]] (NICs) of [[East Asia]]. Economic strategies are implemented to manage a public debt comprising 93% of the GDP. This priority manifests as a budget allocation set higher than the budget for education and defense combined. The Philippine middle class is essential to economic prosperity. Although proportionately smaller, the Philippine middle class is scheduled to grow.{{cn}}
 
  
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Strategies for streamlining the economy include improvements of [[infrastructure]], more efficient [[tax]] systems to bolster government revenues, furthering deregulation and [[privatization]] of the economy, and increasing trade integration within the region and across the world.
 
  
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On November 1, 2005, a newly expanded [[value added tax]] (E-VAT) law was instituted as a measure to bridle the rising foreign debt and to improve government services such as education, healthcare, social security, and transportation. As of 2006, The Philippines' economic prosperity also depends in large part on how well its two biggest trading partners' economies perform: the U.S. and Japan.<ref> [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html Economy: Philippines' Exports and Imports Partners] [http://www.cia.gov]</ref>
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The Philippines is a member of the [[Asian Development Bank]], [[World Bank]], [[International Monetary Fund]], and other international economic associations, such as the [[Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC), the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), the [[Colombo Plan]], and the [[Group of 77|G-77]].
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The Philippines is a significant source of migrant workers; as of 2004, the Philippine government has estimated that there are over eight million overseas Filipinos, who sent home a record $10.7-billion in 2005.  
  
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The Philippines is a member of the [[Asian Development Bank]], [[World Bank]], [[International Monetary Fund]], and other international economic associations, such as the [[Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC), the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), the [[Colombo Plan]], and the [[Group of 77|G-77]].<ref> [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html International Organization Participation] [http://www.cia.gov]</ref>
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Exports totalled $38.728-billion in 2004. Export commodities included electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut products, and chemicals. Export partners were the United States, 20.1 percent, Japan 15.9 percent, Hong Kong 8.5 percent, Netherlands 8.1 percent, Taiwan 6.9 percent, Malaysia 6.8 percent, Singapore 6.7 percent, and China 5.9 percent.
  
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In 2005, the [[Philippine peso]] was said to be Asia's best-performing currency.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html Philippines] [[CIA World Factbook]]. Accessed August 23, 2006</ref> The Philippines' 1st quarter GDP growth was within the government's programmed growth of 5.5% buoyed by the rebound of the agriculture sector and a strong service sector performance however, the economy is still vulnerable to high world oil prices and political instability. There are a few promising developments though: one is the strong fiscal performance that the government has put in place; another is the mining boom, which will help generate additional revenues and additional jobs but may permanently damage the environment. The country’s export rose by more than 15% in January-April this year, while investments increased by $2 billion over that of the same four-month period last year.
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Import totalled $45.109-billion in 2004. Import commodities included raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, and fuels. Import partner were Japan 20.4 percent, the United States 19.8 percent, Singapore 6.8 percent, South Korea 6.4 percent, Taiwan 5 percent, China 4.8 percent, and Hong Kong 4.3 percent.
  
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Despite the growing economy, the Philippines will have to address several chronic problems in the future. Income inequality remains persistent; about 30 million people lived on less than $2 per day in 2005. China and India have emerged as major economic competitors, siphoning away investors who would otherwise have invested in the Philippines, particularly telecom companies. Regional development is also somewhat uneven, with the main island Luzon and Metro Manila gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of the other regions.
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Per capita GDP was $4923 in 2005, with a rank of 102 on a list of 181 countries.
  
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The Philippines is a significant source of migrant workers; as of 2004, the Philippine government has estimated that there are over 8 million [[Overseas Filipinos]] while independent estimates by various Philippine civic organizations estimate the number at 11 million. <ref name="Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos">[http://www.poea.gov.ph/docs/STOCK%20ESTIMATE%202004.xls Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos] [http://www.poea.gov.ph/].Accessed September 29,2006</ref> <ref name="Trouble in Paradise">[http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-33/6-33-trouble.htm Trouble in Paradise] [http://www.bulatlat.com/].Accessed September 30,2006</ref> Overseas Filipinos sent home a record $10.7 billion in 2005. <ref name="Trouble in Paradise">[http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-33/6-33-trouble.htm Trouble in Paradise] [http://www.bulatlat.com/].Accessed September 30,2006</ref> The [[Filipino diaspora]] is present in 190 nations worldwide.<ref name="Overseas Filipinos">[http://business.inq7.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=23548] [http://www.inq.net]. Accessed September 30,2006</ref>
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Income inequality remains persistent; about 30 million people lived on less than $2 per day in 2005. China and India have emerged as economic competitors, siphoning away investors who would otherwise have invested in the Philippines, particularly telecom companies. Regional development is also somewhat uneven, with the main island Luzon and Metro Manila gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of the other regions.
  
 
== Demographics ==
 
== Demographics ==
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<!—Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.—>
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{{main|Demographics of the Philippines|Filipino (identity)|Overseas Filipino}}
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[[Image:Filipino Ethnic.PNG|300px|thumb|Filipinos are a diverse people. They identify themselves based on one or several factors such as [[ancestry]], [[language]], [[religion]] or a shared [[history]], apart from [[Administrative divisions of the Philippines|region]].]]
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The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2005. Roughly two-thirds reside on the island of Luzon. Manila, the capital, is the eleventh most populous metropolitan area in the world.
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Life expectancy is 69.91 years. Population growth per year is about 1.92 percent, with 26.3 births per 1000 people. In the 100 years since the 1903 Census, the population has grown by a factor of eleven. This represents a much faster rate of growth than other countries in the region ([[Indonesia]] has grown fivefold over the same period).
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The people of the Philippines are called [[Filipino people|Filipinos]]. Most Filipinos are descended from the various Austronesian-speaking migrants who arrived in successive waves over a thousand years ago from [[Taiwan]], genetically most closely related to the Ami tribe. These ethnic Filipinos are divided into various ethnolinguistic groups, the three most numerous being the Bisaya, the Tagalogs, and the Ilocanos. The Negritos or Aetas, who are considered as the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines, currently number fewer than 30,000 people (0.03 percent).  
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Filipinos of Chinese descent, who had been settling in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic times, currently forms the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, claiming about two percent of the population. Other significant minorities, ranked according to population, include Americans, Japanese, British, Australians, Europeans (particularly Spanish and Basques), Koreans, and South Asians. There are also numerous Arabs and Indonesians in the country, especially in Mindanao. The Philippines has Asia's largest American population.
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Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as the migrants and colonizers have intermarried, producing [[Filipino Mestizo]]s. According to genetic studies, about 3.65 percent of the Filipino population are partly of Caucasian ancestry (mostly of Spanish, English-American and other European people descent), and about 10 percent have some Chinese ancestry.
 
[[Image:Philippines-demography.png|thumb|Population growth of the Philippines.]]
 
[[Image:Philippines-demography.png|thumb|Population growth of the Philippines.]]
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The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2006<ref name="population"/>. Roughly two-thirds reside on the island of [[Luzon]]. [[Manila]], the capital, is the eleventh most populous metropolitan area in the world. The literacy rate was 92.5% in 2003<ref>[http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_HDI.pdf United Nations Human Development Report 2005, p.259]</ref>, and about equal for males and females<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html#People CIA World Factbook - Updated July 20 2006]</ref>. Life expectancy is 69.91 years, with 72.28 years for females and 66.44 years for males. Population growth per year is about 1.92%, with 26.3 births per 1,000 people. In the 100 years since the 1903 Census, the population has grown by a factor of eleven. This represents a much faster rate of growth than other countries in the region ([[Indonesia]] has grown fivefold over the same period).
 
  
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=== Ethnic groups ===
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More than 170 languages are spoken in the country, almost all of them belonging to the Western Malayo-Polynesian language group of the Austronesian language family. According to the 1987 Constitution, Filipino, heavily based on Tagalog, and English are both the official languages. The 12 major regional languages are the auxiliary official languages of their respective regions, each with over one million speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Bikol, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao and Tausug. English is used by some Filipinos as their first language, particularly those belonging to the upper echelons of society.
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{{main|Ethnic groups of the Philippines}}
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The Lan-nang-oe variant of Min Nan is widely spoken by the country's Chinese minority
  
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The people of the Philippines are called [[Filipino people|Filipinos]]. Most Filipinos are descended from the various [[Austronesian people|Austronesian]]-speaking [[migrants]] who arrived in successive waves over a thousand years ago from [[Taiwan]], genetically most closely related to the [[Ami people|Ami]] tribe.<ref>Capelli et al, A Predominantly Indigenous Paternal Heritage for the Austronesian-Speaking Peoples of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania, Table 1</ref> . These ethnic Filipinos are divided into various [[Ethnolinguistics|ethnolinguistic]] groups, the three most numerous being the [[Bisaya]], [[Tagalog people|Tagalogs]], and the [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]]. The [[Negritos]] or [[Aeta]]s, who are considered as the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines, currently number fewer than 30,000 people (0.03%).  
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Spanish was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries, but was used mainly by the educated illustrados (including [[José Rizal]]) or self-taught natives and the Spanish authorities. Spanish was the language of Philippine Revolution, and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. Following the American occupation of the Philippines, its use declined, especially after 1940. Currently, only a few Spanish Mestizo families speak it as their first language, though many others use it together with Tagalog and English.  
  
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Filipinos of [[Filipino Chinese|Chinese]] descent, who had been settling in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic times, currently forms the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, claiming about 2% of the population. Other significant minorities, ranked according to population, include [[American-Filipino|Americans]], [[Japanese Filipino|Japanese]], [[United Kingdom|British]], [[Australia|Australians]], [[European-Filipino|other Europeans (particularly Spanish and Basques)]], [[Koreans in the Philippines|Koreans]], and [[South Asians in the Philippines|South Asians]]. There are also numerous [[Arabs in the Philippines|Arabs]] and [[Indonesians in the Philippines|Indonesians]] in the country, especially in Mindanao. The Philippines has Asia's largest [[United States|American]] population.
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The use of Arabic is prevalent among the Filipino Muslims, and is taught in ''madrasah'' (Muslim) schools.
  
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Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as the migrants and colonizers have intermarried, producing [[Filipino Mestizo]]s. According to genetic studies, about 3.65% of the [[Filipino people|Filipinos]] population are partly of Caucasian ancestry (mostly of [[Spanish people|Spanish]], [[English-American]] and other [[European people]] descent), and about 10% have some Chinese ancestry. {{fact}}
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The Philippines is one of only two Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being [[East Timor]]. About 90 percent of Filipinos are Christian, where 81 percent belong to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and the nine percent composed of Protestant denominations, the Philippine Independent Church, and [[Iglesia ni Cristo]]. While Christianity is a force in the culture, indigenous traditions and rituals still influence religious practice.  
  
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=== Languages ===
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The term “animism” can be used to describe the indigenous spiritual traditions practiced during pre-colonial times. A handful of the indigenous tribes continue to practice it. It is a collection of beliefs and practices anchored in the idea that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad, and that respect be accorded to them through nature worship.
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<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.—>
 
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{{main|Languages of the Philippines}}
 
  
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More than 170 languages are spoken in the country, almost all of them belonging to the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Western Malayo-Polynesian language]] group of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian language family]]. According to the [[Constitution of the Philippines|1987 Constitution]], [[Filipino language|Filipino]], heavily based on Tagalog, and [[English language|English]] are both the official languages. The twelve major regional languages are the auxiliary official languages of their respective regions, each with over one million speakers: [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Ilokano language|Ilocano]], [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]], [[Waray-Waray language|Waray-Waray]], [[Bikol language|Bikol]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]], [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]]. [[Kinaray-a language|Kinaray-a]], [[Maranao language|Maranao]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]] and [[Tausug language|Tausug]]. [[English language|English]] is used by some Filipinos as their first language, particularly those belonging to the upper echelons of society.
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Approximately five percent of Filipinos are Sunni [[Muslim]]. They primarily settle in parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. Most lowland Muslim Filipinos practice normative [[Islam]], although the practices of some Mindanao's hill tribe Muslims reflect a fusion with animism.  
  
−
The [[Lan-nang|Lan-nang-oe]] variant of [[Min Nan]] [[Identification of the varieties of Chinese|Chinese dialect]] is widely spoken by the country's Chinese minority
+
There are also small populations of [[Buddhists]], [[Jews]] and animists, which, along with other non-Christians and non-Muslims, collectively comprise five percent of the population.
 +
[[Image:Mestizasinfilipiniana.jpg|240px|thumb|Philippine women of different ethnic background wearing the Philippine national costume]]
 +
Nineteen percent of the land is arable and 46 percent consists of forests and woodlands. Large amounts of arable land remain in the hand of absentee landowners given land grants during the Spanish colonial period. Peasant groups such as the HUKs (People's Liberation Army in the 1950s, and the NPA (New People's Army) in 2007 have resorted to guerrilla tactics to obtain land for the poor.
  
−
The [[Spanish language in the Philippines|use of Spanish in the Philippines]] was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries, but was used mainly by the educated illustrados (including [[José Rizal]]) or self taught natives and the Spanish authorities. Spanish was the language of [[Philippine Revolution]], and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. Following the American occupation of the Philippines, its use declined, especially after 1940. Currently, only a few Spanish [[Filipino Mestizo|Mestizo]] families speak it as their first language, though many others use it together with Tagalog and English.  
+
Marriage includes a civil ceremony conducted in city offices, and a religious ceremony. A feature is the presence of sponsors, friends and relatives who attest to the popularity and potential success of a couple, and contribute towards wedding costs.
 +
There are no arranged marriages. Men are expected to marry. Young professionals wait until their late 20s to marry, and engagements of five to seven years, during which time the couple becomes established financially, are not uncommon. Divorce is illegal, but annulment is available. Interfaith marriages are rare.
  
−
Both [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] are used as auxiliary languages in the Philippines. The use of Arabic is prevalent among the [[Filipino Muslim]]s. It is taught in ''[[madrasah]]'' (Muslim) schools.
+
The extended family is the basic unit of Philippines society. A woman's closest friends come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family members. One child is expected to remain at home to care for the parents and grandparents. The home may include children from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the home are the primary care givers since both parents work. Needy relatives live in and provide household and childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging work for room and board. Nieces and nephews are referred to as one's own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may legally adopt a sibling's child.
  
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=== Religion ===
+
Inheritance laws provide that all children acknowledged by a father, whether born in or out of wedlock, share equally in the estate. Females share equally with males.
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<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.—>
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Anyone remotely related is known as a cousin. Indigenous tribes live in clan groups. People have a strong sense of belonging to a place. New Year's Day, Easter, and All Saint's Day are the most important family holidays.
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{{main|Religion in the Philippines}}
 
  
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The Philippines is one of only two majority Roman Catholic countries in Asia (the other being [[East Timor]]). About 90% of Filipinos are Christians, where 81% belong to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and the 9% composed of Protestant denominations, the [[Philippine Independent Church]], and [[Iglesia ni Cristo]].<ref>[http://www.census.gov.ph/data%5Cpressrelease%5C2003%5Cpr0323tx.html PHILIPPINES: ADDITIONAL THREE PERSONS PER MINUTE] [http://www.census.gov.ph National Statistics Office] Accessed November 27, 2006</ref> While Christianity is a major force in the culture of the Filipinos, indigenous traditions and rituals still influence religious practice.  
+
Filipinos value social acceptance and see education as a way to provide upward mobility. Color of skin, beauty, and money help determine a person's social position — a light-skinned attractive person will advance before his or her colleagues. Family position and patron-client relationships are part of achieving success. Government officials, wealthy friends, and community leaders sponsor hundreds of weddings and baptisms each year.  
 +
About two percent of the population is wealthy. The masses live in poverty, while the middle class feels too obligated to those in power to push for any change.
  
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Approximately 5% of Filipinos are Sunni [[Muslim]].<ref name="religion"/> They primarily settle in parts of [[Mindanao]] and the [[Sulu archipelago]]. Most lowland Muslim Filipinos practice normative Islam, although the practices of some Mindanao's hill tribe Muslims reflect a fusion with animism. There are also small populations of [[Buddhism in the Philippines|Buddhists]], [[Jews in the Philippines|Jews]] and animists, which, along with other non-Christians and non-Muslims, collectively comprise 5% of the population.
+
Money to buy consumer goods indicates power. Wealthy people lead western lifestyles. Owning a vehicle is a statement of a high social level, as do the style of houses and furnishings. Women above the poverty line have extensive wardrobes. Sending children to the best schools indicates social position.  
  
 
== Culture ==
 
== Culture ==
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<!—Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.—>
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{{main|Culture of the Philippines}}
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[[Image:Ifugao sculpture Louvre 70-1999-4-1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An Ifugao scuplture.]]
 +
[[Image:Jollibee.jpg|200px|thumb|Jollibee restaurant in [[Dumaguete City]].]]
 
[[Image:jeepney.jpg|240px|thumb|A Philippine [[Jeepney]]]]
 
[[Image:jeepney.jpg|240px|thumb|A Philippine [[Jeepney]]]]
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[[Image:Mestizasinfilipiniana.jpg|240px|thumb|Philippine women of different ethnic background wearing the Philippine national costume]]
 
  
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Filipino culture is largely a fusion of the indigenous traditions of the Philippines, with the Spanish and [[Culture of the United States of America|American]] cultures. It has also been significantly influenced by [[China|Chinese]], [[Indonesia|Indonesian]] and [[India|Indian]] cultures.
+
The Spanish colonization of the [[Philippines]], governed from [[Mexico]], lasted for more than 350 years, thus there is a significant presence of Spanish and Mexican influence in many facets of the Filipino culture. The Filipino language, more commonly known as Tagalog, contains many borrowed Spanish words. Large Spanish brick churches built during the colonial era dominate the towns. Countless streets, towns and provinces have Spanish names. Spanish surnames prevail. This came as a result of a colonial decree for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system. A Spanish surname therefore does not necessarily denote Spanish ancestry.
 +
 
 +
The use of English language in the Philippines is America's visible legacy. The most commonly played sport in the Philippines is [[basketball]]. There is also a wide "imitation" of American cultural trends, such as the love of fast-food. Aside from the American commercial giants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC, local fast-food chains have also sprung up, including Goldilocks Bakeshop, Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza, and Chowking. Modern day Filipinos also listen to contemporary American music and watch American movies.
 +
 
 +
Most of the present celebrated religious traditions are a mix of Christian, pagan and other local religious rites. Each year, towns from around the country hold festivities known as Fiesta which commemorate the patron saints of each town, villages or regional districts. The festival season is celebrated with church ceremonies, street parades in honor of the patron saints, fireworks, beauty and dance contests for generations of old and new, and in some areas there are cockfighting tournaments. These Fiestas are observed in countries that had a Spanish occupational past. The Islamic southern island celebrates Muslim customs and traditions.
 +
 
 +
Native moral codes, respect of family, veneration of elders, and friendliness, all remain intact. Filipinos honor national heroes whose works and deeds contributed to the shaping of the Filipino nation. José Riza] is the most celebrated ''ilustrado'', a Spanish-speaking reformist visionary whose writings contributed greatly in nurturing a sense of national identity and awareness. His novels ''|Noli Me Tangere'' and ''El Filibusterismo'' originally written in Spanish, are required readings for Filipino students, and provide vignettes of colonial life under the Spanish rule.
 +
 
 +
Plain steamed rice is the basis of the diet. Salt water and freshwater of fish and shellfish are eaten daily, served either fresh or salted. Fish, chicken and pork are usually fried. Garlic is added to food because it is considered healthy. Filipino food is not spicy, and is cooked on gas burners or over wood or charcoal fires and is allowed to get cold before it is eaten — from a spoon. It is also common to use the traditional method of placing food on a banana leaf and eating with one's hands. Breakfast, served at 6am, consists of food left over from the night before, and is not reheated. The widespread use of noodles, known locally as ''mami'', are a testament of the Chinese cuisine.
 +
 
 +
Filipinos are fond of sweet foods. Coca-Cola is popular. Fatty pork is a favorite. Portions of small cubes of browned pork fat are considered a special dish. Fruits are abundant all year. Red and green bananas are eaten. Mangoes, the national fruit, are sweet and juicy. Fast food has become part of the culture, with national and international chains in many towns. Léchon, a suckling pig that has been roasted until the skin forms a hard brown crust, is served at important occasions. Gin and beer are available for men and are accompanied by balut, a duck egg with an embryo. Dog meat is a delicacy, although it is now illegal to sell it because cases of rabies have occurred.
 +
The education system is similar to that in the [[United States]] Filipino children enter public school at about age four, starting from nursery up to kindergarten. At about seven years of age, children enter a primary school (six plus one years) where the core subjects include mathematics, English, and ''Makabayan'' (a mixture of social studies and Filipino). This is followed by secondary school (four years). Students then sit for the College Entrance Examinations (CEE), after which they enter collegiate school (three plus two). The teaching medium in most local schools is English. All primary-level students graduate with a knowledge of two or three languages. Other types of schools do exist, such as private schools, preparatory schools, international schools, and science high school]]s. The Chinese, British, Americans, and the Japanese have their own schools, while there are Islamic schools in the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.
 +
The literacy rate was 92.5 percent in 2003 and about equal for males and females.
 +
 
 +
Filipino music is a mixture of European, American and indigenous sounds. Much of the music of the Philippines has been influenced by the 377-year-long colonial legacies of [[Spain]]. Spanish and Mexican colonizers introduced the guitar and other instruments, as well as zarzuela (a form of operetta), guitar-accompanied harana courtship music, and rondalla music, played on an ensemble of plectrum instruments.
 +
 
 +
Traditional Filipino music typically employs a combination of musical instruments belonging to the percussion, wind, and string families, usually made of bronze, wood, or bamboo. A highly sophisticated musical repertoire called kulintang exists, on Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, in which the main instruments used are bossed gongs not dissimilar to gongs used in [[Indonesia]].
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Kulintang.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A Philippine [[kulintang]] of the Maguindanaon people with 8 gongs stacked horizontally by pitch atop a wooden antangan]]
 +
 
 +
[[Image: PCR-NJ Pic.jpeg|thumb|200px|As proof of the rondalla’s natural fit with Philippine music, it has been brought to other parts of the world wherever Filipinos can be found.  In the United States, the Philippine Chamber Rondalla of New Jersey, Inc. is a leading proponent of Philippine rondalla music in the North Eastern seaboard.]]
  
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The Hispanic influences in Filipino culture are largely derived from the [[culture of Spain]] as a result of over three centuries of [[Spain|Spanish]] colonial rule through Mexico City. These Hispanic influences are most evident in Roman Catholic Church religious festivals. [[Filipino people|Filipinos]] hold major festivities known as barrio [[Festival|fiesta]]s to commemorate their patron [[saint]]s. The most visible Hispanic legacy, is the prevalence of [[Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos|Spanish surnames among Filipinos]]. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the [[Iberian naming customs|Spanish naming system]] on the inhabitants of the Philippines. A Spanish surname in the Philippines does not necessarily denote Spanish ancestry. But there are many other traces of Spanish culture in the country, such as names of countless streets, towns and provinces, which are also named in Spanish. [[Cuisine of the Philippines|Filipino cuisine]] is also heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine.
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The [[United States]] introduced American blues, folk, R&B and rock and roll. This American influence taught the Filipinos how to create and market their own performers, and led to the emergence of superstars such as Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez, as well as the Pinay girl group phenomenon which brought Kikay, Sex bomb, Viva Hot Babes, Jaboom Twins and others.
  
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The [[China|Chinese]] influences in Filipino culture are most evident in Filipino cuisine. The prevalence of noodles, known locally as ''mami'', are a testament of the Chinese cuisine. Other Chinese influences include linguistic borrowings and the occasional Chinese derived surnames.
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The most notable achievement in Filipino rock of the 1960s was the hit song "Killer Joe," which propelled the group "Rocky Fellers" to #16 on the American radio charts.
  
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The use of English language in the Philippines is contemporaneous and is America's visible legacy. The most commonly played sport in the Philippines is [[basketball]]. There is also a wide "imitation" of American cultural trends, such as the love of [[fast-food]]; many street corners boast fast-food outlets. Aside from the American commercial giants such as [[McDonald's]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Burger King]], and [[KFC]], local fast-food chains have also sprung up, including [[Goldilocks Bakeshop|Goldilocks]], [[Jollibee]], [[Greenwich Pizza]], and [[Chowking]]. Modern day Filipinos also listen to contemporary American music and watch American movies.  
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In the early 1970s, Tagalog and English lyrics were both used, as in [[Sharon Cuneta]]'s first hit, "Mr DJ."
  
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In spite of this, native moral codes, respect of family, veneration of elders, and friendliness, all remain intact. Filipinos honor national heroes whose works and deeds contributed to the shaping of the Filipino nation. [[José Rizal]] is the most celebrated ''ilustrado'', a Spanish-speaking reformist visionary whose writings contributed greatly in nurturing a sense of national identity and awareness. His novels ''[[Noli Me Tangere (novel)|Noli Me Tangere]]'' and ''[[El Filibusterismo]]'' originally written in Spanish, are required readings for Filipino students, and provide vignettes of colonial life under the Spanish rule.
 
  
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As with many cultures, [[Music of the Philippines|music]] (which includes [[Traditional Filipino Music|traditional music]]) and leisure activities are an important aspect of the Filipino society. Various [[Sport in the Philippines|sports]] are also enjoyed, including [[boxing]], [[Basketball in the Philippines|basketball]], [[badminton]] and [[billiards]] being popular games in the country.
+
Basketball courts are found in every barangay and school. Filipinos enjoy watching American professional basketball and teams in Filipino professional leagues. Cockfights are popular. Cocks, with metal spurs attached to the leg, fight until one of the cocks is unable to continue fighting or runs away. Mah-jongg, a Chinese game played with tiles, is very popular, especially with women. [[Boxing]], [[badminton]] and [[billiards]] are popular.
  
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== See also ==
 
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*[[List of Philippine-related topics]]
 
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<!--Although this is a free informational encyclopedia, we do not condone spam. If you want your website to be included, suggest it at the discussion page. Failure to do so will have the links continually removed.—>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{reflist|2}}
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* Agoncillo, Teodoro C., History of the Filipino People, Garotech Publishing, Quezon City,1990. ISBN 971-8711-06-6
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*Mercado, Paul Sagmayao, and Tatad, Francisco S. ''People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986: An eyewitness history.'' The James B. Reuter, S.J., Foundation, Manila, Philippines, 1986.
 +
 
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*Baron, Cynthia S. and Suazo, Melba M. ''Nine Letters: The Story of the 1986 Filipino Revolution.'' Gerardo P. Baron Books, Quezon City, Philippines, 1986 
 +
 
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*Clewley, John. "Pinoy Rockers". 2000.  In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark  with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), ''World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific'', pp 213-217. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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<!--Do not add commercial links or your website. Suggest them via the discussion page. Failure to do so will mean the deletion of your websites as spam. —>
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{{sisterlinks|Philippines}}
 
 
'''Official'''
 
'''Official'''
 
* [http://www.gov.ph Official website of the Philippine Government] - Gateway to governmental sites
 
* [http://www.gov.ph Official website of the Philippine Government] - Gateway to governmental sites
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* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=12554564&x=122915039&z=6&l=0&m=a WikiSatellite view of Philippines at WikiMapia]
 
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=12554564&x=122915039&z=6&l=0&m=a WikiSatellite view of Philippines at WikiMapia]
  
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<!--Do not add commercial links or your website. Suggest them via the discussion page. Failure to do so will mean the deletion of your websites as spam. —>
 
 
'''Other'''
 
'''Other'''
 
* {{wikitravel}}
 
* {{wikitravel}}
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* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1262783.stm BBC Country Profile on the Philippines]
 
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1262783.stm BBC Country Profile on the Philippines]
 
* [https://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html CIA World Factbook: Philippines]
 
* [https://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html CIA World Factbook: Philippines]
 +
* [http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html The Philippines] Countries and Their Cultures, observed February 13, 2007.
 
* [http://countrystudies.us/philippines/ U.S. Country Studies: Philippines]
 
* [http://countrystudies.us/philippines/ U.S. Country Studies: Philippines]
 
* [http://web.kssp.upd.edu.ph/linguistics/plc2006/papers/FullPapers/I-2_Solheim.pdf Origins of the Filipinos and Their Languages by Wilhelm G. Solheim II] ([[Portable Document File|PDF]])
 
* [http://web.kssp.upd.edu.ph/linguistics/plc2006/papers/FullPapers/I-2_Solheim.pdf Origins of the Filipinos and Their Languages by Wilhelm G. Solheim II] ([[Portable Document File|PDF]])
 
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/b#a2296 History of the Philippine Islands] in many volumes, from [[Project Gutenberg]] (and indexed under Emma Helen Blair, the translator)
 
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/b#a2296 History of the Philippine Islands] in many volumes, from [[Project Gutenberg]] (and indexed under Emma Helen Blair, the translator)
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<!--Do not add commercial links or your website. Suggest them via the discussion page. Failure to do so will mean the deletion of your websites as spam. —>
 
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{{Philippines political divisions}}
 
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{{Southeast Asia}}
 
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{{Celebes Sea}}
 
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{{Philippine Sea}}
 
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{{South China Sea}}
 
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{{ASEAN}}
 
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Revision as of 20:24, 13 February 2007


Republika ng Pilipinas
Republic of the Philippines
Flag of the Philippines Coat of arms of the Philippines
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa
(English: "For God, People, Nature, and Country")
Anthem: Lupang Hinirang ("Chosen Land")
Location of the Philippines
Capital Manila
14°35′N 121°0′E
Largest city Quezon City
Official languages Filipino and English
Government Unitary presidential republic
 - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
 - Vice President Noli de Castro
Independence from Spain and the U.S. 
 - Declared June 12 1898 
 - Self-government March 24 1934 
 - Recognized July 4 1946 
 - Current constitution February 2 1987 
Area
 - Total 300,000 km² (72nd)
115,831 sq mi 
 - Water (%) 0.6
Population
 - 2005 estimate 90,420,000
 - 2000 census 76,504,077
 - Density 276/km²
715/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
 - Total $453 billion
 - Per capita $4,923
GDP (nominal) 2005 estimate
 - Total $98,731 billion
 - Per capita $1,168
HDI  (2006) 0.763 (medium)
Currency Philippine peso (piso) (PHP)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
Internet TLD .ph
Calling code +63
* Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Bikol, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, Tagalog, Tausug are the auxiliary official languages in their respective regions. Spanish and Arabic are promoted on an optional and voluntary basis.

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas; RP), is an island nation located in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia.

The country was named "Las Islas Filipinas" (The Philippine Islands) by Ruy López de Villalobos after King Philip II of Spain.

Philippine culture has many affinities with the West. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino and English are the official languages.

Geography

The Philippines constitutes an archipelago of 7107 islands with a total land area of approximately 116,000square miles (300,000 square kilometres), making it 72nd largest country by area, or slightly larger than the United States state of Arizona.

It borders the Philippine Sea on the east, on the South China Sea the west, and the Celebes Sea on the south. The island of Borneo lies a few hundred miles southwest and Taiwan directly north. The Moluccas and Sulawesi are to the south, and Palau is to the east beyond the Philippine Sea.

The local climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 79.7°F (26.5°C). There are three recognized seasons: The hot season or summer from March to May, the rainy season from June to November, and the cold season from December to February. The southwest monsoon (May-October) is known as the "habagat" and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (November-April) as the "amihan". The country itself is undergoing desertification in places like Sorsogon, Baguio, Davao and the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Geography of the Philippines

Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in tropical rainforest and are volcanic in origin. The highest point is Mount Apo on Mindanao at 9692 feet (2954 metres). There are many active volcanos such as Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The country also lies within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific and about 19 typhoons strike per year.

Lying on the north-western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines sustains frequent seismic and volcanic activities. Some 20 earthquakes are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt. The last great earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Environmental issues include uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

The longest river is the Cagayan River of northern Luzon. The nearly circular Manila Bay, is connected to the Laguna de Bay by means of the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf and the Moro Gulf are some of the important bays. Transversing the San Juanico Strait is the San Juanico Bridge, that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.

The busy port of Manila, on the country’s largest island of Luzon, is the capital. With 1.5-million inhabitants, it is the second largest city after nearby Quezon City. Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area that is home to over 10 million people.

History

A Tagalog couple of the maharlika nobility caste
Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991.

Archeological and paleontological evidence suggests that Homo sapiens existed in the large island province of Palawan about 50,000 B.C.E. The indigenous Aeta people, who live in scattered, isolated mountainous areas, are thought to have arrived more than 30,000 B.C.E., across land bridges, possibly from China or the Andaman Islands.

The oldest human fossil found in the Philippines thus far is the 22,000-year-old skull cap of a "Stone-Age Filipino" discovered inside Tabon Cave, Palawan, on May 28, 1962, and dubbed the "Tabon Man".

The ancestors of the vast majority of the Filipino people, the Austronesians from Taiwan, settled in northern Luzon around 2500 B.C.E. They spread to the rest of the Philippines and later colonized most of maritime Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Islands.

The basic unit of settlement was the barangay, headed by a datu (chief). Within the barangay, there were maharlika (nobles), including the datu; timawa (freemen); and dependents, which included landless agricultural workers; and alipin (slaves), who were mostly war captives.

Muslim, Chinese and Indian traders made contact with the Philippines during the course of the next thousand years.

Traders and proselytizers from the Indonesian islands brought Islam, which by the sixteenth century, was established in the Sulu Archipelago and spread from there to Mindanao, and reached the Manila area by 1565. Animism remained the religion of the majority of the Philippine islands.

Muslim immigrants introduced a political concept of territorial states ruled by rajas or sultans who exercised suzerainty over the datu. Neither the political state concept of the Muslim rulers nor the limited territorial concept of the sedentary rice farmers of Luzon, however, spread beyond the areas where they originated.

Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521.

Sailing for the Spanish, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the archipelago in 1521. Magellan was killed by indigenous warriors in Mactan Island while being involved with political conflicts with Lapu-Lapu. Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in 1565 and formed the first Spanish settlements, and paved the way for colonization. Roman Catholic missionaries converted most of the inhabitants.

In the next 333 years, the Spanish military fought off various local indigenous revolts and various external colonial challenges. Such challenges came from the British, Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Portuguese. The most significant loss for Spain was the temporary occupation of the capital, Manila, by the British during the Seven Years' War. The Philippines was ruled as a territory of New Spain from 1565 to 1821, before it was administered directly from Spain. The Manila Galleon, that linked Manila to Acapulco, Mexico, travelled once or twice a year, beginning in the late sixteenth century. The Philippines opened itself to world trade on September 6, 1834.

In the 1880s and the 1890s, the propagandists clamored for political and social reforms, which included demands for greater representation in Spain. Unable to gain the reforms, José Rizal returned to the country, and pushed for the reforms locally. Rizal was subsequently arrested, tried, and executed for treason on December 30, 1896. Earlier that year, the Katipunan, led by Andrés Bonifacio, started a revolution, which was eventually continued by Emilio Aguinaldo, who established a revolutionary government, although the Spanish governor general Fernando Primo de Rivera proclaimed the revolution over in May 17, 1897.

The Spanish-American War, which began in Cuba in 1898, soon reached the Philippines when Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at Manila Bay. Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines on June 12, 1898, and was proclaimed head of state. As a result of its defeat, Spain ceded the Philippines, together with Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States.

By 1899, the United States was at war with Philippine revolutionaries. The US proclaimed the war over when Aguinaldo was captured by American troops on March 23, 1901, but the struggle continued until 1913.

The country's status as a colony changed when it became the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935, which provided for more self-governance.

As many as 10,000 people died in the Bataan Death March.

Japan launched a surprise attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941, just 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Philippine defense continued until the final surrender of United States-Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942 and on Corregidor in May. Most of the 80,000 prisoners of war captured by the Japanese at Bataan were forced to undertake the infamous Bataan Death March to a prison camp 65 miles (105 kilometers) to the north. It is estimated that about 10,000 Filipinos and 1,200 Americans died before reaching their destination. Japanese occupation of the Philippines was opposed by large-scale underground and guerrilla activity.

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's Allied forces landed on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Landings in other parts of the country followed, and the Allies pushed toward Manila. Fighting continued until Japan's formal surrender on September 2, 1945. An estimated 1 million Filipinos had been killed, and Manila was extensively damaged.

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Ferdinand Marcos, president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986

Elections were held in April 1946, with Manuel Roxas becoming the first president. The Philippines achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. World War II had left the Philippines demoralized and severely damaged. The task of reconstruction was complicated by the activities of the Communist-supported Hukbalahap guerrillas (known as "Huks"), who had evolved into a violent resistance force against the new Philippine government. Roxas suddenly died in office in 1948. The Huk movement had waned in the early 1950s, finally ending with the unconditional surrender of Huk leader Luis Taruc in May 1954.

After a series of presidents, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965. He initiated ambitious public works projects and intensified tax collection, which brought the country economic prosperity throughout the 1970s. Also due to massive loans and economic aid from the United States, his administration built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous administration. Barred from seeking a third term, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972, and ruled the country by decree. Marcos extended both his power and tenure by force. His authoritarian rule became marred with pervasive corruption, and cronyism.

Opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was assassinated on August 21, 1983, upon returning from exile. Under pressure from the United States, and after large protests, Marcos allowed for a presidential election. The election, held on February 7, 1986, was believed to be fraudulent, and resulted in a heavily disputed outcome and a stand-off between military mutineers and the military loyalists. Protesters supported the mutineers. Prominent cabinet officials resigned.

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The Inquirer's headline on 26 Feb 1986

A radio call for mass protest on February 22, 1986, sparked the EDSA Revolution, also known as the People Power Revolution of 1986. Four days of peaceful action by millions of Filipinos in Manila led to the downfall of the authoritarian regime of Marcos and the installation of Corazon Aquino as president. EDSA stands for Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a main highway in Manila and the main site of the demonstrations.

Massive national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Muslim separatist movement has hampered the return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986. The economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected in 1992. However, the economic improvements were negated at the onset of the East Asian financial crisis in 1997.

A 2001 EDSA Revolution led to the downfall of president Joseph Estrada. Thousands of citizens converged at the EDSA Shrine to protest against President Joseph Estrada, following his aborted impeachment trial at the Senate of the Philippines. Estrada was a former movie actor who was popular with the masses, but was reviled by the upper and elite classes for his alleged corruption.

The administration of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, since 2001, has been hounded by allegations of corruption and election rigging.

Politics and government

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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sworn in as president at the 2001 EDSA Revolution.

The government of the Philippines is organized as a presidential unitary republic, where the president functions as head of state, the head of government, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the cabinet of secretaries.

The bicameral Congress comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the Senate are elected at large, and those of the House of Representatives by geographical district. The 24 senators serve six-year terms, with half retiring every three years, while the House of Representatives comprises 250 members serving three-year terms.

The Supreme Court heads the judicial branch of government, with a chief justice as its head and 14 associate justices, all appointed by the president from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. Other courts include the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts, and the Metropolitan Trial Courts.

The political parties in the Philippines are of diverse ideologies and are plentiful in number. The Philippines has a multi-party system with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

Philippine political parties are unique. Normally, political parties are created to represent various interest groups. Philippine political parties were created by American tutelage, comprising proteges of elite families educated at American Universities. Academic degrees masked the incompetence of this educated elite who had become alienated from Philippines society, and who tended to represent their clans' interest. The result was a legislature that is an arena not for public dialogue but as an elite clique engaged in profiteering and political showmanship.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sought to amend the constitution to a unicameral parliament under a federal setting similar to what they believe to be the German constitution. The country would be split into "states" with each one having a local legislature responsible for certain functions. Included in the amendments are plans to ease a ban on foreign ownership of property, land, and commercial organizations.

The Philippines is a founding and active member of the United Nations and is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines is also a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS), an active player in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Latin Union, and a member of the Group of 24. The country is a major non-NATO ally of the U.S. but also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Philippines, along with the nation of Malta, is one of only two nations in the world where all civil marriages are for life, because civil divorce (for violations coming after the marriage) is banned, although annulment (for violations before the marriage, although it may manifest itself after the solemnization) is permitted.

The Philippines was in a dispute (in 2007) with Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia over the oil and natural gas-rich Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, and with Malaysia over Sabah. The Sultan of Sulu, who received Sabah as a gift in 1703 having helped the Sultan of Brunei defeat a rebellion, has given the Philippine government power to reclaim its lost territory. The Sultan of Sulu's family continues to receive "rental" payments for Sabah from the Malaysian government.

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Provinces and regions of the Philippines

The Philippines is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It has 17 regions, 81 provinces, 117 cities, 1501 municipalities, and 41,982 barangays. Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.

In 2006, Arroyo announced a proposal to create five economic super regions to concentrate on the economic strengths in a specific area.

The United States is one of the Philippines’ closest economic and political allies. The two countries are partners in counter-terrorism, as they both share intelligence. The two countries conduct military exercises in Mindanao, and are both heavily involved in trade and commerce.

Organized under the supervision of General Douglas MacArthur, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are loosely based on the structure of the military of the United States. While modest in its material and technological capability, the Philippines soldiers are considered one of the most battle-hardened armies in the world due to their long exposure to counter-insurgency and anti-secessionist campaigns. Consisting of army, navy and air force, due to its close relationship with the United States military, the armed forces was considered the strongest national defense program in Asia — especially in the 1950s and 1960s.

Economy

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San Miguel Avenue in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong - Pasig City Boundary
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Cebu City Business Park
File:Boracay palm trees1.jpg
Palm trees in tourist spot Boracay

The Philippines is a developing country with an agricultural base, light industry, and service-sector economy. The Philippines has one of the busiest call-center industries in Asia, generating thousands of jobs. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the occupations of 40 percent of the 30 million people who are employed. People work seven days a week and take additional jobs to maintain or improve their lifestyle or pay for a child's education.

The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by its high level of annual remittances from overseas workers, and no sustained run-up in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. From a 0.6 percent decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4 percent in 1999, and 4.4 percent in 2000, but slowed to 3.2 percent in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. GDP growth accelerated to about 5 percent between 2002 and 2006 reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, and improved exports and agricultural output.

A higher, sustained growth path is required to make progress in the alleviation of poverty given the Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also faces higher oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings, and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance infrastructure and social spending.

The Philippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a high debt level, and this situation has forced Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on debt service. Large unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the energy sector, contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress on privatization. Credit rating agencies have at times expressed concern about the Philippines' ability to service the debt, though central bank reserves appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable. The implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2005 boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the peso, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06.


The Philippines is a member of the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other international economic associations, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Colombo Plan, and the G-77.

The Philippines is a significant source of migrant workers; as of 2004, the Philippine government has estimated that there are over eight million overseas Filipinos, who sent home a record $10.7-billion in 2005.

Exports totalled $38.728-billion in 2004. Export commodities included electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut products, and chemicals. Export partners were the United States, 20.1 percent, Japan 15.9 percent, Hong Kong 8.5 percent, Netherlands 8.1 percent, Taiwan 6.9 percent, Malaysia 6.8 percent, Singapore 6.7 percent, and China 5.9 percent.

Import totalled $45.109-billion in 2004. Import commodities included raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, and fuels. Import partner were Japan 20.4 percent, the United States 19.8 percent, Singapore 6.8 percent, South Korea 6.4 percent, Taiwan 5 percent, China 4.8 percent, and Hong Kong 4.3 percent.

Per capita GDP was $4923 in 2005, with a rank of 102 on a list of 181 countries.

Income inequality remains persistent; about 30 million people lived on less than $2 per day in 2005. China and India have emerged as economic competitors, siphoning away investors who would otherwise have invested in the Philippines, particularly telecom companies. Regional development is also somewhat uneven, with the main island Luzon and Metro Manila gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of the other regions.

Demographics

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Filipinos are a diverse people. They identify themselves based on one or several factors such as ancestry, language, religion or a shared history, apart from region.


The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2005. Roughly two-thirds reside on the island of Luzon. Manila, the capital, is the eleventh most populous metropolitan area in the world.

Life expectancy is 69.91 years. Population growth per year is about 1.92 percent, with 26.3 births per 1000 people. In the 100 years since the 1903 Census, the population has grown by a factor of eleven. This represents a much faster rate of growth than other countries in the region (Indonesia has grown fivefold over the same period).

The people of the Philippines are called Filipinos. Most Filipinos are descended from the various Austronesian-speaking migrants who arrived in successive waves over a thousand years ago from Taiwan, genetically most closely related to the Ami tribe. These ethnic Filipinos are divided into various ethnolinguistic groups, the three most numerous being the Bisaya, the Tagalogs, and the Ilocanos. The Negritos or Aetas, who are considered as the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines, currently number fewer than 30,000 people (0.03 percent).

Filipinos of Chinese descent, who had been settling in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic times, currently forms the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, claiming about two percent of the population. Other significant minorities, ranked according to population, include Americans, Japanese, British, Australians, Europeans (particularly Spanish and Basques), Koreans, and South Asians. There are also numerous Arabs and Indonesians in the country, especially in Mindanao. The Philippines has Asia's largest American population.

Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as the migrants and colonizers have intermarried, producing Filipino Mestizos. According to genetic studies, about 3.65 percent of the Filipino population are partly of Caucasian ancestry (mostly of Spanish, English-American and other European people descent), and about 10 percent have some Chinese ancestry.

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Population growth of the Philippines.

More than 170 languages are spoken in the country, almost all of them belonging to the Western Malayo-Polynesian language group of the Austronesian language family. According to the 1987 Constitution, Filipino, heavily based on Tagalog, and English are both the official languages. The 12 major regional languages are the auxiliary official languages of their respective regions, each with over one million speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Bikol, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao and Tausug. English is used by some Filipinos as their first language, particularly those belonging to the upper echelons of society.

The Lan-nang-oe variant of Min Nan is widely spoken by the country's Chinese minority

Spanish was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries, but was used mainly by the educated illustrados (including José Rizal) or self-taught natives and the Spanish authorities. Spanish was the language of Philippine Revolution, and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. Following the American occupation of the Philippines, its use declined, especially after 1940. Currently, only a few Spanish Mestizo families speak it as their first language, though many others use it together with Tagalog and English.

The use of Arabic is prevalent among the Filipino Muslims, and is taught in madrasah (Muslim) schools.

The Philippines is one of only two Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. About 90 percent of Filipinos are Christian, where 81 percent belong to the Roman Catholic Church, and the nine percent composed of Protestant denominations, the Philippine Independent Church, and Iglesia ni Cristo. While Christianity is a force in the culture, indigenous traditions and rituals still influence religious practice.

The term “animism” can be used to describe the indigenous spiritual traditions practiced during pre-colonial times. A handful of the indigenous tribes continue to practice it. It is a collection of beliefs and practices anchored in the idea that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad, and that respect be accorded to them through nature worship.

Approximately five percent of Filipinos are Sunni Muslim. They primarily settle in parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. Most lowland Muslim Filipinos practice normative Islam, although the practices of some Mindanao's hill tribe Muslims reflect a fusion with animism.

There are also small populations of Buddhists, Jews and animists, which, along with other non-Christians and non-Muslims, collectively comprise five percent of the population.

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Philippine women of different ethnic background wearing the Philippine national costume

Nineteen percent of the land is arable and 46 percent consists of forests and woodlands. Large amounts of arable land remain in the hand of absentee landowners given land grants during the Spanish colonial period. Peasant groups such as the HUKs (People's Liberation Army in the 1950s, and the NPA (New People's Army) in 2007 have resorted to guerrilla tactics to obtain land for the poor.

Marriage includes a civil ceremony conducted in city offices, and a religious ceremony. A feature is the presence of sponsors, friends and relatives who attest to the popularity and potential success of a couple, and contribute towards wedding costs. There are no arranged marriages. Men are expected to marry. Young professionals wait until their late 20s to marry, and engagements of five to seven years, during which time the couple becomes established financially, are not uncommon. Divorce is illegal, but annulment is available. Interfaith marriages are rare.

The extended family is the basic unit of Philippines society. A woman's closest friends come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family members. One child is expected to remain at home to care for the parents and grandparents. The home may include children from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the home are the primary care givers since both parents work. Needy relatives live in and provide household and childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging work for room and board. Nieces and nephews are referred to as one's own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may legally adopt a sibling's child.

Inheritance laws provide that all children acknowledged by a father, whether born in or out of wedlock, share equally in the estate. Females share equally with males. Anyone remotely related is known as a cousin. Indigenous tribes live in clan groups. People have a strong sense of belonging to a place. New Year's Day, Easter, and All Saint's Day are the most important family holidays.

Filipinos value social acceptance and see education as a way to provide upward mobility. Color of skin, beauty, and money help determine a person's social position — a light-skinned attractive person will advance before his or her colleagues. Family position and patron-client relationships are part of achieving success. Government officials, wealthy friends, and community leaders sponsor hundreds of weddings and baptisms each year. About two percent of the population is wealthy. The masses live in poverty, while the middle class feels too obligated to those in power to push for any change.

Money to buy consumer goods indicates power. Wealthy people lead western lifestyles. Owning a vehicle is a statement of a high social level, as do the style of houses and furnishings. Women above the poverty line have extensive wardrobes. Sending children to the best schools indicates social position.

Culture

An Ifugao scuplture.
Jollibee restaurant in Dumaguete City.
A Philippine Jeepney

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines, governed from Mexico, lasted for more than 350 years, thus there is a significant presence of Spanish and Mexican influence in many facets of the Filipino culture. The Filipino language, more commonly known as Tagalog, contains many borrowed Spanish words. Large Spanish brick churches built during the colonial era dominate the towns. Countless streets, towns and provinces have Spanish names. Spanish surnames prevail. This came as a result of a colonial decree for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system. A Spanish surname therefore does not necessarily denote Spanish ancestry.

The use of English language in the Philippines is America's visible legacy. The most commonly played sport in the Philippines is basketball. There is also a wide "imitation" of American cultural trends, such as the love of fast-food. Aside from the American commercial giants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC, local fast-food chains have also sprung up, including Goldilocks Bakeshop, Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza, and Chowking. Modern day Filipinos also listen to contemporary American music and watch American movies.

Most of the present celebrated religious traditions are a mix of Christian, pagan and other local religious rites. Each year, towns from around the country hold festivities known as Fiesta which commemorate the patron saints of each town, villages or regional districts. The festival season is celebrated with church ceremonies, street parades in honor of the patron saints, fireworks, beauty and dance contests for generations of old and new, and in some areas there are cockfighting tournaments. These Fiestas are observed in countries that had a Spanish occupational past. The Islamic southern island celebrates Muslim customs and traditions.

Native moral codes, respect of family, veneration of elders, and friendliness, all remain intact. Filipinos honor national heroes whose works and deeds contributed to the shaping of the Filipino nation. José Riza] is the most celebrated ilustrado, a Spanish-speaking reformist visionary whose writings contributed greatly in nurturing a sense of national identity and awareness. His novels |Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo originally written in Spanish, are required readings for Filipino students, and provide vignettes of colonial life under the Spanish rule.

Plain steamed rice is the basis of the diet. Salt water and freshwater of fish and shellfish are eaten daily, served either fresh or salted. Fish, chicken and pork are usually fried. Garlic is added to food because it is considered healthy. Filipino food is not spicy, and is cooked on gas burners or over wood or charcoal fires and is allowed to get cold before it is eaten — from a spoon. It is also common to use the traditional method of placing food on a banana leaf and eating with one's hands. Breakfast, served at 6am, consists of food left over from the night before, and is not reheated. The widespread use of noodles, known locally as mami, are a testament of the Chinese cuisine.

Filipinos are fond of sweet foods. Coca-Cola is popular. Fatty pork is a favorite. Portions of small cubes of browned pork fat are considered a special dish. Fruits are abundant all year. Red and green bananas are eaten. Mangoes, the national fruit, are sweet and juicy. Fast food has become part of the culture, with national and international chains in many towns. Léchon, a suckling pig that has been roasted until the skin forms a hard brown crust, is served at important occasions. Gin and beer are available for men and are accompanied by balut, a duck egg with an embryo. Dog meat is a delicacy, although it is now illegal to sell it because cases of rabies have occurred. The education system is similar to that in the United States Filipino children enter public school at about age four, starting from nursery up to kindergarten. At about seven years of age, children enter a primary school (six plus one years) where the core subjects include mathematics, English, and Makabayan (a mixture of social studies and Filipino). This is followed by secondary school (four years). Students then sit for the College Entrance Examinations (CEE), after which they enter collegiate school (three plus two). The teaching medium in most local schools is English. All primary-level students graduate with a knowledge of two or three languages. Other types of schools do exist, such as private schools, preparatory schools, international schools, and science high school]]s. The Chinese, British, Americans, and the Japanese have their own schools, while there are Islamic schools in the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. The literacy rate was 92.5 percent in 2003 and about equal for males and females.

Filipino music is a mixture of European, American and indigenous sounds. Much of the music of the Philippines has been influenced by the 377-year-long colonial legacies of Spain. Spanish and Mexican colonizers introduced the guitar and other instruments, as well as zarzuela (a form of operetta), guitar-accompanied harana courtship music, and rondalla music, played on an ensemble of plectrum instruments.

Traditional Filipino music typically employs a combination of musical instruments belonging to the percussion, wind, and string families, usually made of bronze, wood, or bamboo. A highly sophisticated musical repertoire called kulintang exists, on Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, in which the main instruments used are bossed gongs not dissimilar to gongs used in Indonesia.

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A Philippine kulintang of the Maguindanaon people with 8 gongs stacked horizontally by pitch atop a wooden antangan
As proof of the rondalla’s natural fit with Philippine music, it has been brought to other parts of the world wherever Filipinos can be found. In the United States, the Philippine Chamber Rondalla of New Jersey, Inc. is a leading proponent of Philippine rondalla music in the North Eastern seaboard.

The United States introduced American blues, folk, R&B and rock and roll. This American influence taught the Filipinos how to create and market their own performers, and led to the emergence of superstars such as Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez, as well as the Pinay girl group phenomenon which brought Kikay, Sex bomb, Viva Hot Babes, Jaboom Twins and others.

The most notable achievement in Filipino rock of the 1960s was the hit song "Killer Joe," which propelled the group "Rocky Fellers" to #16 on the American radio charts.

In the early 1970s, Tagalog and English lyrics were both used, as in Sharon Cuneta's first hit, "Mr DJ."


Basketball courts are found in every barangay and school. Filipinos enjoy watching American professional basketball and teams in Filipino professional leagues. Cockfights are popular. Cocks, with metal spurs attached to the leg, fight until one of the cocks is unable to continue fighting or runs away. Mah-jongg, a Chinese game played with tiles, is very popular, especially with women. Boxing, badminton and billiards are popular.


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Agoncillo, Teodoro C., History of the Filipino People, Garotech Publishing, Quezon City,1990. ISBN 971-8711-06-6
  • Mercado, Paul Sagmayao, and Tatad, Francisco S. People Power: The Philippine Revolution of 1986: An eyewitness history. The James B. Reuter, S.J., Foundation, Manila, Philippines, 1986.
  • Baron, Cynthia S. and Suazo, Melba M. Nine Letters: The Story of the 1986 Filipino Revolution. Gerardo P. Baron Books, Quezon City, Philippines, 1986
  • Clewley, John. "Pinoy Rockers". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 213-217. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

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