Brief History:
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Republic of the Philippines - (1995 est. pop. 73,265,000), 115,830 sq
mi (300,000 sq km), SW Pacific, in the Malay Archipelago off the SE
Asia mainland. It comprises over 7,000 islands and rocks, of which only
c.400 are permanently inhabited. The 11 largest islands—Luzon,
Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol,
and Masbate—contain about 95% of the total land area. The northernmost
point of land, the islet of Y’Ami in the Batan Islands, is separated
from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel (c.50 mi/80 km wide). Manila, on
Luzon, is the capital, the largest city, and the heart of the country.
Land
The Philippines extend 1,152 mi (1,855 km) from north to south, between
Taiwan and Borneo, and 688 mi (1,108 km) from east to west, and are
bounded by the Philippine Sea on the east, the Celebes Sea on the
south, and the South China Sea on the west. They comprise three natural
divisions—the northern, which includes Luzon and attendant islands; the
central, occupied by the Visayan Islands and Palawan and Mindoro; and
the southern, containing Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
The Philippines are chiefly of volcanic origin. Most of the larger
islands are traversed by mountain ranges, with Mt. Apo (9,690 ft/2,954
m), on Mindanao, the highest peak. Narrow coastal plains, wide valleys,
volcanoes, dense forests, and mineral and hot springs further
characterize the larger islands. Earthquakes are common. Of the
navigable rivers, Cagayan, on Luzon, is the largest; there are also
large lakes on Luzon and Mindanao.
The Philippines are entirely within the tropical zone. Manila, with a
mean daily temperature of 79.5°F (26. 4°C), is typical of the
climate of the lowland areas—hot, humid, and enervating. The highlands,
however, have a bracing climate; e.g., Baguio, the summer capital, on
Luzon, has a mean annual temperature of 64°F
(17.8°C).
Administratively, the republic is divided into 72 provinces and 61
chartered cities. In addition to Manila, other important centers are
Quezon City, also on Luzon; Cebu, on Cebu Island; Iloilo, on Panay;
Davao and Zamboanga, on Mindanao; and Jolo, on Jolo Island in the Sulu
Archipelago.
People
The great majority of the people of the Philippines belong to the Malay
group and are known as Filipinos. Other groups include the Negritos
(negroid pygmies) and the Dumagats (similar to the Papuans of New
Guinea), and there is a small Chinese minority. The Filipinos live
mostly in the lowlands and constitute one of the largest Christian
groups in Asia. Roman Catholicism is professed by over 80% of the
population; 5% are Aglipayans, members of the Philippine Independent
Church, a nationalistic offshoot of Catholicism (see Aglipay,
Gregorio); 5% are Muslims (concentrated on Mindanao and the Sulu
Archipelago; see Moros); and 4% are Protestants.
Some 70 native languages are spoken in the Philippines. The official
national language is Pilipino, a form of Tagalog. A considerable number
of Filipinos speak English, the nation’s second language.
Economy
With their tropical climate, heavy rainfall, and naturally fertile
volcanic soil, the Philippines are predominantly agricultural. Rice,
corn, and coconuts take up about 80% of all cropland. Sugarcane, sweet
potatoes, manioc, bananas, hemp, tobacco, and coffee are also important
crops. Carabao (water buffalo), pigs, chickens, goats, and ducks are
widely raised, and there is dairy farming. Fishing is a common
occupation; the Sulu Archipelago is noted for its pearls and
mother-of-pearl shell.
The islands have one of the world’s greatest stands of commercial
timber. There are also mineral resources such as nickel, zinc, copper,
cobalt, gold, silver, iron ore, and chromite. Nonmetallic minerals
include rock asphalt, gypsum, asbestos, sulfur, and coal. Limestone,
adobe, and marble are quarried, and petroleum is mined.
Manufacturing is concentrated in metropolitan Manila, near the nation’s
prime port, but there has been considerable industrial growth on Cebu,
Negros, and Mindanao in recent years. Textiles, pharmaceuticals, and
chemicals are manufactured, and the assembly of electronics and
automobiles is important. Other industries include food processing and
petroleum refining. The former U.S. military base at Subic Bay was
redeveloped in the 1990s as a free-trade zone. Chief exports are
electronics and telecommunications equipment, lumber and plywood,
machinery, garments, coconut products, copper, and sugar. The main
imports are raw materials, production equipment, and intermediate goods
for processing. The chief trading partners are the United States and
Japan.
Government
The Philippines is governed under the constitution of 1987. The
president, who is both chief of state and head of the government, is
elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The bicameral legislature
consists of a 24-seat senate and a 204-seat house of representatives,
both of whose members are popularly elected. There is an independent
judiciary headed by a supreme court.
Source: The Columbia
Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-2005.
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