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Philippines
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This article is about the country in Southeast Asia. For the town in the Netherlands, see Philippine
(Netherlands).

Republic of the Philippines

Republika ng Pilipinas

Flag Coat of arms

Motto: "Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan, at

Makabansa"
English: "For God, People, Nature, and Country" [1]

Anthem: "Lupang Hinirang"

(English: "Chosen Land")
 Manila
Capital
14°35′N 121°0′E

Largest city Quezon City

Official languages Tagalog, and English

Bikol, Cebuano, Ilocano,

Recognised
Hiligaynon, Kapampangan,
regional languages
Pangasinan, and Waray-Waray [2]

National language Filipino

Aeta · Ati · Bajau · Bicolano ·

Ibanag · Igorot · Ilocano · Ivatan ·
Kapampangan · Lumad · Mangyan ·
Moro · Palawan tribes · Pangasinan·
Ethnic groups
Sambal · Tagalog · Visayans ·
Chinese · European · Spanish ·
American · Mestizo · Chabacano ·
Zamboangueño

Demonym Filipino, Pinoy

Unitary presidential constitutional

Government
republic

- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

- Vice President Noli de Castro

from Spain
Independence
from United States

- Established 1565

- Declared June 12, 1898

- Self-government March 24, 1934

Independence
- July 4, 1946
recognized

Current
- February 2, 1987
constitution

Area

300,000 km2 [3](72nd)

- Total
115,831 sq mi

- Water (%) 0.61%[3]

Population
 - 2008 estimate 90.5 million[4] (12th)

- 2007 census 88,574,614 [5]

295/km2 (32nd)
- Density
765/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate

- Total $319.773 billion[6] (37th)

- Per capita $3,539.448[6] (122nd)

GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate

- Total $172.348 billion[6] (46th)

- Per capita $1,907.659[6] (119th)

Gini (2015) 45.8[3] (medium)

HDI (2007/2008) ▲ 0.771[7] (medium) (90th)

Currency Peso (Filipino: piso ) (PHP)

Time zone PHT (UTC+8)

Drives on the right

Internet TLD .ph

Calling code 63
1 Spanish, and Arabic are recognized as auxiliary languages in the
Philippine Constitution.

Rankings above were taken from associated Wikipedia pages as of

2
December, 2007, and may be based on data or data sources other
than those appearing here.

The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, Filipino:
Republika ng Pilipinas), is an island country located in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital
city. The Philippines comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, sharing maritime
borders with Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, the Republic of China, the People's Republic of China, and
Vietnam. The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country with a population of 90 million
people.[4][6] Its national economy is the 46th largest in the world with an estimated 2008 gross
domestic product (GDP) of over US$154.073 billion.[6] There are more than 11 million overseas
Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. It is a multi-ethnic
country. Ecologically, The Philippines is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse
countries in the world.[8]

Before the arrival of Europeans in 1521,[9] the Philippines was settled by Austronesian (Malayo
Polynesian) peoples. The Philippines became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, as an extension
of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. In 1896, rebellion led to the Philippine Revolution that won
independence from Spain during the Spanish-American War of 1898. American occupation led to
the Philippine-American War which ended in 1902. The Philippines became a territory of the
United States in the 20th century. A Commonwealth government was established in 1935, which
allowed self-governance. The country gained its independence from the United States on July 4,
1946 after World War II. Martial law were declared in 1972, which led to the insurgencies of the
New People's Army, and the Moro National Liberation Front. Liberal parties led the People Power
Revolution of 1986, which would bring the Philippines back to democracy.[3]

The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia-Pacific, the other
being East Timor. Pre-Hispanic indigenous rituals still exist; and there are also followers of
Islam.[10] Spanish was an official language of the Philippines until 1987. Since then, the two official
languages are Filipino, and English.[3]

The name Philippines was derived from King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. Spanish
explorer Ruy López de Villalobos used the name "Las Islas Felipinas" (The Philippine Islands) in
honour of the Prince of Spain during his expedition to the Philippines, originally referring to the
islands of Leyte, and Samar.[11] Despite the presence of other names, the name Filipinas
(Philippines) was eventually adopted as the name of the entire archipelago.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 History
• 2 Tourism
• 3 Economy
• 4 Politics and government
• 5 Administrative divisions
• 6 Demographics
o 6.1 Ethnic groups
o 6.2 Languages
o 6.3 Religion
• 7 Education
o 7.1 Elementary school
o 7.2 Secondary school
o 7.3 Reputable colleges and universities
• 8 Culture
• 9 Transportation and Communications
• 10 See also
• 11 References

• 12 External links

[edit] History
Main article: History of the Philippines

Archeological and paleontological discoveries show that Humans existed in Palawan around 30,000
to 50,000 BC. The aboriginal people of the Philippine Islands, the Negritos, are an Australo-
Melanesian people who arrived in the Philippines at least 30,000 years ago. The Austronesian
(Malayo Polynesian) people, originated from populations of Taiwanese aborigines that migrated
from mainland Asia approximately 6000 years ago, who settled in the islands, and eventually
migrated to Indonesia, Malaysia, and soon after, to the Polynesian islands, and Madagascar.[12]

The Islands were known as Lusung Dao to the Chinese, Suvarnadvipa to the Hindus, Zabag to the
Arabs, and Persians,[13] and Chryse to the Greeks which means island of gold, as described by the
geographer Ptolemy.[14] The Philippine Islands had cultural ties with Malaysia, Indonesia, and India
during ancient times, as proven by the extent of Tantric, and Hindu-Buddhist influence in the
area,[15] and trade relations with southern China, and other neighboring countries as early as the 5th
century.[16]

The Islamic religion was brought to the Philippines by traders, and proselytizers from Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Arabia.[17] By the 13th century, Islam was established in the Sulu Archipelago, and
spread from there to Mindanao; it had reached parts of the Visayas, and Luzon region by 1565.
Muslim converts established Islamic communities, and states ruled by Datus, Rajahs, or Sultans.
When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, the majority of the estimated 500,000 people in the
islands lived in independent settlements.

The Banaue Rice Terraces, they are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient
sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old, which are a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.

In the service of Spain, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and his crew started their voyage
on September 20, 1519. Magellan sighted Samar on March 17, 1521, on the next day, they reached
Homonhon. They reached the island of Mazaua on March 28, 1521 where the first mass in the
Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521.[18] Magellan arrived at Cebu on April 7, 1521,
befriending Rajah Humabon, and converting his family, and other nearby islanders to
Christianity.[18] However, Magellan would later be killed in the Battle of Mactan by native warriors
led by Rajah Lapu-Lapu, a rival of Rajah Humabon.

The beginnings of colonization started to take form when Philip II of Spain ordered successive
expeditions. Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565, and formed the first Spanish
settlements in Cebu. In 1571 he established Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies. [19]

Spanish rule brought political unification to an archipelago of previously independent islands, and
communities which later became the Philippines, and introduced elements of western civilization
such as the code of law, printing and the Gregorian calendar.[20] The Philippines was ruled as a
territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1565 to 1821, and administered as a province of
Spain from 1821 to 1898. During that time numerous towns were founded, infrastructures built,
new crops and livestock introduced, and trade flourished. The Manila Galleon which linked Manila
to Acapulco carried silk, spices, ivory and porcelain to the Americas, and silver from Mexico on the
return voyage to the Philippines. The Spanish military fought off various indigenous revolts, and
several external threats, especially from the British, Chinese pirates, Dutch, and Portuguese. Roman
Catholic missionaries converted most of the inhabitants to Christianity, and founded numerous
schools, universities and hospitals. In 1863 a Spanish decree introduced public education, creating
free public schooling in Spanish.[21]

The Propaganda Movement, which included Philippine nationalist José Rizal, then a student
studying in Spain, soon developed on the Spanish mainland. 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 Philippines, and pushed for the reforms. Rizal was arrested,
tried, and executed for treason on December 30, 1896. Earlier that year, the Katipunan, led by
Andrés Bonifacio, had 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.[22]

The Spanish-American War began in Cuba in 1898, and soon reached the Philippines when
Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at the 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, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United
States during the Treaty of Paris in 1898. In 1899 the First Philippine Republic was proclaimed in
Malolos, Bulacan, but was later dissolved by the US Army, leading to the Philippine-American War
between the United States, and the Philippines, 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 claiming almost a million lives.[23][24] The country's
status as a territory changed when it became the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935, which
provided self-governance. Plans for independence over the next decade were interrupted during
World War II when Japan invaded, and occupied the islands. After the Japanese were defeated in
1945, and control returned to the Philippine, and American forces in the Liberation of the Philippine
Islands from 1944 to 1945, the Philippines was granted independence from the United States on
July 4, 1946.[3]

A 19th century photograph of leaders of the Propaganda Movement: José Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar,
and Mariano Ponce.

Since 1946, the newly independent Philippine state has faced political instability. 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, under the guise of increased political instability and resurgent
Communist and Muslim insurgencies, and ruled the country by decree.

Upon returning from exile in the United States, opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr., was
assassinated on August 21, 1983. In January 1986, Marcos allowed for a snap election, after large
protests. Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno Aquino, Jr., was the recognized winner of the
election. She took over the Philippine government, and called for a constitutional convention to
draft a new constitution, after the People Power Revolution. Marcos, his family, and his allies fled
to Hawaii.[25]

The return of democracy, and government reforms after the events of 1986 were hampered by
national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Islamic
separatist movement. The Philippine economy improved during the administration of Fidel V.
Ramos, who was elected in 1992.[26] 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. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took Philippine leadership in
2001 following the impeachment of the Estrada government.

[edit] Tourism
Main article: Geography of the Philippines

Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mindanao.

The Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

The limestone islands of El Nido, Palawan.

Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Philippines, with a near-perfect cone.

The Philippines constitutes an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately
300,000 square kilometers (116,000 sq mi). It is located between 116° 40' and 126° 34' E. longitude,
and 4° 40', and 21° 10' N. latitude, and borders the Philippine Sea on the east, the South China Sea
on the west, and the Celebes Sea on the south. The island of Borneo is located a few hundred
kilometers southwest, and Taiwan directly north. The Moluccas, and Sulawesi are to the south-
southwest, and Palau is to the east beyond the Philippine Sea.[2]

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.[2]

The local climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5 °C
(79.7 °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 "Tag-lamig" (the
cold season from December to February). The southwest monsoon (from May to October) is known
as the "Habagat", and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (from November to April) as the
"Amihan".[27]

Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in tropical rainforest, and are volcanic in
origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo located in Mindanao measuring at 2,954 metres
(9,692 ft) above sea level. There are many active volcanos such as Mayon Volcano, Mount
Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The country also located within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific
and approximately 19 typhoons strike per year.[28]

Located on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine Islands experiences
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.[29]

The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay is connected to 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 (considered a point of
vital national infrastructure and capacity), that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.[30]

[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of the Philippines

Skyline of Ortigas Center in the foreground with Makati in the background on the left.

Makati City is the main central business metropolitan of Manila.

Ortigas Center Business District.

The Philippines is a newly industrialized country with an economy anchored on agriculture but with
substantial contributions from manufacturing, mining, remittances from overseas Filipinos, and
service industries such as tourism, and increasingly, business process outsourcing.[10][31] The
Philippines is listed in the roster of the "Next Eleven" economies.

Historically, the Philippine economy has largely been anchored on the Manila galleon during the
Spanish period, and bilateral trade with the United States during the American period. Pro-Filipino
economic policies were first implemented during the tenure of Carlos P. Garcia with the "Filipino
First" policy. By the 1960s, the Philippine economy was regarded as the second largest in Asia, next
to Japan. However, the leardership of Ferdinand Marcos would prove disastrous to the Philippine
economy, sliding the country into severe economic recession, only to recover in the 1990s with a
program of economic liberalization, and the breaking of Marcos era monopolies and the system of
cronyism under Fidel V. Ramos.[26]

Cebu City Park.

The Philippine Stock Exchange.

The Asian Financial Crisis affected the Philippine economy to an extent, resulting in a lingering
decline of the value of the Philippine peso, and falls in the stock market, although the extent to
which it was affected was not as severe as that of its Asian neighbors. This is largely due to the
fiscal conservatism of the Philippine government partly as a result of decades of monitoring, and
fiscal supervision from the International Monetary Fund, in comparison to the massive spending of
its neighbors on the rapid acceleration of economic growth.[26] By 2004, the Philippine economy
experienced six percent growth in gross domestic product, and 7.3% in 2007,[32] in line with the "7,
8, 9" project of the government to accelerate GDP growth by 2009.[33]

In a bid to further strengthen the Philippine economy, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pledged
to make the Philippines a developed country by 2020. As part of this goal, she instituted five
economic "super regions" to concentrate on the economic strengths of various regions of the good
Philippines, as well as the implementation of tax reforms, continued privatization of state assets,
and the building-up of infrastructure in various areas of the Philippines.

The Pryce Business Park in Davao City.

Despite the growing economy, the Philippines will have to address several chronic tasks in the
future. 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.[34][35] The
Philippine economy is also heavily reliant on remittances as a source of foreign currency,
surpassing even foreign direct investment. China, and India have emerged as major economic
competitors, siphoning away investors who would otherwise have invested in the Philippines,
particularly telecommunications companies. Regional development is also somewhat uneven, with
Luzon, and Metro Manila in particular gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of
the other regions,[36] although the government has taken steps to distribute economic growth by
promoting investment in other areas of the Philippine Islands.

The Philippine Islands is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN). It is also a member of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Colombo Plan,
and the G-77, among others.[37]

[edit] Politics and government

Main article: Politics of the Philippines
See also: Foreign relations of the Philippines, President of the Philippines, and Constitution
of the Philippines
Further information: Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Philippines has a presidential, unitary form of government (with some modification; there is
one autonomous region largely free from the national government), where the President functions as
both head of state, and head of government, and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The
president is elected by popular vote to a single six year term, during which time she or he appoints
and presides over the cabinet.[2]

The bicameral Congress is composed of a Senate, serving as the upper house whose members are
elected nationally to a six year term, and a House of Representatives serving as the lower house
whose members are elected to a three year term, and are elected from both legislative districts, and
through sectoral representation.[2]

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding
officer and fourteen associate justices, all appointed by the President from nominations submitted
by the Judicial and Bar Council.[2] Attempts to amend the constitution to either a federal, unicameral
or parliamentary form of government have been satisfactory since the Ramos administration. [38]

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 United States, but also a member of the Non-Aligned
Movement.[2]

[edit] Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of the Philippines

Provinces and regions of the Philippines.

The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These are
divided into 17 regions, 81 provinces, 136 cities, 1,494 municipalities, and 41,995 barangays.[39] In
addition, the Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the Philippines has acquired dominion,
and sovereignty over Sabah, North Borneo.[40]

Region Designation Capital

Ilocos Region Region I San Fernando City, La Union

Cagayan Valley Region II Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Central Luzon Region III City of San Fernando, Pampanga

CALABARZON¹ ² Region IV-A Calamba City, Laguna

MIMAROPA¹ ² ³ Region IV-B Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Bicol Region Region V Legazpi City, Albay

Western Visayas Region VI Iloilo City, Iloilo

Central Visayas Region VII Cebu City, Cebu

Eastern Visayas Region VIII Tacloban City, Leyte

Zamboanga Peninsula Region IX Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

Northern Mindanao Region X Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental

Davao Region Region XI Davao City, Davao del Sur

SOCCSKSARGEN¹ Region XII Koronadal City, South Cotabato

Caraga Region XIII Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ARMM Cotabato City, Maguindanao

Cordillera Administrative Region CAR Baguio City, Benguet

National Capital Region NCR Manila

¹ Names are capitalized because they are acronyms, containing the names of the constituent
provinces or cities (see Acronyms in the Philippines).
² These regions formed the former Southern Tagalog region, or Region IV.
³ Palawan was moved from Region IV-B as known as MIMAROPA to Region VI. But after a few
months, Palawan was moved back to Region IV-B due to the Palaweños wish.

[edit] Demographics

Population growth of the Philippines.

Main articles: Demographics of the Philippines, Filipino people, and Overseas Filipino

The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as
of 2008.[4][6] As of 2007, 8% of Filipinos are living abroad as migrant laborers. Roughly half of the
country's population resides on the island of Luzon. Manila, the capital, is the eleventh most
populous metropolitan area in the world. The literacy rate was 92.6% in 2003,[41][42] and about equal
for males and females.[3] Life expectancy is 71.23 years, with 73.6 years for females and 69.8 years
for males. Population growth rate in 1995-2000 is 3.21% but then dramatically fell to 1.59% for
2005-2010.

[edit] Ethnic groups

Main article: Ethnic groups of the Philippines

Map of the dominant ethnicities of the Philippines by province.

The majority of Philippine nationals are descended from the Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian)
people who settled in over a thousand years ago from southern Taiwan, genetically most closely
related to the Ami tribe.[43] The Malayo Polynesian-speaking peoples, a branch of the Austronesian-
speaking peoples, migrated to the Philippines, and brought their knowledge of agriculture, and
ocean-sailing technology. Filipinos to this day are composed of various Malayo Polynesian ethnic
groups, including the Visayans, the Tagalog, the Ilocano, the Moro, the Kapampangan, the
Bicolano, the Pangasinense, the Igorot, the Lumad, the Mangyan, the Ibanag, the Badjao, the Ivatan,
and the Palawan tribes. The Negritos, including the Aetas and the Ati, are considered as the
aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines though they are estimated to be fewer than 30,000 people
(0.03%).

Filipinos of Chinese descent currently form the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, forming
1.5% of the population. Chinese mestizos are persons of mixed Chinese and either indigenous
Filipino or Spanish (or both) ancestry make up between 10-30% of the country's total population
(those who are ethnic Chinese make up 1.5% of the population).[44] followed by Filipinos of Spanish
descent. Other significant minorities include American, British, European, Japanese, Asian Indian,
Korean, Arab, Indonesian, and other ethnic groups.

Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as immigrants and colonizers have
intermarried with the native population, producing Filipino mestizos. These mestizos, apart from
being of mixed Malayo Polynesian, and European ancestry, can be descended from any ethnic
foreign forebears. The official percentage of Filipinos with foreign ancestry is unknown since there
are no credible sources for the percentage of Philippine mestizos residing in the Philippines. The
number of Filipino mestizos that reside outside the Philippines is also unknown. However, due to
major historical factors, such as the Spanish colonization, the American occupation, and Chinese
immigration after World War II, most Filipino mestizos that reside in the Philippines are now of
Spanish, American, European, Chinese, and other foreign descent.

[edit] Languages

Main article: Languages of the Philippines

Map of the dominant ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines.

According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino, and English are the official languages.
About 180 languages and dialects are also spoken in the islands, almost all of them belonging to the
Borneo-Philippines group of the Malayo-Polynesian language branch of the Austronesian language
family.

Filipino is the standard version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila, and other urban
regions. Both Tagalog, and English are used in government, education, print and broadcast media,
and business.

Other major regional languages include Bikol, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray,
Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, and Chavacano
Other languages include Spanish, and Arabic which are recognized as auxiliary languages in the
Philippine Constitution. The use of Spanish is prevalent among Hispanic mestizos; and Arabic are
used by Filipino muslims, and taught in madrasah (Muslim) schools.

[edit] Religion

Main article: Religion in the Philippines

Basilica Minore de San Sebastián, Manila.

The Philippines is one of two countries in Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region with Roman Catholic
majorities; the other being East Timor. The Philippines is separated into dioceses of which the
Archdiocese of Manila is the main primacy. About 90% of Filipinos identify themselves as
Christians, with 81% belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. 2% are composed of Protestant
denominations, and 11% either to the Philippine Independent Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, and
others.[45]

Philippines religiosity

religion percent

Christianity   90%

Islam   5%

Others   5%

The Philippines is also well-known for its Baroque-style churches. They are a part of the long list of
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These churches are: San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila;
Paoay Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Santa María) Church in Santa
María, Ilocos Sur; and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Iloilo.

Approximately 5% of Filipinos are Muslims,[45] and are locally known as Moros, having been
dubbed this by the Spaniards due to their sharing Islam with the Moors of North Africa. They
primarily settle in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu archipelago, but are now found in most
urban areas of the country. Most lowland Muslim Filipinos practice Islam, although the practices of
some Mindanao's highland Muslim populations reflect a mixture with Animism. There are also
small populations of Buddhists, Bahá'í, Hindus, Sikhs, and animists, which, along with other non-
Christians, non-Muslims and those with no religion, collectively comprise 2.5% of the
population.[42]

[edit] Education
Main article: Education in the Philippines

De La Salle University, Manila.

University of the Philippines, Quezon City.

University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Education in the Philippine Islands has ten years of basic education. The Philippine education does
not have the Grade eight level, and only few schools in the Philippines have Grade seven. The
current Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz has said that he has developed a plan for adding two to one
more year/s in the basic education in the Philippines. Some parents disagree on this because they
say that it would just add more expenses in their very limited budgets. The government of the
Philippines also do not put much budget in the Department of Education, which makes the funds for
every Philippine student very small compared to its neighboring countries. In 2005, the Philippines
spent only about US$138 per pupil compared to US$1,582 in Singapore, US$3,728 in Japan, and
US$852 in Thailand.

The education in the Philippine Islands is similar to that of the United States. The school year in the
Philippines starts in June, and ends in March, with a two-month summer break for April, and May,
one week of semestral break (the last week of October), and a week or two during the Christmas
holidays.
[edit] Elementary school

The Philippine elementary school consists of six levels, with some schools adding an additional
level seven. The levels are grouped into two elementary subdivisions, which includes the first three
levels, and Intermediate-level, which includes the last three levels.

Elementary education in the Philippines covers a wide curriculum. The core subjects (major
subjects) include Mathematics, Sciences, English, Filipino, and Makabayan (Social Studies,
Livelihood Education, Values). Other subjects include Music, Arts, and Physical Education. Starting
at the third level, Science becomes an integral part of the core subjects. On December, 2007,
Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that Spanish is to make a return as a
mandatory subject in all Philippine schools, and re-instated as an official language starting in
2008.[46][47] In private schools, the subjects include Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies,
Basic Computer, Filipino, Music, Arts and Technology, Home Economics, Health, Physical
Education, and in Catholic schools, Religion or Christian Living. International schools, and Chinese
schools have additional subjects, especially in their language, and culture.

The teaching medium in the vast majority of all local schools is English, and Filipino, and is used in
Philippine subjects. Outside of Manila, other languages such as Cebuano, Bicolano, and Waray, are
also used in the teaching of Philippine subjects. International schools generally use English in all
subjects. Chinese schools add two language subjects, such as Min Nan Chinese, and Mandarin
Chinese. Private colleges, and schools exhibits Spanish in their curriculum system. Meanwhile,
Arabic is used in Islamic schools. All elementary students generally graduate with a knowledge of
two or three languages.

Elementary students traditionally sit for the National Elementary Achievement Test (NEAT)
administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS). It was intended as a
measure of a school's competence, and not as a predictor of student aptitude or success in
Secondary school. Hence, the scores obtained by the student in the NEAT is not used as a basis in
his or her admission into Secondary school. During 2004, when DECS was officially converted into
the Department of Education (DepEd), and also, as a result of some reorganization, the NEAT was
abolished. As of 2006, only private schools have entrance examinations for Secondary school.

The National Elementary Achievement Test (NEAT) was changed to National Achievement Test
(NAT) by the Department of Education (DepEd). Both the public, and private elementary schools
take their examinations to measure a school's competency.

[edit] Secondary school

Secondary education in the Philippines consists of four levels. Secondary schooling is

compartmentalized, meaning, each level focuses on a particular theme or content.

The first year of secondary school includes five core subjects, namely, Algebra I, Integrated
Science, English I, Filipino I, and Philippine History I. The second year of High school includes
Algebra II, Biology, English II, Filipino II, and Asian History. The third year of secondary school
includes Geometry, Chemistry, American Literature, Filipino III, World History, and Geography,
and the fourth year of High school has Calculus, Trigonometry, Physics, World Literature, Filipino
IV, and Economics. Other minor subjects include Health, Advanced Computer, Music, Arts,
Technology and Home Economics, and Physical Education.

[edit] Reputable colleges and universities

The Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University-Manila, the University of the Philippines,
and the University of Santo Tomas are the only Philippine universities that had been included in
league tables such as the now-defunct Asiaweek university rankings (which last ranked universities
in 1999 and 2000),[48][49], and the THES-QS World University Rankings in 2005, 2006, 2007, and
2008.[50] In the 2007 THES-QS rankings, only UP and the Ateneo remained in the THES-QS
rankings' top 500.[51][52] In 2008, Ateneo, La Salle, UST and UP once again placed in the rankings,
with the Ateneo ranked 254th in the world, UP at 276th while the University of Santo Tomas, and
De La Salle University both placed in the Top 401-500 category[53] Ateneo and UP were also ranked
among the top 100 universities worldwide in the field of the arts and humanities.[54]

On the other hand, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities
does not have Philippine universities in the top 500. In 2006, the University of the Philippines,
through its University President Emerlinda Román, has expressed that it does not want to
participate in the THES Ranking, but was included in 2007 with an incomplete academic profile.[55]

Other reputable universities include the Adamson University, Centro Escolar University, Far
Eastern University, New Era University, Our Lady of Fatima University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod
ng Maynila (PLM), Philippine Normal University, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the
Philippine Women's University (PWU), the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), and the
University of the East in Metro Manila, Saint Louis University and the University of the
Cordilleras, both in Baguio City, Bulacan State University in Bulacan, De La Salle University-
Dasmariñas in Cavite, University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Bicol University in Legazpi City,
Central Philippine University, and University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, University of St. La
Salle in Bacolod City, Silliman University in Dumaguete, the Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo
de Zamboanga University, Mindanao State University, and Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro) in
Mindanao. Other reputable colleges include Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle-College of
Saint Benilde, Mapúa Institute of Technology, and San Beda College. Noteworthy women's
colleges include Assumption College (Philippines), Miriam College, and St. Scholastica's College.

[edit] Culture
Main articles: Culture of the Philippines and Music of the Philippines

An Ifugao (Malayo Polynesian) sculpture.

Philippine culture is a fusion of pre-Hispanic Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) civilizations mixed

with Hispanic, and American. It has also been influenced by Chinese, Arab, and Indian cultures.[10]

The Hispanic influences in Philippine culture are derived from the culture of Spain. These Hispanic
influences are most evident in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.[10]
Spanish colonialists introduced Iberian, and Mexican dishes, such as arroz valenciana, to those of
the Mexican cuisines (adobo preparation is the only exception as Philippine adobo is made with soy
sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns unlike the tomato, corn, avocado, and potato in
Mexican adobo). Philippine cuisine is a mixture of Asian, Oceanian, European, and American
dishes.

Philippine tradition exhibits festivities known as barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate
their patron saints. One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Spanish surnames,
and names among Filipinos. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a
colonial decree, the Clavería edict, for the systematic distribution of family names, and
implementation of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands. A
Spanish name, and surname among the majority of Filipinos does not always denote Spanish
ancestry.

The five instruments of gongs, and a drum that make up the Philippine kulintang ensemble, an
example of pre-Hispanic (Islamic) musical tradition present in southern Philippines.

Many of street names, towns, and provinces are in Spanish. Spanish architecture also made an
significant imprint in the Philippine Islands. This can be seen in the country's churches, government
buildings, and universities. Many Hispanic style houses, and buildings are being preserved, like the
town in Vigan City, for protection, and conservation. The kalesa is a horse-driven carriage were a
major mode of transportation during the colonial period. It is still being used today.

The use of English language in the Philippines is contemporaneous, and is America's visible legacy.
The most commonly played sports in the Philippines are basketball, and billiards. There is also a
wide influence of American Pop cultural trends, such as the love of fast-food, and Films; many
street corners exhibits fast-food outlets. Aside from the American commercial giants such as
McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, and Shakey's Pizza, local fast-food chains
have also sprung up, including Goldilocks, Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza (acquired by Jollibee in
1994),[56] and Chowking (acquired by Jollibee in 2000).[56] Modern day Filipinos also listen to
contemporary American music, and watch American movies. However, Original Pilipino Music
(also known as OPM), and Philippine movies are also widely appreciated.

Various sports are also enjoyed, including boxing, basketball, badminton, billiards, football
(soccer), and ten-pin bowling being popular games in the country.

[edit] Transportation and Communications

Further information: Transportation in the Philippines and Communications in the
Philippines

[edit] See also

• List of Philippine-related topics
• Wettest-known tropical cyclones in the Philippines
[edit] References
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2. ^ a b c d e f g "General information". Government of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
"Official Website". Government of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
3. ^ a b c d e f g World Factbook — Philippines, CIA,
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July 2008
4. ^ a b c 2000 Census-based Population Projection, National Statistics Office, Republic of the
Philippines, 2006, http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/popproj_tab1r.html, retrieved
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5. ^ Official population count reveals..., National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines,
2008, http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2008/pr0830tx.html, retrieved on 17 April
2008
6. ^ a b c d e f g "Philippines". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved on 2008-10-09.
7. ^ Philippines — The Human Development Index - going beyond income, United Nations
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December 2007
8. ^ "South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's
Biodiversity", Conservation International. Retrieved on 29 June 2007. Archived from the
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9. ^ "Name Change for the Philippines". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-08-30.
10. ^ a b c d Steinberg, David Joel (2007). "Philippines". Encarta.
11. ^ Ateneo de Manila University Press (1994), Barangay: Sixteenth-century Philippine
Culture and Society, p. 6, http://books.google.com/books?id=15KZU-yMuisC ISBN
9715501354, ISBN 9789715501354.
12. ^ Origins of the Filipinos and their Languages
13. ^ Quests of the Dragon and Bird Clan: How the Nusantao maritime trading network
influenced the world, February 18, 2006.[unreliable source?]
14. ^ Vedic Empire. Retrieved on 2008-10-11.
15. ^ Great Shambhala, asiapacificuniverse.com, Retrieved on 2008-11-30.
16. ^ Paul Kekai Manansala, Philippine Civilization, Culture and Technology.
17. ^ Agoncillo 1990, p. 22
18. ^ a b Gregorio F. Zaide, Sonia M. Zaide (2004), Philippine History and Government, Sixth
Edition, All-Nations Publishing Company
19. ^ Kurlansky, Mark. 1999. The Basque History of the World. Walker & Company, New York.
ISBN 0-8027-1349-1, p. 64
20. ^ Joaquin, Nick. 1988. Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine
Becoming. Solar Publishing, Metro Manila
21. ^ US Country Studies: Education in the Philippines
22. ^ Veltisezar Bautista, "3. The Philippine Revolution (1896-1898)", The Filipino Americans
(1763-Present): Their History, Culture and Traditions (2nd ed.), ISBN 0-931613-17-5,
https://bookhaus2.securesites.net/philnewscentral/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?url=philrev.html
23. ^ E. San Juan, Jr. (March 22, 2005). "U.S. Genocide in the Philippines: A Case of Guilt,
Shame, or Amnesia?". Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
24. ^ San Miguel 2007
25. ^ Gross, Jane (September 29, 1989). "Ferdinand Marcos, Ousted Leader Of Philippines,
Dies at 72 in Exile", New York Times. Retrieved on 25 January 2008.
26. ^ a b c Gargan, Edward A. (December 11, 1997). "Last Laugh for the Philippines; Onetime
Joke Economy Avoids Much of Asia's Turmoil", New York Times. Retrieved on 25 January
2008.
27. ^ "Climate of the Philippines". Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. at PAGASA.
Accessed September 30, 2006
28. ^ Kee-Chai Chong; Ian R. Smith; Maura S. Lizarondo (1982), "III. The transformation sub-
system: cultivation to market size in fishponds", Economics of the Philippine Milkfish
Resource System, The United Nations University, ISBN 928083468,
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80346e/80346E06.htm
29. ^ The 1990 Baguio City Earthquake at City of Baguio. Accessed October 3, 2006
30. ^ Leyte is Famous For... Accessed September 30, 2008
31. ^ As India gets too costly, BPOs turn to Philippines Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed
October 2, 2006
32. ^ RP 2007 GDP grows 7.3%; fastest in 31 yrs[dead link], ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs,
January 31, 2008
33. ^ "Philippines Aims to Boost Growth by 2009". forbes.com. Archived from the original on
2007-02-20. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
34. ^ Large Swiss Firm offers to invest in Philippines Manila Standard. Accessed January 27,
2007
35. ^ "RP ready for Global Trade". Archived from the original on 2007-10-30., ABS-CBN
News and Current Affairs, accessed February 17, 2007
36. ^ Beyond Imperial Manila, Manila Standard Today, accessed July 25, 2006
37. ^ International Organization Participation CIA World Factbook
38. ^ Civil service reform: Whose service?, inwent.org, Retreived on 2008-11-30.
39. ^ NCSB Press Release
40. ^ AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION ONE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED THIRTY
HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO DEFINE THE BASELINES OF
THE TERRITORIAL SEA OF THE PHILIPPINES", Chanrobles Law Library, September 18,
1968, http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno5446.html, retrieved on 24 July
2008
41. ^ "Human Development Indicators" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme.
Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
42. ^ a b ([dead link] – Scholar search)The Philippines: People, CIA World Factbook,
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html#People, retrieved
on 9 January 2008
43. ^ Capelli, C; Cristian Capelli, James F. Wilson, Martin Richards, Michael P. H. Stumpf,
Fiona Gratrix, Stephen Oppenheimer, Peter Underhill, Vincenzo L. Pascali, Tsang-Ming Ko,
and David B. Goldstein1 (2001). "A Predominantly Indigenous Paternal Heritage for the
Austronesian-Speaking Peoples of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania" (PDF). American
journal of Human Genetics 68: 432–443. doi:10.1086/318205.
http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/AJHG_2001_v68_p432.pdf. Retrieved on 29 October
2007. (Table 1, p.434)
44. ^ "The Ranking of Ethnic Chinese Population". Overseas Compatriate Affairs Commission,
R.O.C. (Taiwan). Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
45. ^ a b "2000 Census: ADDITIONAL THREE PERSONS PER MINUTE". National Statistics
Office. Archived from the original on 2007-04-09. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
46. ^ GMA considering reinstating Castilian as official in the Philippines, August 8th 2007,
Translation from Castilian original.
47. ^ Spanish to be reintroduced as school subject in the Philippines, December 26, 2007, Luis
Pinel.[unreliable source?].
48. ^ Asiaweek 2000 rankings Asiaweek.com. Accessed Aug. 8, 2008.
 49. ^ Asiaweek 1999 rankings. Accessed Aug. 8, 2008.
50. ^ THES-QS World University Rankings.
51. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, RP universities get low rankings; La Salle, UST dropped out of Top 500
52. ^ Ateneo de Manila University officials react to 2007 THES results. Last accessed 13
October 2008.
53. ^ 2008 THES-QS Rankings. Last accessed 13 October 2008.
54. ^ 2008 THES-QS Rankings in Arts & Humanities. Last accessed 13 October 2008.
55. ^ Leticia Peñano-Ho, Who Should Tell Us Who We Are?, University of the Philippines
System Website. Accessed May 6, 2007.
56. ^ a b ([dead link] – Scholar search)The Jollibee Phenomenon, Jollibee, Inc.,
http://www.jollibee.com.ph/corporate/phenomenon.htm, retrieved on 9 January 2008)

[edit] External links

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