Philippines - Facts & Stats
Facts & Stats (http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/facts_stats.htm) | History (http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/history.htm) | Culture (http://www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/) | Geography (http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/geography.htm) | Religion (http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/religion.htm) | Current Events (http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/philippines/) | Links & Resources (http://www.mb.com.ph/)
Philippines National Anthem - pdf* (http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/Philippines_anthem.pdf) |
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Country Name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local short form: Pilipinas
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Capital:
Manila
Flag Description:
The flag of the Philippines consists of two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star. The sun represents the dawning of a new era of self-determination that was desired in 1897 (when the flag was first designed) after the Spanish-American war and the US promise of independence, which was granted in 1946. The 8 rays on the sun stand for the 8 provinces that rose in revolt against Spanish rule in the late 19th century. The 3 stars stand for the 3 principal geographic areas of the country, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. To complete the symbolism of the flag, the red stripe represents courage and bravery and the blue stripe is for noble ideals. The white triangle stands for the Katipunan, a revolutionary organization that led the revolt against Spain and the color white represents peace and purity. This flag is unique in that in peacetime, the blue stripe is uppermost but during wartime, the red stripe is on top.
(http://www.fotw.ca/flags/ph.html (http://www.fotw.ca/flags/ph.html))
Government Type:
Republic
Administrative Divisions:
73 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte,
Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*,
Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon,
Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite
City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*, Davao del
Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*,
Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-
Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union,
Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque,
Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental,
Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva
Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan,
Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino,
Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern
Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*,
Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales,
Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence:
July 4, 1946 (from the US)
Language:
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight
major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Ethnic Groups:
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religion:
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Population:
84,525,639 (July 2002 est.)
Population Growth Rate:
1.99% (2002 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 15,731,451; female 15,169,264)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 24,990,500; female 25,478,245)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 1,399,862; female 1,756,317) (2002 est.)
Life Expectancy:
male: 65 years; female: 71 years (2002 est.)
Literacy rate:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population:
94.6%; male: 95%; female: 94.3% (1995 est.)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$335 billion (2001 est.)
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Currency:
Philippine peso (PHP; 51.2PHP=1USD)
Area:
115,831 sq. miles (slightly larger than Arizona)
Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Natural Resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper