Jump to content

Philippines

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 222.127.12.76 (talk) at 12:34, 18 November 2008 (→‎History). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the country in Southeast Asia. For the town in the Netherlands, see Philippine (Netherlands).
Republic of the Philippines
Republika ng Pilipinas
Motto: "Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa"
English: "For God, People, Nature, and Country" [1]
Anthem: "Lupang Hinirang"
(English: "Chosen Land")
Location of the Philippines
CapitalManila
Largest cityQuezon City
Official languagesFilipino, and English
Recognised regional languagesTagalog, Bikol, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, and Waray-Waray [2]
National languageFilipino
Ethnic groups
Aeta · Ati · Bajau · Bicolano · Ibanag · Igorot · Ilocano · Ivatan · Kapampangan · Lumad · Mangyan · Moro · Palawan tribes · Pangasinan· Sambal · Tagalog · Visayans · Chinese · European · Spanish · Mestizo · Chabacano/Zamboangueño
Demonym(s)Filipino, Pinoy
GovernmentUnitary presidential constitutional republic
• President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Noli de Castro
Independence 
from Spain
from United States
1565
• Declared
June 12, 1898
March 24, 1934
July 4, 1946
February 2, 1987
Area
• Total
300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi)[3] (72nd)
• Water (%)
0.61%[3]
Population
• 2008 estimate
90.5 million[4] (12th)
• 2007 census
88,574,614 [5]
• Density
295/km2 (764.0/sq mi) (32nd)
GDP (PPP)2007 estimate
• Total
$497.673 billion[6]
• Per capita
$5,102[6]
GDP (nominal)2007 estimate
• Total
$144.062 billion[6]
• Per capita
$1,626[6]
Gini (2006)45.8[3]
Error: Invalid Gini value
HDI (2007/2008)Increase 0.771[7]
Error: Invalid HDI value (90th)
CurrencyPeso (Filipino: piso ) (PHP)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
Calling code63
ISO 3166 codePH
Internet TLD.ph, .edu, .tv
  1. Spanish, and Arabic are recognized as auxiliary languages in the Philippine Constitution.
  2. 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.

The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is an island country located in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippines 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 the world's 12th most populous country with a population of 90 million people.[4][6] Its national economy is the 46th largest in the world with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$154.073 billion.[6] There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. It is a multi-ethnic country. Ecologically, The Philippines is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse countries in the world.[8]

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in 1521,[9] the Philippines was settled by Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) peoples. The Philippines became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, as an extension of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. In 1896, rebellion led to the Philippine Revolution that won independence from Spain during the Spanish-American War of 1898. American occupation led to the Philippine-American War which ended in 1902. The Philippines became a territory of the United States in the 20th century. A Commonwealth government was established in 1935, which allowed self-governance. The country gained its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946 after World War II. Martial law was declared in 1972 which led to the insurgencies of the New People's Army and the Moro National Liberation Front. Liberal parties then led People Power Revolution of 1986, which would bring the country back to democracy.[3]

The Philippines is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia-Pacific, the other being East Timor. Pre-Hispanic indigenous rituals still exist; and there are also followers of Islam.[10] Spanish was an official language of the Philippines until 1973. Since then, the two official languages are Filipino, and English.[3]

The name Philippines was derived from King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos used the name Las Islas Filipinas (The Philippine Islands) in honor of the then Crown Prince during his expedition to the Philippines, originally referring to the islands of Leyte and Samar. Despite the presence of other names, the name Filipinas (Philippines) was eventually adopted as the name of the entire archipelago

History

Main article: History of the Philippines

Archeological and paleontological discoveries show that Humans existed in Palawan around 50,000 BC. The aboriginal people of the Philippines, the Negritos, are an Australo-Melanesian people who arrived in the Philippines at least 30,000 years ago. The Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) people, originated from populations of Taiwanese aborigines that migrated from mainland Asia approximately 6000 years ago, who settled in the islands and eventually migrated to Indonesia, Malaysia and, soon after, to the Polynesian islands and Madagascar.[11]

The Islands were known as Mayi or Lu sung to Asian countries, and Chryse to the Greeks, as described by the geographer Ptolemy. [12] The Philippines had cultural ties with Malaysia, Indonesia, India during ancient times, and trade relations with southern China and other neighbouring countries as early as the 9th century.

The Islamic religion was brought to the Philippines by traders and proselytizers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Arabia.[13] By the 13th century, Islam was established in the Sulu Archipelago and spread from there to Mindanao; it had reached parts of the Visayas and Luzon region by 1565. Muslim converts established Islamic communities and states ruled by Datus, Rajahs or Sultans. When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, the majority of the estimated 500,000 people in the islands lived in independent settlements.

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 Mazaua on March 28, 1521 where the first mass in the Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521.[14] Magellan arrived at Cebu on April 7, 1521, befriending Rajah Humabon and converting his family and other nearby islanders to Christianity.[14] However, Magellan would later be killed in the Battle of Mactan by native warriors led by Rajah Lapu-Lapu, a rival of Rajah 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. [15]

Spanish rule brought political unification to an archipelago of previously independent islands and communities which later became the Philippines, and introduced elements of western civilization such as the code of law, printing and the Gregorian calendar.[16] The Philippines was ruled as a territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1565 to 1821, but after Mexico gained independence from Spain, the islands were administered directly from Madrid, Spain. 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 the Americas and silver from Mexico on the return trip to the Philippines. The Spanish military fought off various native revolts, and several external threats, especially from the British, Chinese pirates, Dutch, and 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.[17]

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. 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 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.[18]

The Spanish-American War began in Cuba in 1898 and soon reached the Philippines when Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at the 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 ceded the Philippines, together with Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States during the Treaty of Paris in 1898. 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 struggle continued until 1913 claiming the lives of over a million Filipinos.[19][20] 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 Japan invaded and occupied the islands. After the Japanese were defeated in 1945 and control returned to the combined Filipino and American forces in the Liberation of the Philippine Islands from 1944 to 1945, the Philippines was granted independence from the United States on July 4, 1946.[3]

File:B155.jpg
A 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. 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 decree.

Upon returning from exile in the United States, opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr., was assassinated on August 21, 1983. In January 1986, Marcos allowed for a 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 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.[21]

The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 were hampered by national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Islamic separatist movement. The Philippine economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected in 1992.[22] 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. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took Philippine leadership in 2001 following the impeachment of the Estrada government.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Philippines
Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mindanao.
The Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
The limestone islands of El Nido, Palawan.
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 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.[2]

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.[2]

The local climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5 °C (79.7 °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 "Tag-lamig" (the cold season from December to February). The southwest monsoon (from May to October) is known as the "Habagat" and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (from November to April) as the "Amihan".[23]

Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in tropical rainforest and are volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo located in Mindanao measuring at 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level. There are many active volcanos such as Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The country also lies within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific and approximately 19 typhoons strike per year.[24]

Lying on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine Islands experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activities. Some 20 earthquakes are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt. The last great earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake.[25]

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 and Leyte.[26]

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Philippines
File:4ecdcaa9.jpg
Skyline of Ortigas Center in the foreground with Makati in the background on the left.

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 service industries such as tourism and, increasingly, business process outsourcing.[10][27] The Philippines is listed in the roster of the "Next Eleven" economies.

Makati City is the main central business district of Metro Manila.
Ortigas Center Business District.

Historically, the Philippine economy has largely been anchored on the Manila galleon during the Spanish period, and bilateral trade with the United States during the American period. 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 to Japan. However, the leardership 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.[22]

File:Keppel and innove.jpg
Cebu City Business Park.
File:Landpryce2.jpg
The Pryce Business Park in Metro Davao.

The 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 was 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.[22] By 2004, the Philippine economy experienced six percent growth in gross domestic product and 7.3% in 2007,[28] in line with the "7, 8, 9" project of the government to accelerate GDP growth by 2009.[29]

File:Monument To Immortality.jpg
The Philippine Stock Exchange.

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" 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 tasks 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.[30][31] The Philippine economy is also heavily reliant on remittances as a source of foreign currency, surpassing even foreign direct investment. 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,[32] 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 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), playing home to its headquarters. It is also a member of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Colombo Plan, and the G-77, among others.[33]

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of the Philippines
See also: Foreign relations of the Philippines, President of the Philippines, and Constitution of the Philippines
Further information: [[:Armed Forces of the Philippines]]
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Philippines has a presidential, unitary form of government (with some modification; there is one autonomous region largely free from the national government), where the President functions as both head of state and head of government, and is commander-in-chief of the 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.[2]

The bicameral Congress is composed of a Senate, serving as the upper house whose members are elected nationally to a six year term, and a House of Representatives serving as the lower house whose members are elected to a three year term and are elected from both legislative districts and through sectoral representation.[2]

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding officer and fourteen associate justices, all appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.[2] Attempts to amend the constitution to either a federal, unicameral or parliamentary form of government have been satisfactory since the Ramos administration. [34]

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 United States, but also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.[2]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of the Philippines
Provinces and regions of the Philippines.

The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These are divided into 17 regions, 81 provinces, 136 cities, 1,494 municipalities and 41,995 barangays.[35] In addition, the Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the Philippines has acquired dominion and sovereignty over Sabah, North Borneo.[36]

Region Designation Capital
Ilocos Region Region I San Fernando City, La Union
Cagayan Valley Region II Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Central Luzon Region III City of San Fernando, Pampanga
CALABARZON¹ ² Region IV-A Calamba City, Laguna
MIMAROPA¹ ² ³ Region IV-B Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
Bicol Region Region V Legazpi City, Albay
Western Visayas Region VI Iloilo City, Iloilo
Central Visayas Region VII Cebu City, Cebu
Eastern Visayas Region VIII Tacloban City, Leyte
Zamboanga Peninsula Region IX Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
Northern Mindanao Region X Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental
Davao Region Region XI Davao City, Davao del Sur
SOCCSKSARGEN¹ Region XII Koronadal City, South Cotabato
Caraga Region XIII Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ARMM Cotabato City, Maguindanao
Cordillera Administrative Region CAR Baguio City, Benguet
National Capital Region NCR Manila

¹ Names are capitalized because they are acronyms, containing the names of the constituent provinces or cities (see Acronyms in the Philippines).
² These regions formed the former Southern Tagalog region, or Region IV.
³ Palawan was moved from Region IV-B as known as MIMAROPA to Region VI. But after a few months, Palawan was moved back to Region IV-B due to the Palaweños wish.

Demographics

Population growth of the Philippines.
Main articles: Demographics of the Philippines, Filipino people, and Overseas Filipino

The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 90 million as of 2008.[4][6] As of 2007, 8% of Filipinos are living abroad as migrant laborers. Roughly half of the country's population resides 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,[37][38] and about equal for males and females.[3] 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

Main article: Ethnic groups of the Philippines
Map of the dominant ethnicities of the Philippines by province.

The majority of Philippine nationals are descended from the Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) people who settled in over a thousand years ago from southern Taiwan, genetically most closely related to the Ami tribe.[39] The Malayo Polynesian-speaking peoples, a branch of the Austronesian-speaking peoples, migrated to the Philippines and brought their knowledge of agriculture and ocean-sailing technology. Filipinos to this day are composed of various Malayo Polynesian ethnic groups, including the Visayans, the Tagalog, the Ilocano, the Moro, the Kapampangan, the Bicolano, the Pangasinense, the Igorot, the Lumad, the Mangyan, the Ibanag, the Badjao, the Ivatan, and the Palawan tribes. The Negritos, including the Aetas and the 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 descent currently form the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group, claiming about 10-30% of the population[40] followed by Filipinos of Spanish descent. Other significant minorities include British Filipinos, Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Asian Indians, Koreans, Arabs, and Indonesians.

Throughout the country's history, various ethnic groups as well as immigrants and colonizers have intermarried with the native population, producing Filipino mestizos. These mestizos, apart from being of mixed Malayo Polynesian and European ancestry, can be descended from any ethnic foreign forebears. The official 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; most Filipino mestizos that reside in the Philippines are now of Spanish, American, European, Chinese, and other foreign descent.

Languages

Main article: Languages of the Philippines
Map of the dominant ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines.

According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino, and English are the official languages. About 180 languages and dialects are also spoken in the islands, almost all of them belonging to the Borneo-Philippines group of the Malayo-Polynesian language branch of the Austronesian language family.

Filipino is the standard version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila, and other urban regions. Both Tagalog, and English are used in government, education, print and broadcast media, and business.

Other major regional languages include Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug.

Spanish was an official language of the Philippines. The use of Spanish declined after the 1970s. However, Spanish, and Arabic are recognized as auxiliary languages in the Philippine Constitution. The use of Arabic is prevalent among Filipino muslims, and taught in madrasah (Muslim) schools.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Philippines
Basilica Minore de San Sebastián, Manila.

The Philippines is one of two countries in Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region with Roman Catholic majorities; the other being East Timor. The Philippines is separated into dioceses of which the Archdiocese of Manila is the main 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, Iglesia ni Cristo, and others.[41]

Philippines religiosity
religion percent
Christianity
 
 90%
Islam
 
 5%
Others
 
 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 in Intramuros, Manila; Paoay Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Santa María) Church in Santa María, Ilocos Sur; and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Iloilo.

Approximately 5% of Filipinos are Muslims,[41] and are locally known as "Moros", having been dubbed this by the Spaniards 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 Islam, although the practices of some Mindanao's highland Muslim populations reflect a mixture with Animism. There are also small populations of Buddhists, Bahá'í, Hindus, Sikhs, and animists, which, along with other non-Christians, non-Muslims and those with no religion, collectively comprise 2.5% of the population.[38]

Culture

Main articles: Culture of the Philippines and Music of the Philippines
An Ifugao (Malayo Polynesian) sculpture.

Philippine culture is a fusion of pre-Hispanic Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) civilizations mixed with Hispanic, and American. It has also been influenced by Chinese, Arab, and Indian cultures.[10]

The Hispanic influences in Philippine culture are derived from the culture of Spain. These Hispanic influences are most evident in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.[10] Spanish colonialists introduced Iberian, and Mexican dishes, such as arroz valenciana, to those of the Mexican cuisines (adobo preparation is the only exception as Philippine adobo is made with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns unlike the tomato, corn, avocado, and potato in Mexican adobo). Philippine cuisine is a mixture of Asian, Oceanian, European, and American dishes.

Filipinos hold festivities known as barrio fiestas to commemorate their patron saints. One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Spanish surnames and names among Filipinos. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree, the Clavería edict, for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands. A Spanish name and surname among the majority of Filipinos does not always denote Spanish ancestry.

The five instruments of gongs and a drum that make up the Philippine kulintang ensemble, an example of pre-Hispanic (Islamic) musical tradition present in southern Philippines.

Many of street names, towns and provinces are in Spanish. Spanish architecture also made a major imprint in the Philippine Islands. 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 town in Vigan City, for protection and conservation. The kalesa is a horse-driven carriage were a major mode of transportation during the colonial times. It is still being used today.

The use of English language in the Philippines is contemporaneous and is America's very visible impact. The most commonly played sports in the Philippines are basketball, and billiards. There is also a wide influence of American Pop cultural trends, such as the love of fast-food and movies; many street corners boast fast-food outlets. Aside from the American commercial giants such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks and Shakey's Pizza, local fast-food chains have also sprung up, including Goldilocks, Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza (acquired by Jollibee in 1994),[42] and Chowking (acquired by Jollibee in 2000).[42] Modern day Filipinos also listen to contemporary American music and watch American movies. However, Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) and Philippine movies are also widely appreciated, though imported products are more appreciated, another visible effect on it's history in colonialism

Especially in the urban areas of the country, original Philippine culture is barely appreciated. Instead, western influence greatly affects the urban part of the country, leaving more and more Filipinos to appreciate other cultures rather than their own, another visible impact of the country's colonial past. Various sports are also enjoyed, including boxing, basketball, badminton, billiards, football (soccer) and ten-pin bowling being popular games in the country.

Transportation and Communications

Further information: [[:Transportation in the Philippines]] and [[:Communications in the Philippines]]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Republic Act No. 8491". Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "General information". Government of the Philippines. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
     "Official Website". Government of the Philippines. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g World Factbook — Philippines, CIA, retrieved 2008-07-24
  4. ^ a b c 2000 Census-based Population Projection, National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines, 2006, retrieved 2008-04-17
  5. ^ Official population count reveals..., National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines, 2008, retrieved 2008-04-17
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Philippines". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  7. ^ Philippines — The Human Development Index - going beyond income, United Nations Development Programme, 2007/2008, retrieved 2007-12-14 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ "South America Banks on Regional Strategy to Safeguard Quarter of Earth's Biodiversity". Conservation International. Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2007-06-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ "Name Change for the Philippines". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-08-30.
  10. ^ a b c d Steinberg, David Joel (2007). "Philippines". Encarta.
  11. ^ Origins of the Filipinos and their Languages
  12. ^ Vedic Empire. Retrieved on 2008-10-11.
  13. ^ Agoncillo 1990, p. 22
  14. ^ a b Gregorio F. Zaide, Sonia M. Zaide (2004), Philippine History and Government, Sixth Edition, All-Nations Publishing Company
  15. ^ Kurlansky, Mark. 1999. The Basque History of the World. Walker & Company, New York. ISBN 0-8027-1349-1, p. 64
  16. ^ Joaquin, Nick. 1988. Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming. Solar Publishing, Metro Manila
  17. ^ US Country Studies: Education in the Philippines
  18. ^ Veltisezar Bautista, "3. The Philippine Revolution (1896-1898)", The Filipino Americans (1763-Present): Their History, Culture and Traditions (2nd ed.), ISBN 0-931613-17-5
  19. ^ E. San Juan, Jr. (March 22, 2005). "U.S. Genocide in the Philippines: A Case of Guilt, Shame, or Amnesia?". Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  20. ^ San Miguel 2007
  21. ^ Gross, Jane (September 29, 1989). "Ferdinand Marcos, Ousted Leader Of Philippines, Dies at 72 in Exile". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  22. ^ a b c Gargan, Edward A. (December 11, 1997). "Last Laugh for the Philippines; Onetime Joke Economy Avoids Much of Asia's Turmoil". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  23. ^ "Climate of the Philippines". Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. at PAGASA. Accessed September 30, 2006
  24. ^ Kee-Chai Chong; Ian R. Smith; Maura S. Lizarondo (1982), "III. The transformation sub-system: cultivation to market size in fishponds", Economics of the Philippine Milkfish Resource System, The United Nations University, ISBN 928083468 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  25. ^ The 1990 Baguio City Earthquake at City of Baguio. Accessed October 3, 2006
  26. ^ Leyte is Famous For... Accessed September 30, 2006
  27. ^ As India gets too costly, BPOs turn to Philippines Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed October 2, 2006
  28. ^ RP 2007 GDP grows 7.3%; fastest in 31 yrs[dead link], ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, January 31, 2008
  29. ^ "Philippines Aims to Boost Growth by 2009". forbes.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-20. Retrieved 2008-01-09. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2007-02-22 suggested (help)
  30. ^ Large Swiss Firm offers to invest in Philippines Manila Standard. Accessed January 27, 2007
  31. ^ "RP ready for Global Trade". Archived from the original on 2007-10-30., ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, accessed February 17, 2007
  32. ^ Beyond Imperial Manila, Manila Standard Today, accessed July 25, 2006
  33. ^ International Organization Participation CIA World Factbook
  34. ^ http://www.inwent.org/ez/articles/077943/index.en.shtml
  35. ^ NCSB Press Release
  36. ^ AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION ONE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED THIRTY HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO DEFINE THE BASELINES OF THE TERRITORIAL SEA OF THE PHILIPPINES", Chanrobles Law Library, September 18, 1968, retrieved 2008-07-24
  37. ^ "Human Development Indicators" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. p. 259. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2008-01-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ a b The Philippines: People ([dead link] – Scholar search), CIA World Factbook, retrieved 2008-01-09 {{citation}}: External link in |format= (help)
  39. ^ Capelli, C (2001). "A Predominantly Indigenous Paternal Heritage for the Austronesian-Speaking Peoples of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania" (PDF). American journal of Human Genetics. 68: 432–443. doi:10.1086/318205. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); line feed character in |coauthors= at position 74 (help) (Table 1, p.434)
  40. ^ "The Ranking of Ethnic Chinese Population". Overseas Compatriate Affairs Commission, R.O.C. (Taiwan). Retrieved 2007-09-26.
  41. ^ a b "2000 Census: ADDITIONAL THREE PERSONS PER MINUTE". National Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  42. ^ a b The Jollibee Phenomenon, Jollibee, Inc., archived from the original ([dead link] – Scholar search) on 2007-06-23, retrieved 2008-01-09 {{citation}}: External link in |format= (help))
Official
Maps
Other
Wikipedia
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippines&oldid=252557532"