COUNTRY PROFILE OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
COUNTRY NAME
: Republic of the Philippines
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
: Democratic
CAPITAL
: Manila
GEOGRAPHY
The
Philippine archipelago is geographically located
between latitude 4023'N and 21025'N and longitude
1160E and 1270E. It is composed of 7,107 islands,
with a land area of 299,764 sq.kilometers. Its
length measures 1,850 kilometers, starting from the
point near the southern tip of Taiwan and ending
close to northern Borneo. Its breadth is about 965
kilometers. The Philippine coastline adds up to
17,500 km. Three prominent bodies of water surround
the archipelago: the Pacific Ocean on the east, the
South China Sea on the west and north, and the
Celebes Sea on the south. This position accounts for
much of the variations in geographic, climatic and
vegetational conditions in the country.
The
topography of the bigger islands - particularly
Luzon and Mindanao - is characterized by alluvial
plains, narrow valleys, rolling hills and high
mountains. The highest mountains are found in
Mindanao and Luzon, with the altitudes varying from
1,790 to 3,144 meters. Most of the smaller islands
are mountainous in the interior, surrounded by
narrow strips of discontinuous flat lowlands which
constitute the coastal rims. The shorelines of both
large and small islands are irregular.
The
Philippines' fertile land accounts for the more than
900 species of orchids representing 100 genera that
have been found. The sampaguita is the national
flower. Among the country's fauna are some
endangered species like the Philippine Eagle, the
tarsier, and the mouse deer.
Metro
Manila is strategically located in the middle of
Luzon, on the eastern coast of Manila Bay and at the
mouth of the Pasig River, sprawled over an area of
626 sq.km. Manila sits in the middle of a swampy
deltaic plain formed by accumulated sedimentary
deposits from the Pasig River and other streams.
The city
is between the bay to the west, the highlands to the
east, and Laguna de Bay to the southeast. Most of
its densely populated areas are found along the
Pasig River running across the metropolis dividing
it into two sections - the north and the south.
TIME ZONE:
GMT + 8
hours. Check out the
Philippine Standard Time
HISTORY
Before
the Spanish conquistadores came, a thriving
community flourished on the banks of the Pasig
River. It was called "Maynilad", after the nilad
plant whose star-shaped flowers clustered in
abundance along the low-lying river banks.
The lord
of the riverside kingdom was Raha Sulayman who held
court on the south side of the river while his
uncle, Lakandula, ruled on the north side. The
Spaniards were set on conquering this community.
After the savage Battle of Bangkusay, where they
overtook the natives with their awesome firepower,
the Spaniards conquered Manila. In this Battle,
Sulayman was killed.
Realizing
its strategic position as a trading center and
military outpost, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, head of
the Spanish expedition, promptly declared Manila the
capital of the new colonies won by Spain. On June
24, 1571, Manila was declared the capital of the
entire achipelago. Delighted by this conquest, the
King of Spain awarded the city a coat of arms and
the grandiose title: "The Noble and Ever Loyal
City". Soon, Manila became a replica of a European
medieval city. There were churches, palaces and city
halls built in the Spanish baroque style. Work began
on building a wall around the city to keep the
pirates and Moros at bay. It took 150 years to
finish this wall. The end result was an astounding
eight foot-thick, three mile-long wall, with two
forts and a bastion, 370 guns in place, manned by a
force of 5,000 men and 10,000 reserves. This walled
city became known as Intramuros.
Beautiful
as it was, Intramuros stood as a perfect
illustration of the discrimination at that time
against the natives called Indios. Although it was
built by Indio workers and Chinese artisans,
Intramuros was meant only for the clergy and the
Spanish nobility. The natives could not enter except
to work as servants. Outside the walls, in the
arabales or suburbs, lived the Indios, the Chinese
and other foreigners. The diversity of trade and
culture in the suburbs made it alive and
interesting. Tondo, Binondo, Sta. Cruz, and Quiapo
bustled with commerce. These places were home to the
merchants, carpenters, blacksmiths, carriage makers,
masons, and other artisans.
Over the
centuries, the Spanish rule was occasionally
threatened by attacks from the sea and by internal
uprisings. The Chinese, Dutch and British all tried
to lay siege on Manila but were unsuccessful. But
the 1880's saw the birth of a reform movement led by
Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal
(the national hero). This reform movement ultimately
led to a revolution and by 1898, the days of the
Castilian rule were numbered. The most lasting
legacy of the Spanish rule was the Catholic religion
which makes the Philippines the only Christian
nation in Asia.
But as
soon as the Spaniards left, the Americans took over.
1902 was the beginning of the American era, a period
characterized by the expansion of public education,
advances in health care and the introduction of
democratic government. The outbreak of war in the
Pacific in 1941 disrupted American rule. Manila was
declared an open city and the Americans withdrew
their defenses. For three years, Manila was occupied
by the Japanese imperial forces. Life at that time
was made difficult by strict Japanese military rule.
When the American troops entered Manila to liberate
it, they had to bomb the city to dislodge the
tenacious Japanese. Manila was devastated.
On July
4, 1946, a year after the end of the war, the
Philippine flag was hoisted signalling the
recognition of Philippine independence.
THE PEOPLE
The
Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a
sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish and Arab
blood. The Philippines has a population of
76.5 million as of May 2000,
and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines
between stocks. From a long history of Western
colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of
merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique
blend of east and west, both in appearance and
culture.
The
Filipino character is actually a little bit of all
the cultures put together. The bayanihan or spirit
of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous
for, is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The
close family relations are said to have been
inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from
the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the
16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in
the Filipino character and this is what
distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are probably
one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient
Oriental people today. Pilipino is the official
national language, with English considered as the
country's unofficial one.
The
Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally
into regions, and each regional group is
recognizable by distinct traits and dialects - the
sturdy and frugal Ilocanos of the north, the
industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the
carefree Visayans from the central islands and the
colorful tribesmen and religious Moslems of
Mindanao. Tribal communities can be found scattered
across the archipelago. The Philippines has more
than 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions
of these basic regional and cultural groups.
Some 80
percent of the population is Catholic, Spain's
lasting legacy. About 15 percent is Moslem and these
people can be found basically in Mindanao. The rest
of the population is made up mostly of smaller
Christian denominations and Buddhist.
The
country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly
in the Philippines, East meets West. The background
of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are
Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of
American rule and contact with merchants and traders
culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both
in the appearance and culture of the people of the
Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.
Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino,
makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia.
Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy
the company of their Western visitors. Perhaps due
to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are
emotional and passionate about life, in a way that
seems more Latin than Asian.
Ethnic
Groups: 91.5% Christian Malay, 4% Muslim Malay ,1.5%
Chinese and 3% other.
CULTURE AND ARTS
The major
cultural agencies of government are the
Cultural Center of the Philippines,
the
National Historical Institute,
the National Museum, The
National Library,
the Records Management and Archives Office, and the
Commission on the Filipino Language.
The Heads of these cultural agencies are all
ex-officio members of the NCCA Board and all except
the Commission on the Filipino Language are together
under the
National Commission on Culture and Arts.
CLIMATE
The
Philippines has a tropical climate with relatively
abundant rainfall and gentle winds. There are three
pronounced seasons: the wet or rainy season from
June to October, the cool, dry season from November
to February, and the hot, dry season from March to
May.
Temperature in Manila ranges from 21?C to 32?C with
a 27?C average. The coolest month is January and the
warmest is May. Both temperature and humidity levels
reach the maximum in April and May, but these are
generally good months for aquasports and mountain
trekking. Some of the most colorful festivals are
held during these months.
more info
LANGUAGE
Two
official languages --- Filipino and English.
Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, is the national
language. English is also widely used and is the
medium of instruction in higher education.
Eight (8)
major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos:
Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo,
Bicolano, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.
Filipino is that native language which is used
nationally as the language of communication among
ethnic groups.
Like any living language, Filipino is in a process
of development through loans from Philippine
languages and non-native languages for various
situations, among speakers of different social
backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and
scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major
language groups, with more than 500 dialects.
RELIGION
Predominantly Christian.
Catholics - 82.9%
Protestants - 5.4%
Islam - 4.6%
Philippine Independent Church - 2.6%
Iglesia ni Cristo - 2.3%
Historically, the Filipinos have embraced two of the
great religions of the world - Islam and
Christianity. Islam was introduced during the 14th
century shortly after the expansion of Arab
commercial ventures in Southeast Asia. Today, it is
limited to the southern region of the country.
Christianity was introduced as early as the 16th
century with the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in
1521.
Protestantism was introduced by the first
Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries who arrived
with the American soldiers in 1899.
Two
Filipino independent churches were organized at the
turn of the century and are prominent today. These
are the Aglipay (Philippine Independent Church) and
the Iglesia Ni Kristo (Church of Christ) founded in
1902 and 1914, respectively. Recently, the Aglipay
signed a covenant with the Anglican Church. The
Iglesia ni Kristo has expanded its membership
considerably. Its churches, with their unique
towering architecture are landmarks in almost all
important towns, provincial capitals and major
cities.
GOVERNMENT
The new
Philippine Constitution
was ratified in early 1987, signalling the country's
return to democracy.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
Chief of state:
President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
(since 30 June 2004) and
Vice-President Noli de Castro
(since 30 June 2004); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet:
Cabinet
appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments' elections: president and
vice-president elected on separate tickets by
popular vote for six-year terms; election last held
16 May 2004 (next elections to be held on May 2010)
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:
Bicameral
Congress or Kongreso consists of the
Senate or Senado
(24 seats: one-half elected every three years;
members elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and the
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga
Kinatawan
(214 seats: members elected by popular vote to serve
three-year terms. Additional members may be
appointed by the President but the Constitution
prohibits the House of Representatives from having
more than 250 members) Elections: Senate - last held
16 May 2004 (next elections to be held on May 2010);
House of Representatives - elections last held 16
May 2004 (next elections to be held on May 2010)
JUDICIAL BRANCH:
Supreme Court
(justices are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and
serve until 70 years of age)
ECONOMY
Overview:
Due to the combined effect of the Asian financial
crisis and poor weather conditions, GDP growth in
1998 fell to about-0.5% from 5% in 1997, but
recovered to about 3% in 1999 and 3.6% in 2000. Upon
assuming office, President Arroyo and her Economic
Team put in place an economic plan to ensure that
the economy is on track for equitable development
and sustainable growth. The Philippine Economic Plan
comprises a comprehensive set of fiscal discipline
measures and market reforms linked to clear targets.
This plan recognizes that a stable macroeconomic
environment is a pre-requisite to stimulating
investment and sustainable growth. It integrates a
well-coordinated set of strategic fiscal and
monetary policy priorities that support a sound
fiscal and debt position, low rates and inflation,
and healthy current account levels. It also outlines
guidelines related to good governance practices that
ensure that reforms are effective and long lasting.
more info
POPULATION
76.5
million as of May 2000.
For more
info, visit http://www.popcom.gov.ph/
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION
APEC, ARF,
AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
EDUCATION
Philippine education is patterned after the American
system, with English as the medium of instruction.
Schools are classified into public (government) or
private (non-government).
The
general pattern of formal education follows four
stages: Pre-primary level (nursery and kindergarten)
offered in most private schools; six years of
primary education, followed by four years of
secondary education. College education usually takes
four, sometimes five and in some cases as in medical
and law schools, as long as eight years. Graduate
schooling is an additional two or more years.
Classes
in Philippine schools start in June and end in
March. Colleges and universities follow the
semestral calendar from June-October and
November-March. There are a number of foreign
schools with study programs similar to those of the
mother country
