Philippines
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2008-07-17T06:14:04Z
El C
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/125.60.243.103|125.60.243.103]] ([[User talk:125.60.243.103|talk]]) to last version by 125.60.241.112
{{about|the country in Southeast Asia|the town in the Netherlands|Philippine (Netherlands)}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = {{lang|fil|''Republika ng Pilipinas''}}
|conventional_long_name = Republic of the Philippines
|common_name = the Philippines
|image_flag = Flag of the Philippines.svg
|image_coat = Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Philippines.svg
|national_motto = {{lang|fil|''Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa''}}<br /><small>
([[English language|English]]: )</small>
|image_map = Map_of_Philippines.png
|national_anthem = {{lang|fil|''[[Lupang Hinirang]]''}} <br /><small>"Chosen Land"</small>
|official_languages = [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[English language|English]]
|regional_languages = [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Bikol language|Bikol]], [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Ilokano language|Ilocano]], [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]], [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]], [[Waray-Waray language|Waray-Waray]]<ref name="About">{{cite web
|url=http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/general.asp
|title=General information
|publisher=Government of the Philippines
|accessdate=2007-10-01}}<br /> {{cite web
|url=http://www.gov.ph
|title=Official Website
|publisher=Government of the Philippines
|accessdate=2007-10-01}}</ref>
|demonym = [[Filipino people|Filipino]], [[Pinoy]] <!---"Philippine" is not a demonym, because it does not refer to the people of the Philippines, only used in a geographic context--->
|capital = [[Manila]]
|latd=14 |latm=35 |latNS=N |longd=121 |longm=0 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Quezon City]] <!-- Although [[Davao City]] has the largest land area, the article on [[largest city]] says we should refer to the most populous city, which as of 2006 is [[Quezon City]]. See the discussion page for more information. Changing this information without citation would be reverted.-->
|government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[Constitutional republic|constitutional]] [[republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of the Philippines|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]]
|leader_title2 = [[Vice President of the Philippines|Vice President]]
|leader_name2 = [[Noli De Castro]]
|area_km2 = 300,000
|area_footnote = <ref name=CIAfactbook>{{cite wok/geos/rp.html
|title=World Factbook — Philippines
|publisher=CIA
|accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref>
|area_sq_mi = 115,831 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|area_rank = 72nd
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|percent_water = 0.61%<ref name=CIAfactbook />
|population_estimate = 90.5 million<ref name=population>{{Citation
|url=http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/popproj_tab1r.html
|title=2000 Census-based Population Projection
|publisher=National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines
|year=2006
|accessdate=2008-04-17}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2008
|population_estimate_rank = 12th
|population_census = 88,574,614 <ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2008/pr0830tx.html
|title=Official population count reveals...
|publisher=National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines
|year=2008
|accessdate=2008-04-17}}</ref>
|population_census_year = 2007
|population_density_km2 = 295
|population_density_sq_mi = 765<!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 32nd
|GDP_PPP_year = 2006
|GDP_PPP = $466.632 billion <ref name=IMF2006>{{Citation
|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2007/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=65&pr.y=8&sy=2005&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=566&s=NGDP_RPCH%2CNGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CPPPEX%2CPCPI%2CPCPIPCH%2CPCPIE%2CPCPIEPCH%2CLP&grp=0&a=
|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects (Philippines)
|publisher=International Monetary Funds
|year=2006
|accessdate=2008-04-17}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 25th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $5,365.287<ref name=IMF2006 />
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 99th
|GDP_nominal = $117.562 billion<ref name=IMF2006 />
|GDP_nominal_rank = 47th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2006
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $1,351.718<ref name=IMF2006 />
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 117th
|HDI_year = 2007/2008
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.771<ref>{{Citation
|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_PHL.html
|title=Philippines—The Human Development Index - going beyond income
|publisher=United Nations Development Programme
|year=2007/2008
|accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 90th
|HDI_category = <font color="#FFCC00">medium</font>
|Gini = 44.5<ref name=CIAfactbook />
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <font color="#FFCC00">medium</font>
|sovereignty_type = [[Philippine Revolution|Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from [[Spain]] <br /> from [[United States]]
|established_event1 = [[History of the Philippines|Established]]
|established_date1 = [[March 16]] [[1521]]
|established_event2 = [[Philippine Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
|established_date2 = [[June 12]] [[1898]]
|established_event3 = [[Tydings-McDuffie Act|Self-government]]
|established_date3 = [[March 24]] [[1934]]
|established_event4 = [[Treaty of Manila (1946)|Independence recognized]]
|established_date4 = [[July 4]] [[1946]]
|established_event5 = [[Constitution of the Philippines|Current constitution]]
|established_date5 = [[February 2]] [[1987]]
|currency = [[Philippine peso|Peso]] (Filipino: {{lang|fil|''piso''}} [[Image:PhilippinePeso.svg|12px]])
|currency_code = PHP
|time_zone = [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]
|utc_offset = +8
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld = [[.ph]]
|calling_code = 63
|ISO_3166-1_alpha2 = PH
|ISO_3166-1_alpha3 = PHL
|ISO_3166-1_numeric = 608
|sport_code = PHI (IOC & FIFA), PHL (ISO 3166-1)
|vehicle_code = RP
|footnote1 = [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] are promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.
|footnote2 = Rankings above were taken from associated Wikipedia pages as of December, 2007, and may be based on data or data sources other than those appearing here.
}}{{portal}}
The '''Philippines''' ([[Filipino language|Filipino]]: ''Pilipinas''), officially known as the '''Republic of the Philippines''' ({{lang|fil|''Republika ng Pilipinas''}}; '''RP'''), is an [[Island country|archipelagic country]] located in [[Southeast Asia]] with [[Manila]] as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western [[Pacific Ocean]], sharing maritime borders with [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Palau]], the [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan), and [[Vietnam]]. The Philippines is [[List of countries by population|the world's 12th most populous country]] with a population approaching 90 million people.<ref name=population /><ref name=IMF2006 /> Its national economy is the 37th largest in the world with a 2006 [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of over [[United States dollar|US$]]117.562 billion.<ref name=IMF2006 /> There are more than 11 million [[overseas Filipinos]] worldwide, the largest [[diaspora]] network in the world, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Ecologically, Philippines is considered to be among 17 of the most [[megadiverse countries]] in the world.<ref name = "cwlvaj">{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2003/091603_andean_eng.xml | work =Conservation International | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-29 | language = }}</ref>
The Philippines was settled mostly by [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian-speaking peoples]]. The Philippines became a [[Spain|Spanish]] colony in the 16th century, and an [[United States|American]] territory at the beginning of the 20th century. The [[Katipunan]] led the [[Philippine Revolution]] of 1896 that won independence from Spain. The [[U.S.]] occupation of the Philippines during the [[Spanish-American War]] led to the outbreak of the [[Philippine-American War]]. The Philippines gained its independence from the [[United States]] on [[July 4]], [[1946]] after the [[Pacific War]] (the [[Second World War]]) via the [[Treaty of Manila (1946)|Treaty of Manila]]. [[Martial law]] was declared in 1972 by [[Ferdinand Marcos]]. The assassination of [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]] led to the [[People Power Revolution]] of 1986 that overthrew authoritarian rule. Political upheavals and corruption scandals alternated with the peaceful transition of power during the period that followed the restoration of democracy.<ref name=CIAfactbook />
Modern Philippines has many affinities with the [[Western world]], derived mainly from the cultures of [[Spain]], [[Latin America]], and the United States. [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] is the country's predominant religion, although pre-Hispanic indigenous religious practices still exist; there are also followers of [[Islam in the Philippines|Islam]].<ref name="encarta">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Steinberg|first=David Joel|title=Philippines|url=http://encarta.msn.com/text_761558570___0/Philippines.html|encyclopedia=[[Encarta]]|date=2007}}</ref> [[Spanish in the Philippines|Spanish]] was an official language of the Philippines until 1973. Since then, the two official national languages are [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[English language|English]].<ref name=CIAfactbook />
==Etymology==
The name ''Philippines'' and its spanish counterpart, {{lang|es|''Filipinas''}}, are derived from the name of [[Philip II of Spain|Phillip II]], the [[King of Spain]] in the late 16th century.<ref name="etymology">{{Citation |author= Gregorio F. Zaide, Sonia M. Zaide|title=Philippine History and Government, Sixth Edition |publisher=All-Nations Publishing Company |year= 2004}}</ref> Spanish explorer [[Ruy López de Villalobos]] used the name [[Las Islas Filipinas]] in honor of the then-Crown Prince during his expedition to the Philippines, originally referring to the islands of [[Leyte Island|Leyte]] and [[Samar Island|Samar]]. Despite the presence of other names, the name {{lang|es|''Filipinas''}} was eventually adopted as the name of the entire archipelago.<ref name="etymology" />...
==History==
{{main|History of the Philippines}}
[[Archeology|Archeological]] and [[paleontology|paleontological]] discoveries show that ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' existed in [[Palawan]] circa 50,000 BC. The aboriginal people of the Philippines, the [[Negrito]]s, are an Australo-Melanesian people, which arrived in the Philippines at least 30,000 years ago. The [[Austronesians]], who originated from populations of [[Taiwanese aboriginals]] that migrated from mainland Asia approximately 6000 years ago, colonized the Philippine islands and eventually migrated to [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]] and, soon after, to the [[Polynesia|Polynesian islands]] and [[Madagascar]].{{cn|date=May 2008}}
The Philippines had cultural ties with [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], [[India]] in ancient times, and trade relations with [[China]] and [[Japan]] as early as the 9th century.
[[Islam]] was brought to the Philippines by traders and [[proselytizer]]s from Malaysia and Indonesia. The Islamization of the Philippines is due to the strength of then-Muslim India.<ref>{{Harvnb|Agoncillo|1990|p=22}}</ref> By the 13th century, Islam was established in the [[Sulu Archipelago]] and spread from there to [[Mindanao]]; it had reached the [[Manila]] area by 1565. Muslim converts established Islamic communities and states ruled by [[raja]]s or [[sultan]]s. However, no Islamic state exercised sovereignty over much of the archipelago, and the indigenous maritime and agricultural societies ruled by [[datu]]s or [[apo]]s remained autonomous. When the [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] arrived in the 16th century, the majority of the estimated 500,000 people in the islands lived in independent settlements called 'barangay' or networks of settlements.
[[Image:Rice Terraces Banaue.jpg|thumb|left|200px|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 Limasawa on [[March 28]], [[1521]] where the first [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] in the Philippines was celebrated on [[March 31]], [[1521]].<ref name="etymology" /> Magellan arrived at [[Cebu]] on [[April 7]], [[1521]], befriending Rajah [[Humabon]] and converting his family and 700 other Cebuanos to Christianity.<ref name="etymology" /> However, Magellan would later be killed in the [[Battle of Mactan]] by indigenous warriors led by [[Lapu-Lapu]], a fierce rival of 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|new Spanish colony]].<ref>Kurlansky, Mark. 1999. ''The Basque History of the World''. Walker & Company, New York. ISBN 0-8027-1349-1, p. 64</ref>
[[Image:P10ima2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Model of a Philippine-built ship used for trading around the archipelago before the arrival of the Spanish.]]
Spanish rule brought political unification to an archipelago of previously independent islands and communities that later became the Philippines, and introduced elements of [[Western culture|western civilization]] such as the [[code of law]], [[printing]] and the [[Gregorian calendar|calendar]]<ref>Joaquin, Nick. 1988. ''Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming''. Solar Publishing, Metro Manila</ref>. The Philippines was ruled as a territory of [[New Spain]] from 1565 to 1821, but after Mexican independence it was administered directly from [[Madrid]]. 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]] once or twice a year beginning in the late 16th century, carried silk, spices, ivory and porcelain to America and silver on the return trip to the Philippines. The Spanish military fought off various indigenous revolts and several external threats, especially from the [[United Kingdom|British]], [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] pirates, [[Netherlands|Dutch]], and [[Portugal|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 language|Spanish]] <ref>[http://countrystudies.us/philippines/53.htm US Country Studies: Education in the Philippines]</ref>.
{| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin: 1em; padding: 1em; width: 240px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; clear: right"
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Flag'''
| ''[[Flag of the Philippines|Pambansang Watawat]]''
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Anthem'''
| "''[[Lupang Hinirang]]''"
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Patriotic Song'''
| "''[[Pilipinas Kong Mahal]]''", "''[[Bayan Ko]]''"
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Gem'''
| [[Pearl|Philippine South Sea Pearl]]<!-- see the following:
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p071003.htm&no=43
http://www.citem.com.ph/DisplayIndividual_newsarchive.asp?ID=46
http://www.sagay-city.com.ph/news_pearls.htm
http://www.jckonline.com/blog/1940000194/post/60018806.html
-- these all refer to the Philippine South Sea Pearl as the "national gem" of the Philippines -->
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Dance'''
| ''[[Cariñosa]]''
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Mammal'''
| [[Carabao]]
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Bird'''
| [[Philippine Eagle]]
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Fish'''
| [[Milkfish]] (''Bangus'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Flower'''
| [[Jasminum sambac|Arabian Jasmine]] (''Sampaguita'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Tree'''
| [[Angsana]] (''Narra'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Leaf'''
| [[Livistona|Fan palm]] (''Anahaw'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Fruit'''
| [[Mango]] (''Mangga'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Sport'''
| [[Sipa]]
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''House'''
| [[Nipa hut]] (''Bahay kubo'')
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Costume'''
| [[Barong Tagalog]] and [[Baro't saya]]
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | '''Hero'''
| [[José Rizal]]
|-align=right
|colspan=2|
|}
The [[Propaganda Movement]], which included Philippine nationalist [[José Rizal]], then a student studying in Spain, soon developed on the Spanish mainland. 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]], 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]].<ref>{{Citation
|title=The Filipino Americans (1763-Present): Their History, Culture and Traditions
|url=https://bookhaus2.securesites.net/philnewscentral/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?url=filipino_am.html
|edition=2nd
|isbn=0-931613-17-5
|author=Veltisezar Bautista
|chapter=3. The Philippine Revolution (1896-1898)
|chapter-url=https://bookhaus2.securesites.net/philnewscentral/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?url=philrev.html}}</ref>
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, Spain was forced to officially cede the Philippines, together with [[Cuba]] (made an independent country, the US in charge of foreign affairs), [[Guam]] and [[Puerto Rico]] to the United States. In 1899 the [[First Philippine Republic]] was proclaimed in [[Malolos]], [[Bulacan]] but was later dissolved by the US forces, leading to the [[Philippine-American War]] 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 [[Philippine Insurrection|struggle]] continued until 1913 claiming the lives of over a million Filipinos<ref> {{cite web
|url=http://www.selvesandothers.org/article9315.html
|title=U.S. Genocide in the Philippines: A Case of Guilt, Shame, or Amnesia?
|author=[[E. San Juan, Jr.]]
|date=[[March 22]], [[2005]]
|accessdate=2007-10-03}}
</ref>
<ref>{{Harvnb|San Juan|2007}}</ref>. The country's status as a territory 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, returned to the Filipino and American forces in the Liberation of the Philippines from 1944 to 1945, the Philippines was granted independence from the United States on [[July 4]], [[1946]].<ref name=CIAfactbook />
[[Image:B155.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A late 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 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]], under the guise of increased political instability and resurgent Communist and Muslim insurgencies, and ruled the country by [[rule by decree|decree]].
Upon returning from exile, opposition leader [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]] was assassinated on [[August 21]], [[1983]]. 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 were accompanied by resignations of prominent cabinet officials. [[Corazon Aquino]], the widow of [[Benigno Aquino, Jr.]], was the recognized winner of the snap election. She took over the government, and called for a constitutional convention to draft a new constitution, after the [[People Power Revolution]]. Marcos, his family and some of his allies fled to [[Hawaii]].<ref name="marcos-exile">{{cite news |first=Jane|last=Gross |title= Ferdinand Marcos, Ousted Leader Of Philippines, Dies at 72 in Exile |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEED71E3AF93AA1575AC0A96F948260 |publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[September 29]], [[1989]] |accessdate=2008-01-25 }}</ref>
The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 were 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.<ref name="lastlaugh">{{cite news |first=Edward A.|last=Gargan|title= Last Laugh for the Philippines; Onetime Joke Economy Avoids Much of Asia's Turmoil |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E7DA133CF932A25751C1A961958260 |publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[December 11]], [[1997]] |accessdate=2008-01-25 }}</ref> 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>{{cite news |first=Raymond |last=Bonner|coauthors=Carlos H. Conde |title= U.S. in Wary Diplomacy With Besieged Philippine Leader |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/22/international/asia/22philippines.html |publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[July 22]], [[2005]] |accessdate=2008-01-25 }}</ref>
==Politics and government==
{{main|Politics of the Philippines}}
{{see also|Foreign relations of the Philippines|President of the Philippines|Constitution of the Philippines}}
{{further|[[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]}}
[[Image:Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Davos.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Philippine President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]]]]
The Philippines has a [[Presidential system|presidential]], [[Unitary state|unitary]] form of government (with some modification; there is [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao|one]] [[autonomous area|autonomous region]] largely free from the national government), where the [[President of the Philippines|President]] functions as both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], and is [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines|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]].<ref name="About"/>
The [[bicameral]] [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] is composed of a [[Senate of the Philippines|Senate]], serving as the [[upper house]] whose members are elected nationally to a six-year term, and a [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] serving as the [[lower house]] whose members are elected to a three-year term and are elected from both [[Legislative districts of the Philippines|legislative districts]] and through sectoral representation.<ref name="About"/>
The [[judiciary|judicial]] power is vested in the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines|Supreme Court]], composed of a [[Chief Justice of the Philippines|Chief Justice]] as its presiding officer and fourteen [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines|associate justices]], all appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the [[Judicial and Bar Council]].<ref name="About"/>
Attempts to amend the constitution to either a [[federal government|federal]], [[unicameral]] or [[parliamentary government|parliamentary]] form of government have repeatedly failed since the [[Fidel V. Ramos|Ramos administration]].
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"/>
==Administrative divisions==
{{main|Administrative divisions of the Philippines}}
[[Image:Ph regions and provinces.png|225px|thumb|Provinces and regions of the Philippines.]]
The Philippines is divided into three island groups: [[Luzon]], [[Visayas]], and [[Mindanao]]. These are divided into 17 [[Regions of the Philippines|regions]], 81 [[Provinces of the Philippines|provinces]], 136 [[Cities of the Philippines|cities]], 1,494 [[Municipalities of the Philippines|municipalities]] and 41,995 [[barangay]]s. <ref>[http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2007/13Nov_PR-200711-PP2-01PSGC.asp NCSB Press Release]</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Region !! Designation !! Government center
|-
| [[Ilocos Region]] || Region I || [[San Fernando City, La Union|San Fernando City]], [[La Union]]
|-
| [[Cagayan Valley|Cagayan Valley Region]] || Region II || [[Tuguegarao City]], [[Cagayan]]
|-
| [[Central Luzon|Central Luzon Region]] || Region III || [[San Fernando City, Pampanga|City of San Fernando]], [[Pampanga]]
|-
| [[CALABARZON|CALABARZON Region]]'''¹''' '''²''' || Region IV-A || [[Calamba City]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]]
|-
| [[MIMAROPA|MIMAROPA Region]]'''¹''' '''²''' '''³''' || Region IV-B || [[Calapan City]], [[Oriental Mindoro]]
|-
| [[Bicol Region]] || Region V || [[Legazpi City]], [[Albay]]
|-
| [[Western Visayas|Western Visayas Region]]'''³''' || Region VI || [[Iloilo City]]
|-
| [[Central Visayas|Central Visayas Region]] || Region VII || [[Cebu City]]
|-
| [[Eastern Visayas|Eastern Visayas Region]] || Region VIII || [[Tacloban City]], [[Leyte]]
|-
| [[Zamboanga Peninsula|Zamboanga Peninsula Region]] || Region IX || [[Pagadian City]]
|-
| [[Northern Mindanao|Northern Mindanao Region]] || Region X || [[Cagayan de Oro City]]
|-
| [[Davao Region]] || Region XI || [[Davao City]]
|-
| [[SOCCSKSARGEN|SOCCSKSARGEN Region]]'''¹''' || Region XII || [[Koronadal City]], [[South Cotabato]]
|-
| [[Caraga|Caraga Region]] || Region XIII || [[Butuan City]]
|-
| [[Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] || ARMM || [[Cotabato City]]
|-
| [[Cordillera Administrative Region]] || CAR || [[Baguio City]]
|-
| [[Metro Manila|National Capital Region]] || NCR || [[Manila]]
|}
'''¹''' Names are capitalized because they are [[acronym]]s, containing the names of the constituent provinces or cities (''see [[Acronyms in the Philippines]]'').<br />
'''²''' These regions formed the former [[Southern Tagalog]] region, or Region IV.<br />
'''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.
==Geography==
{{main|Geography of the Philippines}}
[[Image:Mt.Mayon tam3rd.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Mayon Volcano]], the most active volcano in the Philippines.]]
The Philippines constitutes an [[archipelago]] of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 [[square mile|sq mi]]). It generally 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, the [[South China Sea]] on 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/southwest, and [[Palau]] is to the east beyond the [[Philippine Sea]].<ref name="About"/>
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"/>
[[Image:MountApo1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mount Apo]], the Philippines' tallest mountain.]]
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] at [http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph PAGASA]. Accessed September 30, 2006</ref>
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 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.<ref>{{Citation
|url=http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80346e/80346E00.htm
|title=Economics of the Philippine Milkfish Resource System
|chapter-url=http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80346e/80346E06.htm
|chapter=III. The transformation sub-system: cultivation to market size in fishponds
|author1=Kee-Chai Chong
|author2=Ian R. Smith
|author3=Maura S. Lizarondo
|publisher=The United Nations University
|year=1982
|isbn=92-808-346-8}}</ref>
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] at [http://www.cityofpines.com City of Baguio]. Accessed October 3,2006</ref>
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 (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...] Accessed September 30, 2006</ref>
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the Philippines}}
[[Image:MetroManila.jpg|thumb|left|240px|right|[[Metro Manila]] Skyline.]]
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 [[Tertiary sector of economic activity|service]] industries such as [[tourism]] and, increasingly, [[business process outsourcing]].<ref name="encarta"/><ref>[http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=24405 As India gets too costly, BPOs turn to Philippines] [http://www.inq.net Philippine Daily Inquirer]. Accessed October 2, 2006</ref> The Philippines is listed in the roster of "[[Next Eleven]]" economies.
Historically, the Philippine economy has largely been anchored on the [[Manila galleon]] during the Spanish era, and bilateral trade with the United States during the American era. 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 only to Japan. However, the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos would prove disastrous to the Philippine economy, sliding the country into severe economic [[recession]], only to recover starting 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.<ref name="lastlaugh" />
The [[1997 Asian Financial Crisis|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 is 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.<ref name="lastlaugh" /> By 2004, the Philippine economy experienced six-percent growth in [[gross domestic product]] and 7.3% in 2007,<ref name="2007-gdp">[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=107507 RP 2007 GDP grows 7.3%; fastest in 31 yrs], [[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs]], [[January 31]], [[2008]]</ref> in line with the "7, 8, 9" project of the government to accelerate GDP growth by 2009.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/20/ap3443340.html
|archivedate=2007-02-20
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222103704/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/20/ap3443340.html
|title=Philippines Aims to Boost Growth by 2009
|publisher=forbes.com
|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>
[[Image:Keppel and innove.jpg|thumb|right|175px|right|[[Cebu City]] Business Park.]]
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 of the Philippines|super regions]]" to concentrate on the economic strengths of various regions of the 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.
Despite the growing economy, the Philippines will have to address several chronic problems 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.<ref name="integration">[http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news4_jan27_2007 Large Swiss Firm offers to invest in Philippines] [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com Manila Standard]. Accessed January 27, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=64812 RP ready for Global Trade], [[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs]], accessed February 17, 2007</ref> The Philippine economy is also heavily reliant on remittances as a source of foreign currency, surpassing even foreign direct investment. [[People's Republic of China|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,<ref name="econ-manila">[http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=editorial_july25_2006 Beyond Imperial Manila], [[Manila Standard Today]], accessed [[July 25]], [[2006]]</ref> although the government has taken steps to distribute economic growth by promoting investment in other areas of the Philippines.
The Philippines is a founding member of the [[Asian Development Bank]], playing home to its headquarters. It is also a member of the [[World Bank]], the IMF, the [[Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC), the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), the [[Colombo Plan]], and the [[Group of 77|G-77]], among others.<ref> [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html#Govt International Organization Participation] [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html CIA World Factbook]</ref>
==Demographics==
<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.-->
[[Image:Philippines-demography.png|175px|thumb|Population growth of the Philippines.]]
{{main|Demographics of the Philippines|Filipino people|Overseas Filipino}}
The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2008.<ref name=population /><ref name=IMF2006 />As of 2007, 8% of Filipinos are living abroad as migrant laborers. Roughly half reside 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,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_HDI.pdf
|title=Human Development Indicators
|publisher=[http://www.undp.org United Nations Development Programme]
|archivedate=2007-07-02
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070702184520/http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_HDI.pdf
|page=259
|accessdate=2008-01-09|format=PDF}}</ref><ref name=factbookRPpeople>{{Citation
|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html#People
|title=The Philippines: People
|publisher=CIA World Factbook
|accessdate=2008-01-09
|format={{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AThe+Philippines%3A+People&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref> and about equal for males and females.<ref name=CIAfactbook /> 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.
===Ethnic groups===
<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.-->
{{main|Ethnic groups of the Philippines}}
Majority of 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>{{cite journal
|coauthors = 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
|year = 2001
|title = A Predominantly Indigenous Paternal Heritage for the Austronesian-Speaking Peoples of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania
|journal = American journal of Human Genetics
|format = pdf
|volume = 68
|pages = 432–443
|url = http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/AJHG_2001_v68_p432.pdf
|accessdate = 2007-10-29
|doi = 10.1086/318205
|author = Capelli, C}} (Table 1, p.434)</ref> The [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian-speaking]] peoples, a branch of [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]], migrated to the Philippines and brought their knowledge of rice agriculture and ocean-sailing technology. Filipinos to this day are composed of various [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian-speaking]] [[ethnic group]]s, including but not limited to the [[Visayans]], the [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]], the [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]], the [[Moro people|Moro]], the [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangan]], the [[Bicolano people|Bicolano]], the [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinense]], the [[Igorot]], the [[Lumad]], the [[Mangyan]], the [[Ibanag people|Ibanag]], the [[Bajau|Badjao]], the [[Ivatan people|Ivatan]], and the [[Ethnic Groups of Palawan|Palawan tribes]]. The [[Negritos]], including the [[Aeta]]s and the [[Ati (ethnic group)|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 Filipino|Chinese]] descent currently forms the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, claiming about 1.5% of the population <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ocac.gov.tw/english/public/public.asp?selno=1163&no=1163&level=B
|title=The Ranking of Ethnic Chinese Population
|publisher=Overseas Compatriate Affairs Commission, R.O.C. (Taiwan)
|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref> followed by [[Filipinos of Spanish descent]]. Other significant minorities include [[British Filipino|British]], [[Filipinos of American descent|Americans]], [[Filipinos of Japanese descent|Japanese]], [[South Asians in the Philippines|Asian Indians]], [[Koreans in the Philippines|Koreans]], [[Filipinos of Arab descent|Arabs]] and [[Indonesians]]. Chinese mestizos are those in the Philippines of mixed Chinese and either indigenous Filipino or Spanish (or both) ancestry. They make up between 10-20% of the country's total population.
Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as immigrants and colonizers have intermarried, producing [[Filipino mestizo]]s. These mestizos, apart from being of mixed indigenous Austronesian and European ancestry, can be descended from any [[ethnic group|ethnic]] foreign forebears. The 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; many Filipino mestizos that reside in the Philippines are now of Spanish, American and Chinese descent.
===Languages===
{{main|Languages of the Philippines}}
[[Image:Phillanguages.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Map of the dominant [[Ethnolinguistics|ethnolinguistic]] groups of the Philippines.]]
[[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[English language|English]] are the official languages of the Philippines, but more than 180 languages and dialects are spoken in the archipelago, almost all of them belonging to the [[Borneo-Philippines languages|Borneo-Philippines]] group of the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian language]] branch of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian language family]].
According to the [[Constitution of the Philippines|1987 Constitution]], [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[English language|English]] are both the official languages. Many Filipinos understand, write and speak English, Filipino and their respective regional languages.
[[Filipino language|Filipino]] is the ''de facto'' standardized version of [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] spoken in Metro Manila and urban centers and one of the official languages in the country. English, the other official language, is widely used as a ''[[lingua franca]]'' throughout the country.
Twelve <!--Chavacano is NOT included.--> 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]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]], [[Bikol language|Bikol]], [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]]. [[Kinaray-a language|Kinaray-a]], [[Maranao language|Maranao]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]] and [[Tausug language|Tausug]].
English was imposed by Americans during the U.S. intervention and colonization of the archipelago. English is used in education, churches, religious affairs, print and broadcast media, and business, though the number of people who use it as a second language far outnumber those who speak it as a first language. Still, English is the preferred medium for textbooks and instruction for secondary and tertiary levels. Movies and TV programs in English are not subtitled but many films and TV programs are produced in Filipino. English is the sole language of the law courts.
[[Spanish language in the Philippines|Spanish]] was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries, and became the [[lingua franca]] of the Philippines in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spanish was the language of the [[Philippine Revolution]], and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. However, Spanish was spoken by a total of 60% of the population in the early 1900s as a first, second or third language. Following the American occupation of the Philippines, its use declined after 1940. Currently, only a few [[Filipino Mestizo|Mestizos]] of Spanish or Hispanic origin speak it as their first language, although more use it together with Filipino and English.
Both [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] are recognized as [[auxiliary languages]] in the Filipino Constitution, to be "promoted on a voluntary and optional basis". The use of Arabic is prevalent among [[Filipino Muslim]]s and taught in ''[[madrasah]]'' (Muslim) schools.
===Religion===
{{main|Religion in the Philippines}}
<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.-->
[[Image:MANILACATHEDRAL.jpg|175px|thumb|right|[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila|Manila Cathedral]], officially the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.]]
The Philippines is one of two countries in Asia with Roman Catholic majorities; the other being [[East Timor]]. The Philippines is separated into [[diocese]]s of which the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila|Archdiocese of Manila]] enjoys 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]] (Aglipayan), [[Iglesia ni Cristo]] and others.<ref name=2006census>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.census.gov.ph/data%5cpressrelease%5c2003%5cpr0323tx.html
|archivedate=2007-04-09
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070409163753/http://www.census.gov.ph/data%5cpressrelease%5c2003%5cpr0323tx.html |title=2000 Census: ADDITIONAL THREE PERSONS PER MINUTE
|publisher=National Statistics Office
|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref> While Christianity is a major force in the culture of the Filipinos, indigenous traditions and rituals still influence religious practice.
{{bar box
|title=Philippines religiosity
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|Catholicism|blue|90}}
{{bar percent|Islam|green|5}}
{{bar percent|Others|gray|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, Manila|San Agustin Church]] in Intramuros, Manila; Paoay Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Santa Maria) Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva (Miag-ao) Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Approximately 5% of Filipinos are [[Muslim]]s,<ref name=2006census/> and are locally known as "Moros", having been dubbed this by the Spanish 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 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]], [[Hinduism in the Philippines|Hindus]], [[Sikhs]], and animists, which, along with other non-Christians, non-Muslims and those with no religion, collectively comprise 2.5% of the population.<ref name=factbookRPpeople/>
==Culture==
<!--Please suggest changes through the talk page. Thanks.-->
{{main|Culture of the Philippines}}
[[Image:Ifugao sculpture Louvre 70-1999-4-1.jpg|thumb|right|160px|An [[Ifugao]] sculpture.]]
Filipino culture is a fusion of pre-Hispanic indigenous [[Austronesian people|Austronesian]] civilizations of the Philippines mixed with [[Hispanic culture|Hispanic]] and [[Culture of the United States of America|American]]. It has also been influenced by [[Chinese culture|Chinese]], [[Arab culture|Arab]], and [[Indosphere|Indianized]] cultures.<ref name="encarta"/>
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. These Hispanic influences are most evident in [[literature]], [[folk music]], [[folk dance]], [[language]], [[food]], [[art]] and [[religion]], such as Roman Catholic Church religious festivals.<ref name="encarta"/>
Interestingly, there was relatively little Mexican influence in the Philippines, despite the ties to a Mexican-based administration and the galleon trade. Noticably, the Spanish colonialists preferred Iberian dishes, such as arroz valenciana, to those of the Mexican Indians (adobo preparation is the only exception as the tomato, corn, avocado, and potato in adobo were all introduced from Mexico).
[[Filipino people|Filipinos]] hold major festivities known as barrio [[Festival|fiestas]] to commemorate their patron [[saint]]s. One of the most visible Hispanic legacies 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 [[Spanish naming customs|Spanish naming system]] on the inhabitants of the Philippines. A Spanish name and surname among the majority of Filipinos does not always denote Spanish ancestry.
[[Image:Kulintang 06.jpg|thumb|left|175px|The five instruments of gongs and a drum that make up the Philippine [[kulintang]] ensemble, an example of pre-Hispanic musical tradition present in southern Philippines]]
Names of countless streets, towns and provinces are in Spanish. [[Spanish architecture]] also made a major imprint in the Philippines. This can be seen especially in the country's churches, government buildings and universities. Many Hispanic style houses and buildings are being preserved, like the Spanish colonial town in [[Vigan City]], for protection and conservation. The [[kalesa]] is a horse-driven carriage introduced by the Spaniards and was a major mode of transportation during the colonial times. It is still being used today. [[Cuisine of the Philippines|Filipino cuisine]] is also heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine.
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 [[Pop culture|American Pop cultural trends]], such as the love of [[fast-food]] and [[Film|movies]]; many street corners boast fast-food outlets. Aside from the American commercial giants such as [[McDonald's]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Burger King]], [[KFC]], and [[Shakey's Pizza]], local fast-food chains have also sprung up, including [[Goldilocks Bakeshop|Goldilocks]], [[Jollibee]], [[Greenwich Pizza]] (acquired by Jollibee in 1994<ref name=Jollibee>{{Citation
|url=http://www.jollibee.com.ph/corporate/phenomenon.htm
|archivedate=2007-06-23
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070623034806/http://www.jollibee.com.ph/corporate/phenomenon.htm
|title=The Jollibee Phenomenon
|publisher=Jollibee, Inc.
|accessdate=2008-01-09
|format={{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3AThe+Jollibee+Phenomenon&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}})</ref>), and [[Chowking]] (acquired by Jollibee in 2000<ref name=Jollibee />). Modern day Filipinos also listen to contemporary American music and watch American movies. However, Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) and [[Cinema in the Philippines|Philippine movies]] are also widely appreciated.
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.
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]], [[billiards]], [[football (soccer)]] and [[ten-pin bowling]] being popular games in the country.
==See also==
* [[List of Philippine-related topics]]
* [[List of wettest tropical cyclones by country#Philippines|Wettest-known tropical cyclones in the Philippines]]
* [[Transportation in the Philippines]]
* [[Communications in the Philippines]]
<!--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==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
<!--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.-->
{{sisterlinks|Philippines}}
'''Official'''
* [http://www.gov.ph Official website of the Philippine Government] - Gateway to governmental sites
'''Maps'''
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=12554564&x=122915039&z=6&l=0&m=a WikiSatellite view of Philippines at WikiMapia]
<!--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'''
<!--DO NOT SPAM! THANK YOU!!!-->
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgTdk6fLAk WOW Philippines Tourism Ad]
* [http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/america/philippines Washington Post's: How the Philippines Sees America]
* {{wikitravel}}
* {{wikia|Philippines|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]
* [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://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 general editor)
* [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/FAQ/2802 WikiAnswers: Q&A about the Philippines]
<!--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.-->
'''Wikipedia'''
* [http://www.tl.wikipedia.com Tagalog Wikipedia]
{{Template group
|list =
{{Philippines topics}}
{{Philippines political divisions}}
{{Countries and territories of Southeast Asia}}
{{Countries of the Malay Archipelago}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)}}
{{Austronesian-speaking countries and territories}}
{{East Asia Summit (EAS)}}
{{Latin Union}}
{{Non-Aligned Movement}}
}}
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[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:ASEAN members]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:First republics in Asia]]
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
<!--Interwikis-->
[[af:Filippyne]]
[[als:Philippinen]]
[[ar:الفلبين]]
[[an:Filipinas]]
[[frp:Felipines]]
[[ast:Filipines]]
[[az:Filippin]]
[[bn:ফিলিপাইন]]
[[zh-min-nan:Hui-li̍p-pin]]
[[map-bms:Filipina]]
[[be:Філіпіны]]
[[be-x-old:Філіпіны]]
[[bcl:Filipinas]]
[[bo:ཧྥི་ལེའི་པིན]]
[[bs:Filipini]]
[[br:Filipinez]]
[[bg:Филипини]]
[[ca:Filipines]]
[[cv:Филиппин]]
[[ceb:Pilipinas]]
[[cs:Filipíny]]
[[cy:Pilipinas]]
[[da:Filippinerne]]
[[de:Philippinen]]
[[dv:ފިލިޕީންސް]]
[[et:Filipiinid]]
[[el:Φιλιππίνες]]
[[es:Filipinas]]
[[eo:Filipinoj]]
[[eu:Filipinak]]
[[fa:فیلیپین]]
[[fo:Filipsoyggjar]]
[[fr:Philippines]]
[[fy:Filipinen]]
[[ga:Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha]]
[[gv:Ny h-Ellanyn Phillippeenagh]]
[[gd:Na h-Eileanan Filipineach]]
[[gl:Filipinas - Pilipinas]]
[[hak:Fî-li̍t-pîn]]
[[ko:필리핀]]
[[hi:फ़िलिपीन्स]]
[[hsb:Philippiny]]
[[hr:Filipini]]
[[io:Filipini]]
[[ilo:Filipinas]]
[[bpy:ফিলিপাইন]]
[[id:Filipina]]
[[ia:Philippinas]]
[[ie:Filipines]]
[[is:Filippseyjar]]
[[it:Filippine]]
[[he:הפיליפינים]]
[[jv:Filipina]]
[[pam:Filipinas]]
[[kn:ಫಿಲಿಪ್ಪೀನ್ಸ್]]
[[ka:ფილიპინები]]
[[ks:फिलिपीन्स]]
[[kk:Филиппиндер]]
[[kw:Filipinys]]
[[sw:Ufilipino]]
[[ht:Filipin]]
[[ku:Filîpîn]]
[[la:Philippinae]]
[[lv:Filipīnas]]
[[lb:Philippinen]]
[[lt:Filipinai]]
[[lij:Filippinn-e]]
[[li:Filipiene]]
[[hu:Fülöp-szigetek]]
[[mk:Филипини]]
[[ml:ഫിലിപ്പീന്സ്]]
[[mr:फिलिपाईन्स]]
[[ms:Filipina]]
[[nah:Filipinah]]
[[nl:Filipijnen]]
[[ja:フィリピン]]
[[no:Filippinene]]
[[nn:Filippinane]]
[[nov:Filipines]]
[[oc:Filipinas]]
[[pag:Filipinas]]
[[ps:فلپاين]]
[[km:ហ្វីលីពីន]]
[[pms:Filipin-e]]
[[nds:Philippinen]]
[[pl:Filipiny]]
[[pt:Filipinas]]
[[crh:Filippinler]]
[[ro:Filipine]]
[[qu:Philipinakuna]]
[[ru:Филиппины]]
[[se:Filippiinnat]]
[[sm:Filipaina]]
[[sa:फिलिपीन्स]]
[[sq:Filipinet]]
[[simple:Philippines]]
[[sk:Filipíny]]
[[sl:Filipini]]
[[sr:Филипини]]
[[sh:Filipini]]
[[fi:Filippiinit]]
[[szl:Filipiny]]
[[sv:Filippinerna]]
[[tl:Pilipinas]]
[[ta:பிலிப்பைன்ஸ்]]
[[te:ఫిలిప్పీన్స్]]
[[tet:Filipinas]]
[[th:ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์]]
[[vi:Philippines]]
[[tg:Филиппин]]
[[tr:Filipinler]]
[[tk:Filippinler]]
[[udm:Филиппин]]
[[uk:Філіппіни]]
[[ur:فلپائن]]
[[vo:Filipuäns]]
[[war:Pilipinas]]
[[wuu:菲律宾]]
[[yi:פיליפינען]]
[[zh-yue:菲律賓]]
[[cbk-zam:Filipinas]]
[[diq:Filipin]]
[[bat-smg:Fėlėpinā]]
[[zh:菲律宾]]