Philippines

ThePhilippines,officially theRepublic of the Philippines,is anarchipelagic countryinSoutheast Asia. In the westernPacific Ocean, it consists of7,641 islands, with a total area of roughly 300,000 square kilometers, which are broadly categorized inthree main geographical divisionsfrom north to south:Luzon,Visayas, andMindanao. With a population of over 110 million, it is the world'stwelfth-most-populous country.
The Philippines is bounded by theSouth China Seato the west, thePhilippine Seato the east, and theCelebes Seato the south. It sharesmaritime borderswithTaiwanto the north,Japanto the northeast,Palauto the east and southeast,Indonesiato the south,Malaysiato the southwest,Vietnamto the west, andChinato the northwest. It hasdiverse ethnicitiesanda rich culture.Manilaisthe country's capital, andits most populated cityisQuezon City. Both are withinMetro Manila.
Negritos, the archipelago's earliest inhabitants, were followed bywavesofAustronesian peoples. The adoption ofanimism,HinduismwithBuddhistinfluence, andIslamestablishedisland-kingdoms. Extensive overseas trade with neighbors such as the lateTangorSongempire broughtChinesepeople to the archipelago as well, which would also gradually settle in andintermixover the centuries. The arrival of the explorerFerdinand Magellanmarked the beginning ofSpanish colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorerRuy López de Villalobosnamed the archipelagoLas Islas Filipinasin honor ofKing Philip II of Castile.Catholicismbecame the dominant religion, and Manila became the western hub oftrans-Pacific trade.Hispanicimmigrants fromLatin AmericaandIberiawould also selectively colonize. ThePhilippine Revolutionbegan in 1896, and became entwined with the 1898Spanish–American War. Spain ceded the territory to the United States, andFilipino revolutionariesdeclared theFirst Philippine Republic. The ensuingPhilippine–American Warended with the United States controlling the territory until theJapanese invasionof the islands duringWorld War II. Afterthe United States retook the Philippines from the Japanese, the Philippines became independent in 1946. Since then, the country notably experienced aperiod of martial lawfrom 1972 to 1981 under the dictatorship ofFerdinand Marcosand his subsequent overthrow by thePeople Power Revolutionin 1986. Since returning to democracy, theconstitutionof theFifth Republicwas enacted in 1987, and the country has been governed as a unitary presidential republic. However, the country continues to struggle with issues such as overpopulation, inequality and endemiccorruption.
The Philippines is anemerging marketand adevelopingandnewly industrialized country,whose economyis transitioning from being agricultural to service- and manufacturing-centered. Its location as an island country on the PacificRing of Fireand close to the equator makes it prone toearthquakesandtyphoons. The Philippines has a variety of natural resources and a globally-significantlevel of biodiversity. The country is part ofmultiple international organizations and forums.
During his 1542 expedition, Spanish explorerRuy López de Villalobosnamed the islands ofLeyteandSamar"Felipinas" after thePrince of Asturias, laterPhilip II of Castile. Eventually, the name "Las Islas Filipinas" would be used for the archipelago's Spanish possessions.Other names, such as "Islas del Poniente" (Western Islands), "Islas del Oriente" (Eastern Islands), Ferdinand Magellan's name, and "San Lázaro" (Islands of St. Lazarus), were used by the Spanish to refer to islands in the region before Spanish rule was established.
During thePhilippine Revolution, theMalolos Congressproclaimed it theRepública Filipina(thePhilippine Republic).American colonial authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands (a translation of the Spanish name).TheUnited Statesbegan changing its nomenclature from "the Philippine Islands" to "the Philippines" in the Philippine Autonomy Act and theJones Law.The official title "Republic of the Philippines" was included in the 1935 constitution as the name of the future independent state,and in all succeeding constitutional revisions.
There isevidenceof earlyhomininsliving in what is now the Philippines as early as 709,000 years ago.Bones fromCallao Cavepotentially represent an otherwise unknown species,Homo luzonensis, who lived 50,000 to 67,000 years ago.The oldestmodern humanremains on the islands are from theTabon CavesofPalawan,U/Th-datedto 47,000 ± 11–10,000 years ago.Tabon Manis presumably aNegrito, among the archipelago's earliest inhabitants descended from the first human migrations out of Africa via the coastal route alongsouthern Asiato the now-sunken landmasses ofSundalandandSahul.
The first Austronesians reached the Philippines from Taiwan around 2200 BC, settling theBatanesIslands (where they built stone fortresses known asijangs)and northernLuzon.Jade artifactshave been dated to 2000 BC,withlingling-ojade items made in Luzon with raw materials from Taiwan.By 1000 BC, the inhabitants of the archipelago had developed into four societies:hunter-gatherertribes, warrior societies, highlandplutocracies, and port principalities.
The earliest known surviving written record in the Philippines is the 900 ADLaguna Copperplate Inscription, which was written inOld Malayusing the earlyKawiscript.By the 14th century, several large coastal settlements emerged as trading centers and became the focus ofsocietal changes.Somepolitieshad exchanges with other states throughout Asia.Trade with China began during the lateTang dynasty,and expanded during theSong dynasty.Throughout the second millennium AD, some polities were part of thetributary system of China.With extensive trade and diplomacy, this broughtSouthernChinesemerchants and migrants fromSouthern Fujian,who would gradually settle and intermix in the Philippines. Indian cultural traits such as linguistic terms and religious practicesbegan to spreadin the Philippines during the 14th century, via the Indianized HinduMajapahit Empire.By the 15th century, Islam was established in theSulu Archipelagoand spread from there.
Polities founded in the Philippines between the 10th and 16th centuries includeMaynila,Tondo,Namayan,Pangasinan,Caboloan,Cebu,Butuan,Maguindanao,Lanao,Sulu, andMa-i.The early polities typically had a three-tier social structure: nobility, freemen, and dependent debtor-bondsmen.Among the nobility were leaders known asdatus, who were responsible for ruling autonomous groups (barangaysor dulohan).When the barangays banded together to form a larger settlement or a geographically looser alliance,their more-esteemed members would be recognized as a "paramount datu",rajahorsultan,and would rule the community.Population density is thought to have been low during the 14th to 16th centuriesdue to thefrequency of typhoonsand the Philippines' location on the PacificRing of Fire.Portuguese explorerFerdinand Magellanarrived in 1521, claimed the islands for Spain, and was killed byLapulapu's men in theBattle of Mactan.
Unification and colonization by theCrown of Castilebegan when Spanish explorerMiguel López de Legazpiarrived fromNew Spainin 1565.ManyFilipinoswere brought to New Spainas slavesand forced crew,whereas manyLatin Americanswere brought to the Philippines as soldiers and colonists.Spanish Manilabecame the capital of theCaptaincy General of the Philippinesand theSpanish East Indiesin 1571,Spanish territories in Asia and the Pacific.The Spanish invaded local states using the principle ofdivide and conquer,bringing most of what is the present-day Philippines under one unified administration.Disparate barangays were deliberatelyconsolidated into towns, whereCatholic missionariescould more easily convert their inhabitants toChristianity,which was initiallySyncretist.Christianizationby theSpanish friarsoccurred mostly across the settled lowlands over the course of time. From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was governed as a territory of theMexico City-based Viceroyalty of New Spain; it was then administered fromMadridafter theMexican War of Independence.Manila became the western hub oftrans-Pacific tradebyManila galleonsbuilt inBicolandCavite.
During its rule, Spain nearly bankrupted its treasury quellingindigenous revoltsand defending against external military attacks,includingMoro piracy,a 17th-centurywar against the Dutch, 18th-centuryBritish occupation of Manila, and conflict with Muslims in the south.
Administration of the Philippines was considered a drain on the economy of New Spain,and abandoning it or trading it for other territory was debated. This course of action was opposed because of the islands' economic potential, security, and the desire to continue religious conversion in the region.The colony survived on an annual subsidy from the Spanish crownaveraging 250,000 pesos,usually paid as 75 tons of silver bullion from the Americas.British forces occupied Manilafrom 1762 to 1764 during theSeven Years' War, and Spanish rule was restored with the1763 Treaty of Paris.The Spanish considered their war with the Muslims in Southeast Asia an extension of theReconquista.TheSpanish–Moro conflictlasted for several hundred years; Spain conquered portions ofMindanaoandJoloduring the last quarter of the 19th century,and the MuslimMoroin theSultanate of Suluacknowledged Spanish sovereignty.
Philippine ports opened to world trade during the 19th century, and Filipino society began to change.Social identity changed, with the termFilipinoencompassing all residents of the archipelago instead of solely referring toSpaniards born in the Philippines.
Revolutionary sentiment grew in 1872 after 200 locally recruitedcolonial troopsand laborers alongsidethree activist Catholic priestswere executed onquestionable grounds.This inspired thePropaganda Movement, organized byMarcelo H. del Pilar,José Rizal,Graciano López Jaena, andMariano Ponce, which advocated political reform in the Philippines.Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896, for rebellion, and his death radicalized many who had been loyal to Spain.Attempts at reform met with resistance;Andrés Bonifaciofounded theKatipunansecret society, which sought independence from Spain through armed revolt, in 1892.
The KatipunanCry of Pugad Lawinbegan thePhilippine Revolutionin 1896.Internal disputes led to theTejeros Convention, at which Bonifacio lost his position andEmilio Aguinaldowas elected the new leader of the revolution.The 1897Pact of Biak-na-Batoresulted in theHong Kong Juntagovernment in exile. TheSpanish–American Warbegan the following year, and reached the Philippines; Aguinaldo returned, resumed the revolution, anddeclared independencefrom Spain on June 12, 1898.In December 1898, the islands wereceded by Spainto the United States withPuerto RicoandGuamafter the Spanish–American War.
TheFirst Philippine Republicwas promulgated on January 21, 1899.Lack of recognition by the United States led to anoutbreak of hostilitiesthat, after refusal by the U.S. on-scene military commander of a cease-fire proposal and a declaration of war by the nascent Republic,escalated into thePhilippine–American War.
The war resulted in the deaths of 250,000 to 1 million civilians, primarily due to famine and disease.Many Filipinos were transported by the Americans toconcentration camps, where thousands died.After the fall of the First Philippine Republic in 1902, anAmerican civilian governmentwas established with thePhilippine Organic Act.American forces continued to secure and extend their control of the islands, suppressing an attemptedextension of the Philippine Republic,securing the Sultanate of Sulu,establishing control of interior mountainous areas which had resisted Spanish conquest,and encouraging large-scale resettlement of Christians in once-predominantly-Muslim Mindanao.
Cultural developments in the Philippines strengthened a national identity,andTagalogbegan to take precedence over other local languages.Governmental functions were gradually given to Filipinos by theTaft Commission;the 1934Tydings–McDuffie Actgranted a ten-year transition to independence through the creation of theCommonwealth of the Philippinesthe following year,withManuel Quezonpresident andSergio Osmeñavice president.Quezon's priorities were defence, social justice, inequality, economic diversification, and national character.Filipino(a standardized variety of Tagalog) became the national language,women's suffrage was introduced,andland reformwas considered.
TheEmpire of Japaninvaded the Philippines in December 1941during World War II,and theSecond Philippine Republicwas established as apuppet stategoverned byJose P. Laurel.Beginning in 1942, theJapanese occupation of the Philippineswasopposedby large-scaleunderground guerrilla activity.Atrocities and war crimeswere committed during the war, including theBataan Death Marchand theManila massacre.The Philippine resistance and Allied troopsdefeated the Japanesein 1944 and 1945. Over one million Filipinos were estimated to have died by the end of the war.On October 11, 1945, the Philippines became afounding memberof theUnited Nations.On July 4, 1946, during the presidency ofManuel Roxas, the country's independence was recognized by the United States with theTreaty of Manila.
Efforts at post-war reconstruction and ending theHukbalahap Rebellionsucceeded duringRamon Magsaysay's presidency,but sporadic communist insurgency continued to flare up long afterward.Under Magsaysay's successor,Carlos P. Garcia, the government initiated aFilipino First policywhich promoted Filipino-owned businesses.Succeeding Garcia,Diosdado Macapagalmoved Independence Day from July 4 to June 12—the date of Emilio Aguinaldo's declaration—and pursueda claimon easternNorth Borneo.
In 1965, Macapagallostthe presidential election toFerdinand Marcos.Early in his presidency, Marcos began infrastructure projects funded mostly by foreign loans; this improved the economy, and contributed to hisreelection in 1969.Near the end of his last constitutionally-permitted term, Marcosdeclared martial lawon September 21, 1972using the specter of communismand began torule by decree;the period was characterized bypolitical repression,censorship, andhuman rights violations.Monopoliescontrolled byMarcos's cronieswere established in key industries,includingloggingand broadcasting;a sugar monopoly led toa famine on the island of Negros.With his wife,Imelda, Marcos was accused of corruption andembezzling billions of dollarsof public funds.Marcos's heavy borrowingearly in his presidencyresulted ineconomic crashes, exacerbated by anearly 1980s recessionwhere the economy contracted by 7.3 percent annually in 1984 and 1985.
On August 21, 1983, opposition leaderBenigno Aquino Jr.(Marcos's chief rival) wasassassinated on the tarmacatManila International Airport.Marcos called a snappresidential election in 1986which proclaimed him the winner, but the results were widely regarded as fraudulent.The resulting protests led to thePeople Power Revolution,which forced Marcos and his allies to flee toHawaii. Aquino's widow,Corazon, was installed as presidentand a new constitution was promulgated.
The return of democracy and government reforms which began in 1986 were hampered bynational debt, government corruption, andcoup attempts.Acommunist insurgencyand military conflict withMoro separatistspersisted;the administration also faced a series of disasters, including the eruption ofMount Pinatuboin June 1991.Aquino was succeeded byFidel V. Ramos, wholiberalizedthe national economy withprivatizationandderegulation.Ramos's economic gains were overshadowed by the onset of the1997 Asian financial crisis.His successor,Joseph Estrada, prioritized public housingbut faced corruption allegationswhich led to his overthrow by the2001 EDSA Revolutionand the succession of Vice PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyoon January 20, 2001.Arroyo'snine-year administrationwas marked by economic growth,but was tainted by corruption and political scandals,includingelectoral fraud allegationsduring the2004 presidential election.Economic growth continued duringBenigno Aquino III's administration, which advocated good governance and transparency.Aquino III signeda peace agreementwith theMoro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) resulting in theBangsamoro Organic Lawestablishing an autonomousBangsamororegion, but ashootout with MILF rebels in Mamasapanodelayed passage of the law.
Growing public frustration with post-EDSAgovernance led to the2016 electionof populistRodrigo Duterte,whosepresidencysaw the decline ofliberalism in the countryalbeit largely retaining liberal economic policies.Among Duterte's priorities wasaggressively increasing infrastructure spendingto spur economic growth;the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law;an intensified crackdown on crime and communist insurgencies;andan anti-drug campaignthat reduced drug proliferationbut that has also led toextrajudicial killings.In early 2020, theCOVID-19 pandemicreached the Philippines,necessitatingnationwide lockdownsthat caused a brief but severeeconomic recession.Under a promise of continuing Duterte's policies,Marcos's son,Bongbong Marcos, ran with Duterte's daughter,Sara, and won the2022 election.Marcos's renewal of a pro-US foreign policy, however, has been viewed as a reversal of Duterte's cordiality with China, andterritorial disputes in the South China Seahave since escalated.
The Philippines is anarchipelagoof about 7,641islands,covering a total area (including inland bodies of water) of about 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi).Stretching 1,850 kilometers (1,150 mi) north to south,from theSouth China Seato theCelebes Sea,the Philippinesis borderedby thePhilippine Seato the east,and theSulu Seato the southwest.Thecountry's 11 largest islandsareLuzon,Mindanao,Samar,Negros,Palawan,Panay,Mindoro,Leyte,Cebu,BoholandMasbate, about 95 percent of its total land area.The Philippines' coastline measures 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi), the world'sfifth-longest,and thecountry's exclusive economic zonecovers 2,263,816 km(874,064 sq mi).
Itshighest mountainisMount Apoon Mindanao, with an altitude of 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea level.The Philippines'longest riveris theCagayan Riverin northern Luzon, which flows for about 520 kilometers (320 mi).Manila Bay, on which is the capital city ofManila,is connected toLaguna de Bay(the country'slargest lake) by thePasig River.
On the western fringes of the PacificRing of Fire, the Philippines has frequent seismic and volcanic activity.The region isseismicallyactive, and has beenconstructed by platesconverging towards each other from multiple directions.About five earthquakes are recorded daily, although most are too weak to be felt.Thelast major earthquakeswere in 1976 in theMoro Gulfand in 1990 onLuzon.The Philippines has23 active volcanoes; of them,Mayon,Taal,Canlaon, andBulusanhave the largest number of recorded eruptions.
The country has valuablemineral deposits as a result of its complex geologic structure and high level of seismic activity.It is thought to have the world's second-largest gold deposits (after South Africa), large copper deposits,and the world's largest deposits ofpalladium.The country's gold production in 2015 is 21 metric tonnes.Other minerals includechromium,nickel,molybdenum,platinum, andzinc.However, poor management and law enforcement, opposition from indigenous communities, and past environmental damage have left these resources largely untapped.
The Philippines is amegadiverse country,with some of the world's highest rates of discovery andendemism(67 percent).With anestimated 13,500 plant speciesin the country (3,500 of which are endemic),Philippine rain forests have an array of flora:about 3,500 species of trees,8,000flowering plantspecies, 1,100ferns, and 998orchidspecieshave been identified.The Philippines has 167 terrestrialmammals(102 endemic species), 235reptiles(160 endemic species), 99amphibians(74 endemic species), 686birds(224 endemic species),and over 20,000insectspecies.
As an important part of theCoral Triangleecoregion,Philippine waters have unique, diverse marine lifeand the world's greatest diversity of shore-fish species.The country has over 3,200 fish species (121 endemic).Philippine waters sustainthe cultivationof fish, crustaceans, oysters, and seaweeds.
Eight major types of forests are distributed throughout the Philippines:dipterocarp,beachforest,pineforest,molaveforest,lower montane forest, upper montane (ormossy forest),mangroves, andultrabasicforest.According to official estimates, the Philippines had 7,000,000 hectares (27,000 sq mi) of forest cover in 2023.Logging had been systemized during the American colonial periodanddeforestationcontinued after independence, accelerating during theMarcos presidencydue to unregulated logging concessions.Forest cover declined from 70 percent of the Philippines' total land area in 1900 to about 18.3 percent in 1999.Rehabilitation efforts have had marginal success.
The Philippines is apriority hotspot for biodiversity conservation;it hasmore than 200 protected areas,which was expanded to 7,790,000 hectares (30,100 sq mi) as of 2023.Three sitesin the Philippines have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List: theTubbataha Reefin the Sulu Sea,thePuerto Princesa Subterranean River,and theMount HamiguitanWildlife Sanctuary.
The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate which is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: a hotdry seasonfrom March to May, arainy seasonfrom June to November, and a cool dry season from December to February.The southwestmonsoon(known as thehabagat) lasts from May to October, and the northeast monsoon (amihan) lasts from November to April.The coolest month is January, and the warmest is May. Temperatures at sea level across the Philippines tend to be in the same range, regardless of latitude; average annual temperature is around 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) but is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) inBaguio, 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) above sea level.The country's averagehumidityis 82 percent.Annual rainfall is as high as 5,000 millimeters (200 in) on the mountainous east coast, but less than 1,000 millimeters (39 in) in some sheltered valleys.
ThePhilippine Area of Responsibilityhas 19typhoonsin a typical year,usually from July to October;eight or nine of them makelandfall.The wettest recorded typhoon to hit the Philippines dropped 2,210 millimeters (87 in) in Baguio from July 14 to 18, 1911.The countryis amongthe world's ten mostvulnerable to climate change.
The Philippines has ademocraticgovernment, a constitutionalrepublicwith apresidential system.Thepresidentishead of stateandhead of government,and is thecommander-in-chiefof thearmed forces.The presidentis electedthroughdirect electionby thecitizens of the Philippinesfor a six-year term.The president appoints and presides over thecabinetand officials of various national government agencies and institutions.ThebicameralCongressis composed of theSenate(theupper house, with memberselected to a six-year term) and theHouse of Representatives, thelower house, with members elected to a three-year term.
Senators are electedat-large,and representatives are elected fromlegislative districtsandparty lists.Judicial authority is vested in theSupreme Court, composed of achief justiceand fourteenassociate justices,who are appointed by the president from nominations submitted by theJudicial and Bar Council.
Attempts to changethe government to afederal,unicameral, orparliamentary governmenthave been made since theRamos administration.Philippine politics tends to be dominated bywell-known families, such aspolitical dynastiesorcelebrities,andparty switchingis widely practiced.Corruption is significant,attributed by some historians to the Spanish colonial period'spadrino system.The Roman Catholic church exerts considerable but waninginfluence in political affairs, although a constitutional provision for theseparation of Church and Stateexists.
Afounding and active memberof the United Nations,the Philippines has been a non-permanent member of theSecurity Council.The country participates inpeacekeepingmissions, particularly inEast Timor.The Philippines is afoundingand active member ofASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations)and a member of theEast Asia Summit,theGroup of 24,and theNon-Aligned Movement.The country has sought to obtain observer status in theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperationsince 2003,and was a member ofSEATO.Over 10 million Filipinosliveandwork in 200 countries,giving the Philippinessoft power.
During the 1990s, the Philippines began to seekeconomic liberalizationandfree tradeto help spurforeign direct investment.It is a member of theWorld Trade Organizationand theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.The Philippines entered into theASEAN Trade in Goods Agreementin 2010and theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnershipfree trade agreement(FTA) in 2023.Through ASEAN, the Philippines has signed FTAs withChina,India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.The country has bilateral FTAs withJapan, South Korea,andfour European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The Philippines has a longrelationship with the United States, involving economics,security, and interpersonal relations.The Philippines' locationservesanimportant rolein the United States'island chain strategyin the West Pacific;aMutual Defense Treatybetween the two countries was signed in 1951, and was supplemented with the1999 Visiting Forces Agreementand the 2016Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.The country supported American policies during theCold Warand participated in theKoreanandVietnamwars.In 2003, the Philippines was designated a major non-NATO ally.Under President Duterte, ties with the United States weakened in favor of improved relations with China andRussia.The Philippines relies heavily on the United States for its external defense;the U.S. has made regular assurances to defend the Philippines,including theSouth China Sea.
Since 1975, the Philippines has valued itsrelations with China—its top trading partner,and cooperates significantly with the country.Japan is the biggest bilateral contributor ofofficial development assistanceto the Philippines;although some tension exists because ofWorld War II, much animosity has faded.Historical and cultural ties continue to affectrelations with Spain.Relations with Middle Eastern countries are shaped by the high number of Filipinos working in those countries,and by issues related to the Muslim minority in the Philippines;concerns have been raised about domestic abuse and war affecting the approximately 2.5 million overseas Filipino workers in the region.
The Philippineshas claimsin theSpratly Islandswhich overlap with claims by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.The largest ofits controlled islandsisThitu Island, which contains thePhilippines' smallest town.The 2012Scarborough Shoal standoff, after China seized the shoal from the Philippines, led to aninternational arbitration casewhich the Philippines eventually won;China rejected the result,and made the shoal a prominent symbol of the broader dispute.
China has rejected new Philippine maritime laws aimed at strengthening sovereignty in the South China Sea, stating they infringe on Chinese territorial claims and vowing to defend its interests in contested areas.
ThevolunteerArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) consist of three branches: thePhilippine Air Force, thePhilippine Army, and thePhilippine Navy.Civilian security is handled by thePhilippine National Policeunder theDepartment of the Interior and Local Government.The AFP had a total manpower of around 280,000 as of 2022, of which 130,000 were active military personnel, 100,000 were reserves, and 50,000 wereparamilitaries.
In 2023, US$477 million (1.4 percent of GDP) was spent on the Philippine military.Most of the country's defense spending is on the Philippine Army, which leads operations against internal threats such ascommunistandMuslimseparatist insurgencies; its preoccupation with internal security contributed to the decline ofPhilippine naval capabilitywhich began during the 1970s.A military modernization programbegan in 1995and expanded in 2012 to build a more capable defense system.
The Philippines has long struggled againstlocal insurgencies,separatism, andterrorism.Bangsamoro's largest separatist organizations, theMoro National Liberation Frontand theMoro Islamic Liberation Front, signed final peace agreements with the government in1996and2014respectively.Other, more-militant groups such asAbu SayyafandBangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fightershave kidnapped foreigners for ransom, particularly in the Sulu ArchipelagoandMaguindanao,but their presence has been reduced.TheCommunist Party of the Philippines(CPP) and its military wing, theNew People's Army(NPA), have been wagingguerrilla warfareagainst the government since the 1970s and haveengagedin ambushes, bombings, and assassinations of government officials and security forces;although shrinking militarily and politically after the return of democracy in 1986,the CPP-NPA, through theNational Democratic Front of the Philippines, continues to gather public support in urban areas by setting upcommunist fronts, infiltrating sectoral organizations, and rallying public discontent and increased militancy against the government.The Philippines ranked 104th out of 163 countries in the 2024Global Peace Index.
The Philippines is divided into 18regions, 82provinces, 146cities, 1,488municipalities, and 42,036barangays.Regions other thanBangsamoroare divided for administrative convenience.Calabarzonwas the region with the greatest population as of 2020, and theNational Capital Region(NCR) was the most densely populated.
The Philippines is aunitary state, with the exception of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),although there have beensteps towards decentralization;a 1991 lawdevolvedsome powers tolocal governments.
The Philippine economy is the world's34th largest, with an estimated 2023nominalgross domestic productof US$435.7 billion.As anewly industrialized country,the Philippine economy has been transitioning from an agricultural base to one with more emphasis on services and manufacturing.The country's labor force was around 50 million as of 2023, and itsunemployment ratewas 3.1 percent.Gross international reserves totaled US$103.406 billion as of January 2024.Debt-to-GDP ratiodecreased to 60.2 percent at the end of 2023 from a 17-year high 63.7 percent at the end of the third quarter of that year, and indicated resiliency during theCOVID-19 pandemic.The country's unit ofcurrencyis thePhilippine peso(₱or PHP).
The Philippines is a net importer,and adebtor nation.As of 2020, the country's main export markets were China, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore;primary exports includedintegrated circuits, office machinery and parts, electrical transformers, insulated wiring, andsemiconductors.Its primary import markets that year were China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Indonesia.Major export crops includecoconuts,bananas, andpineapples; it is the world's largest producer ofabaca,and was the world's second biggest exporter ofnickel orein 2022,as well as the biggest exporter of gold-clad metals and the biggest importer ofcoprain 2020.
With an average annual growth rate of six to seven percent since around 2010, the Philippines has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies,driven primarily by its increasing reliance on the service sector.Regional development is uneven, however, with Manila (in particular) gaining most of the new economic growth.Remittancesfromoverseas Filipinoscontribute significantly to the country's economy;they reached a record US$37.20 billion in 2023, accounting for 8.5 percent of GDP.The Philippines is the world's primarybusiness process outsourcing(BPO) center.About 1.3 million Filipinos work in the BPO sector, primarily incustomer service.
The Philippines has one of the largest agricultural-research systems in Asia, despite relatively low spending on agricultural research and development.The country has developed new varieties of crops, includingrice,coconuts,and bananas.Research organizations include thePhilippine Rice Research Instituteand theInternational Rice Research Institute.
ThePhilippine Space Agencymaintains thecountry's space program,and the country bought its firstsatellitein 1996.Diwata-1, its firstmicro-satellite, was launched on the United States'Cygnusspacecraft in 2016.
The Philippines has ahigh concentrationofcellular-phoneusers,and a high level ofmobile commerce.Text messagingis a popular form of communication, and the nation sent an average of one billionSMSmessages per day in 2007.ThePhilippine telecommunications industryhad been dominated by thePLDT-Globe Telecomduopoly for more than two decades,and the 2021 entry ofDito Telecommunityimproved the country's telecommunications service.
The Philippines is a popular retirement destination for foreigners because of its climate and low cost of living.The country's main tourist attractions areits numerous beaches;the Philippines is also a top destination for diving enthusiasts.Tourist spotsincludeBoracay, called the best island in the world byTravel + Leisurein 2012;CoronandEl Nidoin Palawan;Cebu;Siargao, andBohol.
Tourism contributed 5.2 percent to the Philippine GDP in 2021 (lower than 12.7 percent in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic),and provided 5.7 million jobs in 2019.The Philippines attracted 5.45 million international visitors in 2023, 30 percent lower than the 8.26 million record in pre-pandemic 2019; most tourists came from South Korea (26.4 percent), United States (16.5 percent), Japan (5.6 percent), Australia (4.89 percent), and China (4.84 percent).
Transportation in the Philippinesis by road, air, rail and water. Roads are the dominant form of transport, carrying 98 percent of people and 58 percent of cargo.In December 2018, there were 210,528 kilometers (130,816 mi) of roads in the country.The backbone of land-based transportation in the country is thePan-Philippine Highway, which connects the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.Inter-island transport is by the 919-kilometer (571 mi)Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated set of highways andferryroutes linking 17 cities.Jeepneysare a popular, iconic public utility vehicle;other public land transport includesbuses,UV Express,TNVS, Filcab,taxis, andtricycles.Traffic is a significant issuein Manilaand on arterial roads to the capital.
Despite wider historical use,rail transportation in the Philippinesis limitedtotransporting passengers within Metro Manilaand the provinces ofLagunaandQuezon,with a short track in theBicol Region.The country had a railway footprint of only 79 kilometers (49 mi) as of 2019, which it planned to expand to 244 kilometers (152 mi).A revival offreight railis planned to reduce road congestion.
The Philippines had90 national government-owned airportsas of 2022, of which eight areinternational.Ninoy Aquino International Airport, formerly known as Manila International Airport, has thegreatest number of passengers.The 2017air domestic marketwas dominated byPhilippine Airlines, the country'sflag carrierand Asia's oldest commercial airline,andCebu Pacific(the country's leadinglow-cost carrier).
A variety of boats are used throughout the Philippines;most aredouble-outriggervessels known asbancaorbangka.Modern ships use plywood instead of logs, and motor engines instead of sails;they are used for fishing and inter-island travel.The Philippines hasover 1,800 seaports;of these, the principal seaports ofManila(the country's chief, and busiest, port),Batangas,Subic Bay,Cebu,Iloilo,Davao,Cagayan de Oro,General Santos, andZamboangaare part of the ASEAN Transport Network.
The Philippines had a total installed power capacity of 26,882MWin 2021; 43 percent was generated fromcoal, 14 percent fromoil, 14 percenthydropower, 12 percent fromnatural gas, and seven percent fromgeothermalsources.It is the world's third-biggestgeothermal-energy producer, behind the United States and Indonesia.The country's largest dam is the 1.2-kilometer-long (0.75 mi)San Roque Damon theAgno RiverinPangasinan.TheMalampaya gas field, discovered in the early 1990s off the coast of Palawan, reduced the Philippines' reliance on imported oil; it provides about 40 percent of Luzon's energy requirements, and 30 percent of the country's energy needs.
The Philippines has threeelectrical grids, one each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.TheNational Grid Corporation of the Philippinesmanagesthe country's power gridsince 2009and providesoverhead transmission linesacross the country's islands. Electric distribution to consumersis providedby privately owned distribution utilities and government-ownedelectric cooperatives.As of end-2021, the Philippines' household electrification level was about 95.41%.
Plans to harnessnuclear energybegan during the early 1970s during thepresidency of Ferdinand Marcosin response to the1973 oil crisis.The Philippines completedSoutheast Asia's first nuclear power plantinBataanin 1984.Political issues following Marcos' ouster and safety concerns after the 1986Chernobyl disasterprevented the plant from being commissioned,and plans to operate it remain controversial.
Water supply and sanitation outside Metro Manila is provided by the government through localwater districtsin cities or towns.Metro Manila is served byManila WaterandMaynilad Water Services. Except for shallow wells for domestic use, groundwater users are required to obtain a permit from theNational Water Resources Board.In 2022, the total water withdrawals increased to 91 billion cubic meters (3.2×10^cu ft) from 89 billion cubic meters (3.1×10^cu ft) in 2021 and the total expenditures on water were amounted to ₱144.81 billion.
Most sewage in the Philippines flows into septic tanks.In 2015, theJoint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitationnoted that 74 percent of the Philippine population had access toimproved sanitationand "good progress" had been made between 1990 and 2015.Ninety-six percent of Filipino households had an improved source of drinking water and 92 percent of households had sanitary toilet facilities as of 2016; connections of toilet facilities to appropriate sewerage systems remain largely insufficient, however, especially in rural and urban poor communities.
As of May 1, 2020, the Philippines had a population of 109,035,343.More than 60 percent of the country's population live in thecoastal zoneand in 2020, 54 percent lived inurban areas.Manila, its capital, andQuezon City(the country's most populous city) are inMetro Manila. About 13.48 million people (12 percent of the Philippines' population) live in Metro Manila,thecountry's most populous metropolitan areaand the world'sfifth most populous.Between 1948 and 2010, the population of the Philippines increased almost fivefold from 19 million to 92 million.
Thecountry's median ageis 25.3, and 63.9 percent of its population is between 15 and 64 years old.The Philippines' average annual population growth rate is decreasing,although government attempts to further reduce population growth have beencontentious.The country reduced itspoverty ratefrom 49.2 percent in 1985to 18.1 percent in 2021,and itsincome inequalitybegan to decline in 2012.
The country has substantial ethnic diversity, due to foreign influence and the archipelago's division by water and topography.According to the 2020 census, the Philippines' largest ethnic groups wereTagalog(26.0 percent),Visayans[excluding theCebuano,Hiligaynon, andWaray] (14.3 percent),Ilocanoand Cebuano (both eight percent), Hiligaynon (7.9 percent),Bikol(6.5 percent), and Waray (3.8 percent).Thecountry's indigenous peoplesconsisted of 110 enthnolinguistic groups,with a combined population of 15.56 million, in 2020;they include theIgorot,Lumad,Mangyan, and theindigenous peoples of Palawan.
Negritosare thought to be among the islands' earliest inhabitants.These minority aboriginal settlers are anAustraloidgroup, a remnant of thefirst human migration from Africa to Australiawho were probably displaced by later waves of migration.Some Philippine Negritos have aDenisovanadmixture in theirgenome.Ethnic Filipinos generally belong to several Southeast Asian ethnic groups, classified linguistically asAustronesiansspeakingMalayo-Polynesian languages.The Austronesian population's origin is uncertain, but relatives ofTaiwanese aboriginesprobably brought their language and mixed with the region's existing population.The Lumad andSama-Bajauethnic groups have an ancestral affinity with theAustroasiatic-andMlabri-speakingHtinpeoples of mainland Southeast Asia. Westward expansion fromPapua New Guineato eastern Indonesia and Mindanao has been detected in theBlaan peopleand theSangir language.
Immigrants arrived in the Philippines from elsewhere in the Spanish Empire, especiallyfrom the Spanish Americas.A 2016National Geographicprojectconcludedthat people living in the Philippine archipelago carriedgenetic markersin the following percentages: 53 percentSoutheast AsiaandOceania, 36 percentEastern Asia, 5 percentSouthern Europe, 3 percentSouthern Asia, and 2 percent Native American (fromLatin America).
Descendants of mixed-race couples are known asMestizosortisoy,which during theSpanish colonial times, were mostly composed ofChinese mestizos(Mestizos de Sangley),Spanish mestizos(Mestizos de Español) and the mix thereof (tornatrás).The modernChinese Filipinosare well-integrated into Filipino society.Primarily the descendants of immigrants fromFujian,the pure ethnic Chinese Filipinos during theAmerican colonial era(early 1900s) purportedly numbered about 1.35 million; while an estimated 22.8 million (around 20 percent) of Filipinos have half or partial Chinese ancestry from precolonial, colonial, and 20th centuryChinese migrants.During the Hispanic era (late 1700s), the tribute-census showedmixed Spanish Filipinosmade up a moderate ratio (around 5 percent) of all citizens.Meanwhile,a smaller proportion (2.33 percent) of the population were Mexican Filipinos.Almost 300,000American citizenslive in the country as of 2023,and up to 250,000Amerasiansare scattered across the cities ofAngeles, Manila, andOlongapo.Other significant non-indigenous minorities includeIndiansandArabs.Japanese Filipinosinclude escaped Christians (Kirishitan) whofled persecutions by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Ethnologuelists 186 languages for the Philippines, 182 of which areliving languages; the other four no longer have any known speakers. Most native languages are part of thePhilippine branchof theMalayo-Polynesian languages, which is a branch of theAustronesian language family.Spanish-basedcreolevarieties, collectively known asChavacano, are also spoken.ManyPhilippine Negrito languageshave unique vocabularies which survived Austronesian acculturation.
FilipinoandEnglishare the country's official languages.Filipino, astandardized versionofTagalog, is spoken primarily in Metro Manila.Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business, often with a third local language;code-switchingbetween English and other local languages, notablyTagalog, is common.The Philippine constitution provides forSpanishand Arabic on a voluntary, optional basis.Spanish, a widely usedlingua francaduring the late nineteenth century,has declined greatly in use,although Spanishloanwordsare still present in Philippine languages.Arabic is primarily taught inMindanaoIslamic schools.
The top languages generally spoken at home as of 2020are Tagalog,Binisaya,Hiligaynon,Ilocano,Cebuano, andBikol.Nineteenregional languagesare auxiliary official languages as media of instruction:
Other indigenous languages, includingCuyonon,Ifugao,Itbayat,Kalinga,Kamayo,Kankanaey,Masbateño,Romblomanon,Manobo, and severalVisayan languages, are used in their respective provinces.Filipino Sign Languageis the national sign language, and the language ofdeaf education.
Although the Philippines is asecular statewithfreedom of religion, an overwhelming majority of Filipinosconsider religion very importantandirreligionis very low.Christianityis the dominant religionfollowed by about 89 percent of the population.The country had theworld's third-largest Roman Catholic populationas of 2013, and was Asia'slargest Christian nation.Census data from2020found that 78.8 percent of the population professedRoman Catholicism;otherChristian denominationsincludeIglesia ni Cristo, thePhilippine Independent Church, andSeventh-day Adventism.Protestantsmade up about 5% to 7% of the population in 2010.The Philippines sends manyChristian missionariesaround the world, and is a training center for foreign priests and nuns.
Islamis the country's second-largest religion, with 6.4 percent of the population in the 2020 census.Most Muslims live in Mindanao and nearby islands,and most adhere to theShafi'i schoolofSunni Islam.
About 0.2 percent of the population followindigenous religions,whose practices and folk beliefs are oftensyncretizedwith Christianity and Islam.Buddhismis practiced by about 0.04% of the population,primarily by Filipinos of Chinese descent.
Health care in the Philippinesis provided by the national and local governments, although private payments account for most healthcare spending.Per-capita health expenditure in 2022 was₱10,059.49and health expenditures were 5.5 percent of the country's GDP.The 2023 budget allocation for healthcare was ₱334.9 billion.The 2019 enactment of theUniversal Health Care Actby President Duterte facilitated the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos in thenational health insurance program.Since 2018,Malasakit Centers(one-stop shops) have been set up in several government-operated hospitals to provide medical and financial assistance to indigent patients.
Average life expectancy in the Philippines as of 2023is 70.48 years (66.97 years for males, and 74.15 years for females).Access to medicine has improved due to increasing Filipino acceptance ofgeneric drugs.The country's leading causes of death in 2021 wereischaemic heart diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,COVID-19,neoplasms, anddiabetes.Communicable diseasesare correlated with natural disasters, primarily floods.One million Filipinos have activetuberculosis, the fourth highest global prevalence rate.
The Philippines has 1,387hospitals, 33 percent of which are government-run; 23,281 barangay health stations, 2,592 rural health units, 2,411birthing homes, and 659 infirmaries provide primary care throughout the country.Since 1967, the Philippines had become the largest global supplier of nurses;seventy percent ofnursing graduatesgo overseas to work, causing problems in retaining skilled practitioners.
Primary and secondary schooling in the Philippines consists of six years of elementary period, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school.Public education, provided by the government, is free at the elementary and secondary levels and atmost public higher-education institutions.Science high schoolsfor talented students were established in 1963.The government provides technical-vocational training and development through theTechnical Education and Skills Development Authority.In 2004, the government began offeringalternative educationto out-of-school children, youth, and adults to improve literacy;madariswere mainstreamed in 16 regions that year, primarily in Mindanao Muslim areas under theDepartment of Education.Catholic schools, which number more than 1,500,and higher education institutions are an integral part of the educational system.
The Philippines has1,975 higher education institutionsas of 2019, of which 246 are public and 1,729 are private.Public universities are non-sectarian, and are primarily classified asstate-administeredorlocal government-funded.Thenational universityis the eight-schoolUniversity of the Philippines(UP) system.The country's top-ranked universities are theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman,Ateneo de Manila University,De La Salle University, andUniversity of Santo Tomas.
In 2019, the Philippines had a basicliteracyrate of 93.8 percent of those five years old or older,and afunctional literacyrate of 91.6 percent of those aged 10 to 64.Education, a significant proportion of the national budget, was allocated ₱900.9 billion from the ₱5.268 trillion 2023 budget.As of 2023, the country has 1,640public librariesaffiliated with theNational Library of the Philippines.
The Philippines has significant cultural diversity, reinforced by the country's fragmented geography.Spanish and American cultures profoundly influenced Filipino culture as a result of long colonization.The cultures of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago developed distinctly, since they had limited Spanish influence and more influence from nearby Islamic regions.Indigenous groups such as theIgorotshave preserved their precolonial customs and traditions byresisting the Spanish.Anational identityemergedduring the 19th century, however, withshared national symbolsand cultural and historicaltouchstones.
Hispanic legaciesinclude the dominance of Catholicismand the prevalence ofSpanish names and surnames, which resulted from an 1849 edict ordering the systematic distribution of family names and the implementation ofSpanish naming customs;thenames of many locationsalso have Spanish origins.American influence on modern Filipino cultureis evident in the use of Englishand Filipino consumption offast foodand American films and music.
Public holidays in the Philippinesare classified as regular or special.Festivalsare primarily religious, and most towns and villages have such a festival (usually to honor apatron saint).Better-known festivals includeAti-Atihan,Dinagyang,Moriones,Sinulog,andFlores de Mayo—a month-long devotion to theVirgin Maryheld in May.The country'sChristmas seasonbegins as early as September 1,andHoly Weekis a solemn religious observance for its Christian population.
Filipinovaluesare rooted primarily in personal alliances based inkinship, obligation, friendship, religion (particularly Christianity), and commerce.They center around social harmony throughpakikisama,motivated primarily by the desire for acceptance by a group.Reciprocity throughutang na loob(a debt of gratitude) is a significant Filipino cultural trait, and an internalized debt can never be fully repaid.The main sanction for divergence from these values are the concepts ofhiya(shame)and loss ofamor propio(self-esteem).
The family is central to Philippine society; norms such as loyalty, maintaining close relationships and care for elderly parents are ingrained in Philippine society.Respect for authority and the elderly is valued, and is shown with gestures such asmanoand thehonorificspoandopoandkuya(older brother) orate(older sister).Other Filipino values are optimism about the future, pessimism about the present, concern about other people, friendship and friendliness,hospitality, religiosity, respect for oneself and others (particularlywomen), and integrity.
Philippine art combines indigenous folk art, east-Asian andClassical traditions.During the Spanish colonial period, art was used to spread Catholicism mainly through paintings and sculptures. The first recorded sculptor in the Philippines is Juan de los Santos (1590 –1660) known for making retablos.In 1821,Damian Domingo, the father of Filipino paintings, opened theAcademia de Dibujoart school in Binondo.Other artists during Spanish colonial rule included painters such as Josef Luciano Dans,Jose Honorato Lozano, Mariano Asuncionand sculptors such asIsabelo Tampincoand Crispulo Hocson.Artist whose works drew attention to the Philippines areJuan LunaandFélix Resurrección Hidalgo.Fernando Amorsolodominated Philippine paintings during the American colonial period, popular for hispastoralscenes of Philippine countryside.Victorio Edadesknown as the father of Modern Philippine Art, popularizedModernismin the Philippines in 1920s and 1930s.
Traditional Philippine architecture has two main models: the indigenousbahay kuboand thebahay na bato, which developed under Spanish rule.Some regions, such asBatanes, differ slightly due to climate; limestone was used as a building material, and houses were built to withstand typhoons.
Spanish architectureleft an imprint in town designs around acentral squareorplaza mayor, but many of its buildings were damaged or destroyed during World War II.SeveralPhilippinechurchesadaptedbaroque architectureto withstand earthquakes, leading to the development ofEarthquake Baroque;four baroque churcheshave been listed as a collective UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.Spanish colonial fortifications(fuerzas) in several parts of the Philippines were primarily designed by missionary architects and built by Filipino stonemasons.Vigan, inIlocos Sur, is known for its Hispanic-style houses and buildings.
American rule introduced new architectural styles in the construction of government buildings andArt Decotheaters.During the American period, construction ofGabaldon school buildingsbegan,and some city planning using architectural designs and master plans byDaniel Burnhamwas done in portions ofManilaandBaguio.Part of the Burnham plan was the construction of government buildings reminiscent ofGreekorNeoclassical architecture.Buildings from the Spanish and American periods can be seen inIloilo, especially inCalle Real.
There are two types of Philippinefolk dance, stemming from traditional indigenous influences and Spanish influence.Although native dances had become less popular,folk dancing began to revive during the 1920s.TheCariñosa, a Hispanic Filipino dance, is unofficially considered the country's national dance.Popular indigenous dances include theTiniklingandSingkil, which include the rhythmic clapping of bamboo poles.Present-day dances vary from delicateballetto street-orientedbreakdancing.
Rondalyamusic, with traditionalmandolin-typeinstruments, was popular during the Spanish era.Spanish-influenced musicians are primarilybandurria-based bands with 14-string guitars.Kundimandeveloped during the 1920s and 1930s.The American colonial period exposed many Filipinos toU.S. cultureandpopular music.Rock musicwas introduced to Filipinos during the 1960s and developed into Filipino rock (orPinoy rock), a term encompassingpop rock,alternative rock,heavy metal,punk,new wave,ska, andreggae. Martial law in the 1970s producedFilipino folk rockbands and artists whowere at the forefrontof political demonstrations.The decade also saw the birth of theManila soundandOriginal Pilipino Music(OPM).Filipino hip-hop, which originated in 1979, entered the mainstream in 1990.Karaokeis also popular.From 2010 to 2020,Pinoy pop(P-pop) was influenced byK-popandJ-pop.
Locally produced theatrical drama became established during the late 1870s. Spanish influence around that time introducedzarzuelaplays (with music)andcomedias, with dance. The plays became popular throughout the country,and were written in a number of local languages.American influence introducedvaudevilleand ballet.Realistictheatre became dominant during the 20th century, with plays focusing on contemporary political and social issues.
Philippine literature consists ofworksusually written in Filipino,Spanish, orEnglish. Some of the earliest well-known works were created from the 17th to the 19th centuries.They includeIbong Adarna, an epic about an eponymous magical bird,andFlorante at Lauraby Tagalog authorFrancisco Balagtas.José Rizalwrote the novelsNoli Me TángereandEl filibusterismo,both of which depict the injustices of Spanish colonial rule.
Folk literaturewas relatively unaffected by colonial influence until the 19th century due to Spanish indifference. Most printed literary works during Spanish colonial rule were religious in nature, althoughFilipino eliteswho later learned Spanish wrotenationalisticliterature.The American arrivalbeganFilipino literary use of Englishand influenced the development of thePhilippine comicsindustry that flourished from the 1920s through the 1970s.In the late 1960s, during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Philippine literature wasinfluenced by political activism; many poets began using Tagalog, in keeping with the country's oral traditions.
Philippine mythologyhas been handed down primarily through oral tradition;popularfiguresareMaria Makiling,Lam-ang,and theSarimanok.The country has a number offolk epics.Wealthy families could preserve transcriptions of the epics as family heirlooms, particularly in Mindanao; theMaranao-languageDarangenis an example.
Philippine media primarily uses Filipino and English, althoughbroadcastinghas shifted to Filipino.Television shows, commercials, andfilmsare regulated by theMovie and Television Review and Classification Board.Most Filipinos obtain news and information from television, the Internet,andsocial media.The country's flagship state-owned broadcast-television network is thePeople's Television Network(PTV).ABS-CBNandGMA, bothfree-to-air, were the dominant TV networks;before the May 2020Philippine government denial of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, it was the country's largest network.Philippine television dramas, known asteleseryes and mainly produced byABS-CBNandGMA, are also seen in several other countries.
Local film-makingbegan in 1919with the release of the first Filipino-producedfeature film:Dalagang Bukid(A Girl from the Country), directed byJose Nepomuceno.Production companiesremained small during thesilent filmera, but sound films and larger productions emerged in 1933. The postwar 1940s to the early 1960s are considered a high point for Philippine cinema. The 1962–1971 decade saw a decline in quality films, although the commercial film industry expanded until the 1980s.Critically acclaimed Philippine films includeHimala(Miracle) andOro, Plata, Mata(Gold, Silver, Death), both released in 1982.Since the turn of the 21st century, the country's film industry has struggled to compete with larger-budget foreign films(particularlyHollywood films).Art filmshave thrived, however, and severalindie filmshave been successful domestically and abroad.
The Philippines has a large number ofradio stationsandnewspapers.Englishbroadsheetsare popular among executives, professionals and students.Less-expensive Tagalogtabloids, which grew during the 1990s, are popular (particularly in Manila);however, overall newspaper readership is declining in favor ofonline news.The top three newspapers, by nationwide readership and credibility,are thePhilippine Daily Inquirer,Manila Bulletin, andThe Philippine Star.Althoughfreedom of the pressis protected by the constitution,the country was listed as the seventh-most-dangerous country for journalists in 2022 by theCommittee to Protect Journalistsdue to 13 unsolved murders of journalists.
The Philippine population are the world's top Internet users.In early 2021, 67 percent of Filipinos (73.91 million) had Internet access; the overwhelming majority usedsmartphones.
From its Malayo-Polynesian origins, traditional Philippine cuisine has evolved since the 16th century. It was primarily influenced by Hispanic,Chinese, andAmericancuisines, which were adapted to the Filipino palate.Filipinos tend to prefer robust flavors,centered on sweet, salty, and sour combinations.Regional variations exist throughout the country; rice is the general staplestarchbutcassavais more common in parts of Mindanao.Adobois the unofficial national dish.Otherpopular dishesincludelechón,kare-kare,sinigang,pancit,lumpia, andarroz caldo.Traditional dessertsarekakanin(rice cakes), which includeputo,suman, andbibingka.Ingredients such ascalamansi,ube,andpiliare used in Filipino desserts.The generous use ofcondimentssuch aspatis,bagoong, andtoyoimpart a distinctive Philippine flavor.
Unlike other East or Southeast Asian countries, most Filipinos do not eat withchopsticks; they use spoons and forks.Traditional eating with the fingers(known askamayan) had been used in less urbanized areas,but has been popularized with the introduction of Filipino food to foreigners and city residents.
Basketball, played at the amateur and professional levels, is considered the country's most popular sport.Other popular sports includeboxingand billiards, boosted by the achievements ofManny PacquiaoandEfren Reyes.The nationalmartial artisArnis.Sabong(cockfighting) is popular entertainment, especially among Filipino men, and was documented by theMagellan expedition.Video gamingandesportsare emerging pastimes,with the popularity ofindigenous gamessuch aspatintero,tumbang preso,luksong tinik, andpikodeclining among young people.
Themen's national football teamhas participated in oneAsian Cup.Thewomen's national football teamqualified for the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, their firstWorld Cup, in January 2022.The Philippines has participated in everySummer Olympic Gamessince1924, except when they supported theAmerican-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics.It was the firsttropical nationto compete at theWinter Olympic Games,debuting in 1972.In 2021, the Philippines received its first-ever Olympic gold medal withweightlifterHidilyn Diaz's victory inTokyo.
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