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| Republic of the Philippines Republika ng Pilipinas (Filipino) | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Republic of the Philippines |
| Alias(es) | Philippines |
| Country code(s) |
PH |
| Continent | Asia |
| Continental region |
Southeast Asia |
| Area | 300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| Date format | mm-dd-yyyy, dd-mm-yyyy (AD) |
| Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic |
| Constitution | The Philippine constitution |
| Head of the government |
President |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Vice president | Leni Robredo |
| Senate president |
Aquilino Pimentel III |
| House speaker |
Pantaleon Alvarez |
| Chief justice | Maria Lourdes Sereno |
| Strength(s) | Presidency, republic, Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Executive branch |
Cabinet of the Philippines |
| Legislature | Congress |
| Judicial branch |
Supreme court |
| Affiliation(s) | United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), East Asia Summit (EAS) |
| Military | Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Marine Corps (all are the parts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) |
| Population | 105,585,576 |
| Capital | Manila |
| Largest city | Quezon City |
| Race(s) | Humans |
| Official language(s) |
Filipino (based on Tagalog), English |
| National language |
Filipino |
| Regional language(s) |
Aklanon, Bisaya, Central Bikol, Cebuano, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Pangasinan, Sambal, Surigaonon, Tagalog, Taūsug, Waray, Yakan (all are major regional languages) |
| Optional language(s) |
Spanish, Arabic |
| Religion(s) | Roman Catholicism, Christianity, Islam |
| Ethnic group(s) |
Visayan, Tagalog, Ilocano, Bicolano, Moro, Kapampangan, Igorot, Pangasinense, Chinese Filipinos, Zamboangueño, Multiracial Filipinos |
| Demonym(s) | Filipino (male or both genders), Filipina (female), Pinoy (male or neutral), Pinay (female), Philippine |
| Currency | Philippine Peso |
| Independence Day |
June 12 |
| National anthem |
Lupang Hinirang (Chosen Land) |
| Formed from |
Sovereignty of the republic (independence from the Spanish rule and American colonization) |
| Established | June 12, 1898 |
| Engagement(s) | Philippine revolution, Phlippine revolts against Spain, Cry of Pugad Lawin, Siege of Baler, Philippine-American War, Moro Rebellion, World War II, Korean War, Civil conflict in the Philippines, CPP–NPA–NDF rebellion, Communist insurgency in the Philippines, Moro conflict, War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines |
| Status | Active |
| “ | Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa (For God, People, Nature, and Country) | „ |
| ~ The official motto of the Philippines |
The Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), commonly known as the Philippines (Pilipinas or Filipinas), is a unitary sovereign territory and island country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous and largest city is Quezon City, both part of Metro Manila. Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east and Malaysia and Indonesia to the south.
The Philippines' location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's greatest biodiversity. The Philippines has an area of 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi), and a population of approximately 103 million. It is the eighth-most populated country in Asia and the 12th most populated country in the world. As of 2013, approximately 10 million additional Filipinos lived overseas, comprising one of the world's largest diasporas. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples. Exchanges with Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Islamic nations occurred. Then, various competing maritime states were established under the rule of Datus, Rajahs, Sultans or Lakans.
The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Homonhon, Eastern Samar in 1521 marked the beginning of Hispanic colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas in honor of Philip II of Spain. With the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi from Mexico City, in 1565, the first Hispanic settlement in the archipelago was established. The Philippines became part of the Spanish Empire for more than 300 years. This resulted in Catholicism becoming the dominant religion. During this time, Manila became the western hub of the trans-Pacific trade connecting Asia with Acapulco in the Americas using Manila galleons.
As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, the Philippine Revolution followed in quick succession, which then spawned the short-lived First Philippine Republic, followed by the bloody Philippine–American War. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until after World War II, when the Philippines was recognized as an independent nation. Since then, the Philippines has often had a tumultuous experience with democracy, which included the overthrow of a dictatorship by a non-violent revolution.
It is a founding member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the East Asia Summit. It also hosts the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank. The Philippines is considered to be an emerging market and a newly industrialized country, which has an economy transitioning from being one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. It is one of the only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being East Timor.
Etymology[]
- Main article: Name of the Philippines in Wikipedia
History[]
- Main article: History of the Philippines in Wikipedia