Basic Facts about Philippines

Capital:
Manila, population 1.7 million (11.6 for metro area)

Major Cities:
Quezon City (within Metro Manila), population 2.7 million

Caloocan (within Metro Manila), population 1.4 million

Davao City, population 1.4 million

Cebu City, population 800,000

Zamboanga City, population 775,000

Government:

The Philippines has an American-style democracy, headed by a president who is

both head of state and head of government. The president is limited to one 6-
year term in office.

A bicameral legislature made up of an upper house, the Senate, and a lower

house, the House of Representatives, makes laws.

Senators serve for six years, representatives for three.

The highest court is the Supreme Court, made up of a Chief Justice and fourteen
associates.

Population:

The Philippines has a population of more than 90 million people and an annual
growth rate around 2%, making it one of the most populous and fastest growing
countries on Earth.
The original inhabitants, the Negrito, now number only about 30,000. The
majority of Filipinos are from various Malayo-Polynesian groups, including the
Tagalog (28%), Cebuano (13%), Ilocano (9%), Hiligaynon Ilonggo (7.5%) and
others.

Many more recent immigrant groups also live in the country, including Spanish,
Chinese, American and Latin American people.

Economy:

Prior to the global economic slowdown of 2008/09, the economy of the

Philippines had been growing at an average of 5% annually since 2000.

The country's GDP in 2008 was $168.6 billion US, or $3,400 per capita.

The unemployment rate is 7.4% (2008 est.).

The primary industries in the Philippines include agriculture, wood products,

electronics assembly, garment and footwear manufacturing, mining and fishing.
The Philippines also has an active tourism industry and receives remittances from
some 4-5 million overseas Filipino workers.

Electrical power generation from geothermal sources could become important in

the future.

History:

People first reached the Philippines about 30,000 years ago, when the
Negritos immigrated from Sumatra and Borneo via boats or land-bridges.
They were followed by Malays, then Chinese beginning in the ninth
century, and Spaniards in the sixteenth.
Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521.
It was named Philippines after King Philip II. It became the countrys
common name in 1898.
The Spanish Philippines was actually controlled by the government of
Spanish North America prior to Mexican independence in 1810.
 Throughout the Spanish colonial era, the people of the Philippines staged a
number of uprisings. The final, successful revolt began in 1896 and was
marred by the executions of Filipino national hero Jose Rizal (by the
Spanish) and Andres Bonifacio (by rival Emilio Aguinaldo).
The Philippines declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
The Filipino rebels did not defeat Spain unaided; the United States fleet
under Admiral George Dewey actually had destroyed Spanish naval power
in the area in the May 1 Battle of Manila Bay.
The Philippine-American War lasted three years and killed tens of
thousands of Filipinos and about 4,000 Americans.
In 1935, the Philippines was established as a self-governing commonwealth,
with Manuel Quezon as its first president. The nation was slated to become
fully independent in 1945, but World War II interrupted that plan.
Japan invaded the Philippines, leading to the deaths of over a million
Filipinos. The US under General Douglas MacArthur was driven out in 1942
but retook the islands in 1945.
On July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was established. The early
governments struggled to repair the damage caused by World War II.
From 1965 to 1986, Ferdinand Marcos ran the country as a business. He
was forced out in favor of Corazon Aquino in 1986 which ended the darkest
moment in Philippine history.

Other information about Philippines

Its divided in to 3 main Islands: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The two
largest islands are Luzon and Mindanao which make up for two-thirds of
the total land area. Only around one third of the islands are inhabited.
Philippines boast of a coastline of 36,289 kilometers. However, it still ranks
fifth in the world for having the longest coastline.
The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands, totaling about 300,000 sq. km.
(117,187 sq. mi.)
Mount Apo, found on the island of Mindanao is the highest point in
Philippines. The height of this mountain is 2,954 m.
 The Philippines has a population of more than 90 million people and an
annual growth rate around 2%, making it one of the most populous and
fastest growing countries on Earth.
About five percent of Filipinos are Muslim, mostly living on the islands of
Mindanao and Palawanislands closest to the Muslim countries of
Malaysia and Indonesia.
There are 2 official languages in the Philippines : Filipino and English
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo created one of the largest mushroom
clouds in history.
Two of the largest naval battles in history were fought in the Philippine
seas.
Theres an islet in the Philippines within a lake on an island within a lake on
an island.
The 10 largest shopping malls in the world, 3 are in the Philippines. SM
Megamall is the 3rd largest mall in the world, while SM City North EDSA
and SM Mall of Asia are the 4th and 10th largest.
The National Flag of the Philippines can be inverted to officially declare a
state of war.
The three largest known pearls in the world were found in the Philippines.
The top 3 most densely populated cities in the world are in Metro Manila.
During Manny Pacquiao boxing fights, the crime rate in the Philippines
almost drops to zero.
Super Typhoon Haiyan has the strongest wind ever recorded at landfall.
Camiguin has the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer than any
other island on Earth.
The Philippines is the world's largest exporter of coconuts and tropical
fruits, such as papaya and mangosteen.
There are 175 individual languages in the Philippines, 171 of which are
living languages while the 4 others no longer have any known speakers.
The Philippines has the highest rate of discovery of new animal species with
16 new species of mammals discovered just in the last 10 years.
 Filipinos are the 4th largest immigrant group in the U.S. After Mexican,
China and India.
Hospitality is important to Filipinos. Guests are made to feel at ease and
should in turn, are tactful and sincere
The average Filipino family is large, often with four or more children.
Conversation is casual during meals. The best way for a guest to
compliment a meal is to eat heartily.
The Philippines has an American-style democracy, headed by a president
who is both head of state and head of government. The president is limited
to one 6-year term in office.
The Philippines is the largest supplier of nurses in the world.
It is known Philippines as the text capital of the world because of the large
number of texts sent to-and-fro by the people in one day.

REFERENCES:

Szczepanski, K. (16, July 28). The Philippines: Facts and History. Retrieved
December 12, 2016, from
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/philippines/p/philippinesprof.htm

Sabornido, L. R. (2015, September 17). 10 Facts about the Philippines that will
Blow Your Mind. Retrieved December 12, 2016, from http://faq.ph/facts-about-
the-philippines-that-will-blow-your-mind/

Carmack, J. (2014, February). 20 Interesting Facts About The Philippines.

Retrieved December 12, 2016, from http://truenomads.com/2014/02/interesting-
facts-about-the-philippines/