Philippines
Capital
Manila
Population
~113.9 million
Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Filipino (based on Tagalog), English (both official)
- Religion
- Predominantly Roman Catholic, significant Muslim minority in Mindanao
- Climate
- Tropical maritime; hot and humid; prone to typhoons
Culture & History
Known for: being an archipelago nation, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Catholicism in Asia, and karaoke culture
Also famous for: Beautiful beaches and islands (Palawan, Boracay), rice terraces (Banaue), boxing (Manny Pacquiao), Spanish colonial influence
Food: Adobo, Sinigang, Lechon
Brief History
Spanish colony for over 300 years, US territory after 1898, Japanese occupation WWII, independence 1946, Marcos dictatorship