What Do You Know About The Country Philippines?

The Philippines is an Asian country that is considered westernized compared to some of its neighbors. The country consists of a chain of over 7,000 islands, 7,107 to be precise. The country is spread across a wide swathe of Asia, from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. The capital of Philippines is Manila. The official languages of the country are Filipino and also English, making it the third-largest country in the world that speaks English. Besides, there are eight other major dialogs that the people of the country use to communicate – Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, Illongo (also called Hiligaynon), Bicolano, Pangasinense, Waray, and Pampango. Besides, there are over 76-78 major language groups, and all the local people have a total of a staggering 500-plus dialects that they use to speak among themselves. The official language of communication among the different groups is Filipino.

Most of the people are Christian, with a fair sprinkling of Muslims in the southern parts of the nation. The country follows the democratic system of the governance, and the current President and Vice President are Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Noli de Castro, respectively. The country has a population of 76.5 million as per the census conducted in May 2000. This number is expected to jump to over 88 million in 2007. The country is spread across 299,764 square kilometers, being 1,850 kilometers long and 965 kilometers wide and having a coastline of over 17,500 kilometers.

The country is divided into three geographical entities – Mindanao, Luzon, and Visayas. Philippines consist of 118 cities, and are basically divided into 17 regions, which are further subdivided into 81 provinces. These provinces are divided into 1,510 municipalities. The municipalities further consist of about 41,995 barangays. A barangay consists of about 1000 people. Though considered to be influenced by the West, the Philippines has managed to blend the western influence very beautifully with its own vibrant Asian culture, thereby presenting a unique cultural mix to all who visit the country. There is a healthy amalgamation of the outside Spanish and American influences with the native Malay culture, which is what finally the Filipino culture is all about.