The Philippines

Philippines

·       Also known as the Pearl of the Orient.

·       2^nd largest archipelago consisting of around 7, 640 islands.

·       Total land area: 300,000 square kilometers or more than 115, 000 square miles.

·       Location: Southeast Asia, Eastern rim of the Asiatic Mediterranean.

North: Luzon Strait

South: Sulu and Celebes Sea

West: South China Sea

East: Pacific Ocean

·       Owes its name to King Philip II of Spain

·       The archipelago was given its name by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos in 1542, in honor of the then Prince Philip (later King Philip II). Initially, the name was only applied to the islands of Leyte and Samar. However, it eventually extended to encompass the entire archipelago.

·       Geographical Features: A tropical country with a diverse landscape, ranging from mountains and volcanoes to vast plains and coastal areas.

·       Language:

Living language: 78

Dialects: nearly 500

Official Language: English and Filipino

·       Economy: developing nation with a growing economy driven by services, manufacturing, and agriculture.  

·       Culture: mix of Eastern and Western traditions, with a strong emphasis on family, religion, and festivals.  

·       Political Administration:

No. of Regions: 17

No. of Provinces: 79

No. of Cities: 115

No. of Municipalities: 1,499

No. of Barangays: 41,969

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is equally divided among its three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

Origins of Filipinos

·       Pre-Colonial Origins:

The earliest inhabitants of the Philippine archipelago are believed to have come from mainland Asia, particularly from what is now southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. These Austronesian peoples migrated to the islands thousands of years ago, bringing with them their languages, customs, and technologies.

·       Colonial Influences:

Our ancestor's intermarriage with the Spaniards, The British, The Indians (Sepoy), the Americans and the Japanese.

·       Post Colonial:

We intermarried with Arabs, Europeans, Northern Americans, South Americans, etc.