The Philippines

Pearl of the Orient

A nickname for the Philippines, highlighting its beauty and significance.

Archipelago

A group of islands; the Philippines is the 2nd largest archipelago with around 7,640 islands.

Total land area

The Philippines covers approximately 300,000 square kilometers or more than 115,000 square miles.

Location

The Philippines is situated in Southeast Asia, on the eastern rim of the Asiatic Mediterranean.

Surrounding bodies of water

North - Luzon Strait, South - Sulu and Celebes Sea, West - South China Sea, East - Pacific Ocean.

King Philip II of Spain

The Philippines is named after this Spanish monarch.

Ruy López de Villalobos

The Spanish explorer who named the archipelago in 1542, initially applying the name to Leyte and Samar.

Geographical Features

The Philippines has a tropical climate with diverse landscapes, including mountains, volcanoes, plains, and coastal areas.

Languages

The Philippines has 78 living languages and nearly 500 dialects, with English and Filipino as the official languages.

Economy

The Philippines is a developing nation with a growing economy driven by services, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Culture

The culture of the Philippines is a blend of Eastern and Western traditions, emphasizing family, religion, and festivals.

Political Administration

The Philippines has 17 regions, 79 provinces, 115 cities, 1,499 municipalities, and 41,969 barangays.

Government

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government, dividing power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Pre-Colonial Origins

The earliest inhabitants of the Philippines are believed to have migrated from mainland Asia, particularly southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

Colonial Influences

The intermarriage of Filipinos with Spaniards, British, Indians, Americans, and Japanese during colonial times.

Post Colonial

Intermarriage with Arabs, Europeans, Northern Americans, South Americans, and others after colonial rule.