Philippines
The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the
Philippines, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific
Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South
China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country
and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from
other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea.
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the
Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country
with natural resources and made it one of the world's megadiverse countries.
Covering almost three hundred thousand square kilometres (over 115,000 sq mi)
makes it the 73rd largest independent nation and an archipelago comprising
7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main
geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is
Manila.
With a population of more than 92 million people, the
Philippines is the seventh most populated Asian country and the 12th most
populated country in the world. An additional 12 million Filipinos live
overseas. 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 who
brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies. Trade
and subsequent Chinese settlement eventually introduced Chinese cultural
influences which remain to this day.
The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the
beginning of an era of Spanish interest and eventual colonization. In 1543,
Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas
Filipinas in honor of Philip II of Spain. The Spanish Empire began to settle
with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi from New Spain (present day-Mexico)
in 1565 who established the first Spanish settlement in the archipelago, which
remained a Spanish colony for more than 300 years. During this time, Manila
became the Asian hub of the Manila–Acapulco galleon fleet.
As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there followed in
quick succession the Philippine Revolution, which spawned the short-lived First
Philippine Republic; the Spanish-American War; and the Philippine–American War.
In the aftermath, the United States emerged as the dominant power; aside from
the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over
the islands. After World War II, the Treaty of Manila established the
Philippine Republic as an independent nation. Since then, the Philippines has
had an often tumultuous experience with democracy, with popular "people
power" movements overthrowing a dictatorship in one instance but also
underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in
others.
Etymology
The name Philippines is derived from that of King Philip II
of Spain. Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos during his expedition in
1542 named the islands of Leyte and Samar Felipinas after the then Prince of
Asturias. Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all
the islands of the archipelago. Before that became commonplace, other names
such as Islas del Poniente (Islands of the West) and Magellan's name for the
islands San Lázaro were also used by the Spanish to refer to the islands.
The official name of the Philippines has changed several
times in the course of the country's history. During the Philippine Revolution,
the Malolos Congress proclaimed the establishment of the República Filipina or
the Philippine Republic. From the period of the Spanish-American War and the
Philippine–American War until the Commonwealth period, American colonial
authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands, a translation of
the Spanish name. During the American period, the name Philippines began to
appear and it has since become the country's common name.Since independence, the
official name of the country has been the Republic of the Philippines.
History
The metatarsal of Callao Man is reported to have been
reliably dated by uranium-series dating to 67,000 years ago thereby replacing
the Tabon Man of Palawan, carbon-dated to around 24,000 years ago, as the
oldest human remains found in the archipelago. Negritos were among the
archipelago's earliest inhabitants, but their appearance in the Philippines has
not been reliably dated.There are several opposing theories regarding the
origins of ancient Filipinos. F. Landa Jocano theorizes that the ancestors of
the Filipinos evolved locally. Wilhelm Solheim's Island Origin Theory
postulates that the peopling of the archipelago transpired via trade networks
originating in the antediluvian Sundaland area around 48000 to 5000 BCE rather
than by wide-scale migration. The Austronesian Expansion Theory states that
Malayo-Polynesians coming from Taiwan began migrating to the Philippines around
4000 BCE, displacing earlier arrivals. Whatever the case, by 1000 BCE the
inhabitants of the archipelago had developed into four kinds of social groups:
hunter-gathering tribes, warrior societies, petty plutocracies, and
maritime-centered harbor principalities.
Trade between the maritime-oriented peoples and other Asian
countries during the subsequent period brought influences from Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Islam. During this time there was no unifying political state
encompassing the entire Philippine Archipelago. Instead, the islands were
divided among competing thalassocracies ruled by various datus, rajahs, or
sultans. These thalassocracies were composed of autonomous barangays which were
independent to or allied with larger nations. Among them were the kingdoms of
Maynila, Namayan, and Tondo, the confederation of Madyaas, the state of Ma-i,
the rajahnates of Butuan and Cebu, and the sultanates of Maguindanao and Sulu.
Some of these societies were part of the Malayan empires of Srivijaya,
Majapahit, and Brunei. Islam was brought to the Philippines by traders and
proselytizers from Malaysia and Indonesia. By the 15th century, Islam was
established in the Sulu Archipelago and by 1565 had reached Mindanao, the
Visayas, and Luzon.
In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in
the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain.Colonization began when
Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed
the first European settlements in Cebu. In 1571, after dealing with the local
royal families in the wake of the Tondo Conspiracy and defeating the Chinese
pirate warlord Limahong, the Spanish established Manila as the capital of the
Spanish East Indies.
Spanish rule contributed significantly to bringing political
unity to the archipelago. From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was governed as a
territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and then was administered directly
from Madrid after the Mexican War of Independence. The Manila galleons linking
Manila to Acapulco traveled once or twice a year between the 16th and 19th
centuries. Trade introduced foods such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, chili
peppers, and pineapples from the Americas. Roman Catholic missionaries
converted most of the lowland inhabitants to Christianity and founded schools,
a university, and hospitals. While a Spanish decree introduced free public
schooling in 1863, efforts in mass public education mainly came to fruition
during the American period.
During its rule, the Spanish fought off various indigenous
revolts and several external colonial challenges from Chinese pirates, the
Dutch, and the Portuguese. In an extension of the fighting of the Seven Years'
War, British forces occupied Manila from 1762 to 1764. They found local allies
like Diego and Gabriela Silang who took the opportunity to lead a revolt, but Spanish
rule was eventually restored following the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
In the 19th century, Philippine ports were opened to world
trade and shifts were occurring within Philippine society. Many Spaniards born
in the Philippines (criollos) and those of mixed ancestry (mestizos) became
wealthy. The influx of Spanish and Latino settlers secularized churches and
opened up government positions traditionally held by Spaniards born in the
Iberian Peninsula (peninsulares). The ideals of revolution also began to spread
through the islands. Criollo dissatisfaction resulted in the revolt in Cavite
El Viejo in 1872 that was a precursor to the Philippine Revolution.
Security and defense
Philippine defense is handled by the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and is composed of three branches: the Air Force, the Army, and the
Navy (including the Marine Corps). Civilian security is handled by Philippine
National Police under the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG).
In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the largest
separatist organization, the Moro National Liberation Front, is now engaging
the government politically. Other more militant groups like the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, the communist New People's Army, and the Abu Sayyaf still
roam the provinces, but their presence has decreased in recent years due to
successful security provided by the Philippine government.
The Philippines has been an ally of the United States since
World War II. A mutual defense treaty between the two countries was signed in
1951. The Philippines supported American policies during the Cold War and
participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars. It was a member of the now
dissolved SEATO, a group that was intended to serve a role similar to NATO and
that included Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, the United
Kingdom, and the United States. After the start of the War on Terror, the
Philippines was part of the coalition that gave support to the United States in
Iraq.The United States designated the country a major non-NATO ally. The
Philippines is currently working to end its domestic insurgency with help from
the United States.
Geography
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a
total land area, including inland bodies of water, of approximately 300,000
square kilometers (120,000 sq mi). Its 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi) of
coastline makes it the country with the 5th longest coastline in the world. It
is located between 116° 40', and 126° 34' E. longitude and 4° 40' and 21° 10'
N. latitude and is bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east, the South China
Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The island of Borneo is
located a few hundred kilometers southwest and Taiwan is located directly to
the north.
The Moluccas and Sulawesi are located to the south-southwest
and Palau is located to the east of the islands.Most of the mountainous islands
are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin. The highest mountain
is Mount Apo. It measures up to 2,954 meters (9,692 feet) above sea level and
is located on the island of Mindanao. The Galathea Depth in the Philippine
Trench is the deepest point in the country and the third deepest in the world.
The trench is located in the Philippine Sea. The longest river is the Cagayan
River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city
of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the
Philippines, by the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf, and the Moro Gulf
are other important bays. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar
and Leyte but it is traversed by the San Juanico Bridge.
Situated on the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire,
the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The Benham
Plateau to the east in the Philippine Sea is an undersea region active in
tectonic subduction.Around 20 earthquakes are registered daily, though most are
too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake. There are many active volcanoes such as the
Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo
in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th
century. Not all notable geographic features are so violent or destructive. A
more serene legacy of the geological disturbances is the Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River, the area represents a habitat for biodiversity
conservation, the site also contains a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem and
has some of the most important forests in Asia.The white sand beaches that make
Boracay a popular vacation getaway are made of coral remnants.
Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, mineral deposits
are abundant. The country is estimated to have the second-largest gold deposits
after South Africa and one of the largest copper deposits in the world. It is
also rich in nickel, chromite, and zinc. Despite this, poor management, high
population density, and environmental consciousness have resulted in these
mineral resources remaining largely untapped. Geothermal energy, however, is
another product of volcanic activity that the country has harnessed more
successfully. The Philippines is the world's second-biggest geothermal producer
behind the United States, with 18% of the country's electricity needs being met
by geothermal power.
Climate
The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate and is
usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: tag-init or tag-araw, the hot
dry season or summer from March to May; tag-ulan, the rainy season from June to
November; and tag-lamig, the cool dry 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), the Amihan.[108]
Temperatures usually range from 21°C (70°F) to 32°C (90°F) although it can get
cooler or hotter depending on the season. The coolest month is January; the
warmest is May.
The average yearly temperature is around 26.6°C
(79.88°F).[108] In considering temperature, location in terms of latitude and
longitude is not a significant factor. Whether in the extreme north, south,
east, or west of the country, temperatures at sea level tend to be in the same
range. Altitude usually has more of an impact. The average annual temperature
of Baguio at an elevation of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level is
18.3°C (64.9°F), making it a popular destination during hot summers. Likewise,
Tagaytay is a favored retreat.
Sitting astride the typhoon belt, most of the islands
experience annual torrential rains and thunderstorms from July to October,[110]
with around nineteen typhoons entering the Philippine area of responsibility in
a typical year and eight or nine making landfall. Annual rainfall measures as
much as 5,000 millimeters (200 inches) in the mountainous east coast section
but less than 1,000 millimeters (39 inches) in some of the sheltered valleys.
The wettest known tropical cyclone to impact the archipelago was the July 1911
cyclone, which dropped over 1,168 millimetres (46.0 in) of rainfall within a
24-hour period in Baguio City. Bagyo is the local term for a tropical cyclone
in the Philippines.
Language
Ethnologue lists 175 individual languages in the
Philippines, 171 of which are living languages while 4 no longer have any known
speakers. They are part of the Borneo–Philippines group of the
Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is itself a branch of the Austronesian
language family.
According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino and
English are the official languages. Filipino is a standardized version of
Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila and other urban regions. Both Filipino
and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and
business. The constitution designates regional languages such as Bicolano,
Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog, and Waray-Waray
as auxiliary official languages, and mandates that Spanish and Arabic shall be
promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.
Other languages such as Aklanon, Boholano, Chavacano,
Zamboangueño, Cuyonon, Ifugao, Itbayat, Ivatan, Kalinga, Kamayo, Kankana-ey,
Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Masbatenyo, Romblomanon, Surigaonon, Tausug,
Yakan, and several Visayan languages are prevalent in their respective
provinces.
Religion
The Philippines is a secular nation having a constitution
separating the state and church. However, more than 90% of the population are
Christians: about 80% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while 10% belong to
other Christian denominations, such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Philippine
Independent Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Church of Christ
in the Philippines, and Jehovah's Witnesses. As a result of Spanish cultural
influence, the Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries
in Asia, the other being East Timor.
Between 5 and 10% of the population are Muslim, most of whom
live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago—an area known as
Bangsamoro or the Moro region. Some have migrated into urban and rural areas in
different parts of the country. Most Muslim Filipinos practice Sunni Islam
according to the Shafi'i school.[36] Philippine traditional religions are still
practiced by many aboriginal and tribal groups, often syncretized with
Christianity and Islam. Animism, folk religion, and shamanism remain present as
undercurrents of mainstream religion, through the albularyo, the babaylan, and
the manghihilot. Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion, are dominant in
Chinese communities. There are also followers of Hinduism, Sikhism,and Judaism
and Baha'i.
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Culture and society
Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern and Western
cultures. The Philippines exhibits aspects found in other Asian countries with
a Malay heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Spanish
and American influences. Traditional festivities known as barrio fiestas
(district festivals) to commemorate the feast days of patron saints are common.
The Moriones Festival and Sinulog Festival are a couple of the most well-known.
These community celebrations are times for feasting, music, and dancing. Some
traditions, however, are changing or gradually being forgotten due to
modernization. The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company has been
lauded for preserving many of the various traditional folk dances found
throughout the Philippines. They are famed for their iconic performances of
Philippine dances such as the tinikling and singkil that both feature the use
of clashing bamboo poles.
One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence
of Spanish names and surnames among Filipinos. However, a Spanish name and
surname does not necessarily denote Spanish ancestry. 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 population. The names of many streets, towns,
and provinces are also in Spanish. Spanish architecture has left an imprint in
the Philippines in the way many towns were designed around a central square or
plaza mayor, but many of the buildings bearing its influence were demolished
during World War II. Some examples
remain, mainly among the country's churches, government buildings, and
universities. Four Philippine baroque churches are included in the list of
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the San Agustín Church in Manila, the Paoay Church
in Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Santa María) Church in
Ilocos Sur, and the Santo Tomás de Villanueva Church in Iloilo. Vigan in Ilocos
Sur is also known for the many Hispanic-styled houses and buildings preserved
there.
The common use of the English language is an example of the
American impact on Philippine society. It has contributed to the ready
acceptance and influence of American pop cultural trends. This affinity is seen
in Filipinos' love of fast food, film, and music. Fast food outlets are found
on many street corners. American global fast food chain stalwarts have entered
the market, but local fast food chains like Goldilocks and most notably
Jollibee, the leading fast food chain in the country, have emerged and compete
successfully against their foreign rivals.Filipinos regularly listen to and
watch contemporary American, Asian, and European music and film just as they
enjoy Original Pilipino Music (also known as OPM) and local films.
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