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| Conventional Long Form: | Republic of the Philippines |
| Conventional Short Form: | Philippines |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam |
| Capital City: | Manila |
| Government Type: | Republic |
| Population: | 82,841,518 (July 2001 est.) |
| Area [sq.km]: | 300,000 (slightly larger than Arizona ) |
| Currency: | Philippine peso (PHP) |
| Languages: | two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English, eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense |
| National Holiday: | Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the date of independence from the US |
| Background: | The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992, the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential transitions since Marcos' removal by "people power." In January 2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass resignations from his government and administered the oath of office to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor. The government continues to struggle with ongoing Muslim insurgencies in the south. |
