Discovering the World
Philippines 🇵🇭
Basic facts
Official name: Republic of the Philippines/Republika ng Pilipinas (English/Filipino)
Capital city: Manila
Population: 115.3 million (2023)
Demonym: Filipino
Type of government: unitary presidential republic
Head of state and government: Bongbong Marcos (President)
Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $1.39 trillion (2024)
Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 41.2% (medium) (2021)
Human Development Index: 0.710 (high) (2022)
Currency: Philippine peso (PHP)
Fun fact: It is home to the world’s longest snake.
Etymology
The country’s name comes from Philip II of Castile, who was Prince of Asturias at the time of their discovery by the Europeans.
Geography
The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia, south of Taiwan and north of Indonesia, and is surrounded by the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.
There are four main climates: tropical rainforest in the east and south, tropical monsoon, dry-winter tropical savanna, and monsoon-influenced subtropical highland in the west. Temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in winter to 31 °C (87.8 °F) in spring. The average annual temperature is 25.7 °C (78.2 °F).
The country is divided into eighteen regions (rehiyon), which are further divided into 82 provinces (probinsiya). The largest cities in the Philippines are Quezon City, Manila, Davao City, Caloocan, and Taguig.
History
3000 BCE: Austronesian migration
2000 BCE-1000 CE: Philippine jade culture
900-1589: Kingdom of Tondo
971-1339: Ma-i
1001-1597: Rajahnate of Butuan
1175-1571: Namayan
1200-1569: Confederation of Madja-as
1225-1576: Ming dynasty
1280-1405: Lupah Sug
1292-1527: Majapahit
1350-1905: Sultanate of Buayan
1363-1906: Sultanate of Brunei
1400-1565: Rajahnate of Cebu
1457-1915: Sultanate of Sulu
1486-1950: Sultanate of Ternate
1500-1571: Maynila
1515-1926: Sultanate of Maguindanao
1565-1567: Dagami Revolt
1565-1898: Viceroyalty of New Spain; Spanish-Moro conflict
1574: Lakandula and Sulayman Revolt
1585: Pampanga Revolt
1587-1588: Tondo Conspiracy
1589: Cagayan and Dingras Revolts Against the Tribute
1596: Magalat Revolt
1601: Igorot Revolt
1603: Sangley Rebellion
1607: Caquenga’s Revolt
1616-1904: Confederate States of Lanao
1621-1622: Bankaw Revolt; Tamblot uprising
1625: Itneg Revolt
1643: Ladia Revolt
1649-1650: Sumuroy Revolt
1660-1661: Malong Revolt; Maniago Revolt
1661: Almazan Revolt
1662: Chinese Revolt
1663: Panay Revolt
1681-1683: Zambal Revolt
1744-1829: Dagohoy Rebellion
1745-1746: Agrarian Revolt
1762-1763: Silang Revolt
1762-1764: British occupation; Palaris Revolt
1807: Basi Revolt
1823: Novales Revolt
1828: Palmero Conspiracy
1840-1841: Pule Revolt
1843: Tayabas Regiment Revolt
1872: Cavite Mutiny
1896-1899: Philippine Revolution
1898-1901: Republic of Negros
1898-1902: Military Government of the Philippine Islands
1899-1902: Philippine-American War
1902-1935: Insular Government of the Philippine Islands
1935-1941: Commonwealth of the Philippines
1941-1945: Japanese occupation
1945-1972: Third Philippine Republic
1962-present: North Borneo dispute
1968-2019: Moro conflict
1972-1981: martial law
1981-1986: Fourth Philippine Republic
1986: People Power Revolution
1986-present: Fifth Philippine Republic
2010: Manila hostage crisis
2016-2022: Philippine Drug War
Economy
The Philippines mainly imports from China, Indonesia, and Japan and exports to the United States, Japan, and China. Its top exports are electronic integrated circuits, coconut oil, and bananas.
It has copper, gold, nickel, and silver reserves. Services represent 62.3% of the GDP, followed by industry (29.1%) and agriculture (8.6%).
The Philippines is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Demographics
The Tagalog people are the largest ethnic group (26%), followed by the Visayans (14.3%), Ilocan (8%), Cebuano (8%), Hiligaynon (7.9%), Bicolano (6.5%), and Waray (3.8%). The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 85.3% of the population, 78.8% of which is Catholic.
It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.9 children per woman. 54% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 72.6 years and the median age is 25.7 years. The literacy rate is 97%.
Languages
The official languages of the country are English and Filipino, which is a standardized version of Tagalog. Nineteen others are regional languages: Aklanon (spoken natively by 0.4% of the population), Bikol (3.9%), Cebuano (22.5%), Chavacano (0.6%), Hiligaynon (7.3%), Ibanag (0.2%), Ilocano (7.1%), Ivatan (0.02%), Kapampangan (2.4%), Kinaray-a (0.9%), Maguindanaon (1.4%), Maranao (1%), Pangasinan (1.3%), Sambal (0.06%), Surigaonon (0.4%), Tagalog (39.9%), Tausūg (1%), Waray (2.6%), and Yakan (0.09%).
Culture
Spanish and USAmerican influences are very present in Filipino culture. Pakikisama, which means “to get along with other people”, is a key value in the Philippines.
Men traditionally wear an embroidered shirt (barong) and loose-fitting pants. Women wear a narrow dress with butterfly sleeves (terno) or a blouse (baro) and a tight skirt (saya).
Indigenous men wear a wraparound skirt (sarong), a band on their chest, and a headpiece. Women wear a blouse (silup), a wraparound skirt (tapis), cross bands (pilaked), and a headband (dalisdis).
Architecture
Traditional houses in the Philippines are built on stilts and made of wood and reef and have thatched roofs.
Cuisine
The Filipino diet is based on fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include binakol (chicken soup in coconut water with vegetables), biko (a cake made of brown sugar, coconut milk, and sticky rice and topped with syrup), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato sauce and liver paste), pancit luglug (noodles with chorizo, hard-boiled eggs, and shrimp), and pinakbet (vegetables with shrimp).
Holidays and festivals
Like other Christian and Muslim countries, the Philippines celebrates Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, Immaculate Conception, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. It also commemorates New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Labor Day, and New Year’s Eve.
Specific Filipino holidays include EDSA Revolution Anniversary on February 25, Day of Valor on April 9, Independence Day on June 12, Ninoy Aquino Day on August 23, National Heroes Day on August 26, Bonifacio Day on November 30, and Rizal Day on December 30.
EDSA Revolution Anniversary
Other celebrations include the Peñafrancia Festival, which features a fluvial parade; Sinulog, which honors the Holy Child with dance and music, and Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival, which revolves around boat races and parades.
Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival
Landmarks
There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Historic City of Vigan, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Rice Terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Other landmarks include the Santo Niño Basilica, the Chocolate Hills, Fort Santiago, the Ruins, and the Tabon Caves.
Ruins
Famous people
Alex Eala - tennis player
Bella Poarch - singer
Clint Ramos - costume designer
Cristeta Comerford - chef
Efren Reyes - pool player
Hidilyn Díaz - weightlifter
Jake Zyrus - singer
Manny Jacinto - actor
Manny Pacquiao - boxer and politician
Pia Wurtzbach - actress and model
Bella Poarch
You can find out more about life in the Philippines in this article and this video.
