General Information

The Philippines were claimed in the name of Spain in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, who named the islands after King Philip II of Spain. They were then called Las Felipinas. The Americans took control of the Philippines upon defeating Spain in the Spanish-American war of 1898. During World War II, the islands were occupied by the Japanese. Toward the end of the war, the Americans returned, and following the war, the Philippines were granted independence.

The country known today as the Republic of the Philippines lies right in the heart of Southeast Asia, between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. The Philippines has 7,107 islands extending more than 1,700 kilometers (1,056mi) in the direction of the Equator.

The islands are divided into three main areas: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon is the major northern island; it is there that you will find the capital, Manila. The Visayas, is the middle cluster of islands featuring tropical beaches scattered throughout warm seas. Mindanao is the southernmost group of islands and has a diverse topography. There are five major mountain systems and the same number of peninsulas as well as valleys, lakes and regions of dense forests and swamps.

A visit to the Philippines is a travel bargain. Your expenses are relatively low, and the offerings are varied with good facilities. Take your pick from the hectic city life of Manila or the unspoiled natural beauty of the countryside. The bonus is that, unlike many other destinations in Asia, the country is not overrun by tourism.

Weather and Climate

The climate of the Philippines is tropical with an average year-round temperature of 32ºC (90ºF). Summer is from March to May and is always hot and dry. The average daily maximum in summer ranges from 92 to 94ºF (33 to 34ºC). June to October is the wet season with heavy monsoonal rains and typhoons in most parts of the country. The coolest weather in the Philippines is from November to February, when the daily maximum is around 84 to 88ºF (29 to 31ºC).

The Philippines is an archipelago (group of islands) comprised of more than 7,000 islands lying about 500 miles southeast of mainland Asia. The group of islands is bounded to the north and west by the South China Sea, to the east by the Philippine Sea and to the south by the Celebes Sea. Its closest nation neighbors are Malaysia and Indonesia to its south.

The island group extends about 1,100 miles from north to south and about 650 miles from east to west. it is further grouped into the three geographical and cultural Main Island Groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (LuzViMinda). Of the more than 7,000 islands, only about 360 have areas of one square mile or bigger and only about 2,700 are named. Many are uninhabited and unchartered. Luzon, the largest island, has a land area of 40,420 square miles (104,688 sq. km). The second largest island, Mindanao, has a land area of 36,537 square miles. The total land area of the Philippines is 115,830 square miles (300,000 sq.km.)

Land area: 119,268 square miles (298,170 sq. km)

Borders: South China Sea to the west and north, Pacific Ocean to the east and south.

Coastline: 207,749 miles (334,539km)

Terrain: Many of the islands in the Philippines are extinct volcanoes and atolls. On the larger islands are many mountains, tropical rain forests, rich valleys and swamp regions. There are narrow to extensive coastal lowlands. The Philippines does still have thermal activity consisting of active volcanoes and hot springs.

People and Culture

The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines, East meets West. The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both in the appearance and culture of the people of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.

Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia. Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their Western visitors. Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian.

The Spaniards introduced Christianity (the Roman Catholic faith) and succeeded in converting the overwhelming majority of Filipinos. At least 80% of the total population belongs to the Roman Catholic faith.

The American occupation was responsible for teaching the Filipino people the English language. The Philippines is currently the third-largest English speaking country in the world.

Ethnic Groups:

91.5% Christian Malay, 4% Muslim Malay ,1.5% Chinese and 3% other.

Languages:

The national language is Pilipino, which is based on the language of Tagalog, although there are at least one or two dialects spoken in every region. English is both spoken and understood throughout the country, especially in business negotiations and in the government. Hokkien, Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken by older members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

Religion: 83% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5% Muslim, 3% Buddhist and other.

Currency

The unit of currency in the Philippines is the peso (P). Notes are issued by the Central Bank in denominations of P5, P10, P20, P50, P100, P500 and P1,000. Coins are issued for 5c (centavos), 10c, 25c, 50c, P1, P2 and P5.

Most foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized foreign exchange dealers. Outside of Manila, the use of the Philippine pesos for payments is preferred.

Travelers checks issued by American Express, Bank of Tokyo, Bank of America, Barclays and Citibank are widely accepted. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club can be used to pay for most goods and services.

Points of Interest

Population: 70,114,060++

Time: Local time is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) plus 8 hours.

Capital: Manila

Flag: 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 sun with eight primary rays, each containing three individual rays, and in each corner of the triangle is a small, yellow, five-pointed star.

Holidays:

• January 1 - New Year's Day • Maundy Thursday

• Good Friday • April 9 - Day of Valor

• April 14 - Good Friday • May 1 - Labor Day

• June 12 - Independence Day • June 23 - Manila Day

• November 1 - All Saint's Day • November 30 - Bonifacio Day

• December 25 - Christmas Day • December 30 - Rizal Day