GENERAL INFORMATION

Basic Facts
Geography and location
The Philippines' 7,107 islands stretch 1,839 kilometers from the northernmost tip of Batanes to the
southernmost island of Tawi-Tawi. Bordered by the South China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to
the east. the archipelago has its biggest island, Luzon, followed by Mindanao in the south. The Visayas
islands in between are largely interspersed by small bodies of water. An irregular coastline of 334,539
kms. is dotted with many fine beaches, coves, and natural harbors.
Located off the southeast coast of Asia, the Philippines' capital, Manila, is a
mere hour-and-a-half away by plane from Hong Kong and about 14 hours from
the United States and Canada.

People
The warmth and natural hospitality of the nations' 78 million Filipinos is known
throughout the world. The 111 cultural, linguistic and racial groups endow the
Filipino people with varying customs and traditions, marked by Chinese,
American, and Spanish overtones. In spite of their diversity, Filipinos have
basically two dominant traits: a love of family and a strong religious faith.

Type of Government
A Republic form of government with three equal branches -- the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary

Head of State
President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III (term: 2010- 2016)

Land area
About 7,107 islands and islets account for 299,764 square kilometers

Capital
Manila - Population ~ 1.6 Million

Geographic divisions
It has three major island groups: Luzon, the largest island where the capital is located; Visayas, known for
its fine beaches and idyllic coves; Mindanao, where exotic forest make it an irresistible haven for nature
lovers.

Population
89,468,677 (July '06 est.)

Climate

The dry, hot season runs from March to May and the wet, typhoon season from June to October.
November to February is generally cool with fair weather. Average daytime temperature, aside from
mountain areas, is 22.2 C to 3l.6 C with humidity at 77 percent. Click here for today's weather in the
Philippines, as reported by Sky Cable News.

National languages
The national language is Pilipino although there are at least 87 regional dialects. English, widely spoken
and understood, is the language used for most business and legal transactions. Hokkien, Cantonese, and
Mandarin are spoken by older members of the Filipino-Chinese community. Click here for links to sites
about learning Pilipino.

Literacy rate
93.9%

Religion
At least 80 percent of Filipinos belong to the Roman Catholic faith, where many practices and beliefs are
rooted. About 15 percent is Moslem, and these people can be found basically in Mindanao. The rest of
the population is made up mostly of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhists.

PHILIPPINES TRIVIA
Cebu is the first Philippine City.
Maria Teresa Calderon - World champion speed reader as listed in the Guiness Book of World Records
In the Philippines, Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans.
Philippines is the world's 3rd largest English-speaking nation, next to the USA and the UK.
Coconuts - the Philippines is considered to be the largest producer of coconuts
Gemma Cruz was the first Filipina to win an international beauty title - Miss International 1964.
Dan Inosanto - from Mike Robandido - Pinoy who taught Bruce Lee how to use arnis de mano.
The second oldest philippine printing press next to Manila can be found in Pila Laguna. The first book printed was
namedVocabulario Delengua Tagala - the philippines first filipino - spanish dictionary which was printed in 1613, 25
years older than the first book printed in the United States.
The Philippine Basketball Association is Asia's premier and the world's second oldest professional league.
After Happy Birthday, the song most sung in the Philippines is Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem.
Philippine Airlines took to the skies on March 15, 1941, using a Beech Model 18 aircraft amid the specter of a global
war. It became Asia's first airline.
The world's largest pearl was discovered by a Filipino diver in a giant Tridacna (mollusk) under the Palawan Sea in
1934. Known as the "Pearl of Lao-Tzu", the gem weighs 14 pounds and measures 9 1/2 inches long and 5 1/2 inches
in diameter. As of May 1984, it was valued at US$42 million. It is believed to be 600 years old.

Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) Channel 3, the first television station in the country, went on the air in 1953.
Fernando Amorsolo, a painter, was the first national artist declared by the Philippine government. The award was
conferred on Amorsolo in April 1972, several days after his death.
The world's second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines. This spot, about 34,440 feet (10,497 meters) below
the sea level, is known as the Philippine Deep or the Mindanao Trench. The Philippine Deep is in the floor of the
Philippine Sea. The German ship Emden first plumbed the trench in 1927. The world's deepest part of the ocean is
the Marianas Trench, which is over 11,000 meters below the seal level.
The symbolic name for the Philippines, Juan dela Cruz, is not a Filipino invention? It was coined by R. McCullochDick, a Scottish-born journalist working for the Manila Times in the early 1900s, after discovering it was the most
common name in blotters
Mayon is the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen, the world-renowned Fujiyama (Mt. Fuji) of Japan sinking into
perfect insignificance by comparison. British traveler-writer A. Henry Savage Landor
Ilo-Ilo golf and country club is the oldest golf club in the Philippines. It was built at 1908 by Irish Engineers.
Emilio Aguinaldo lost to Manuel L. Quezon in the country's first presidential elections in 1935.
Bagumbayan was the original name of Luneta Park.
Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.
The Philippines is home to some of the world's most exotic birds. One of the most endangered species is the exotic
Kalangay or the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), which belongs to Psittacidae or the family of parrots.
Some cockatoos can live up to 50 years. They are known for mimicking human voices. Most of them measure 33
centimeters in length and weigh 0.29 kilogram.