The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

slightly larger than Arizona

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

152,500 sq km (2003)

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

103,775,002 (July 2012 est.)

24.98 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

MANILA (capital) 11.449 million; Davao 1.48 million; Cebu City 845,000; Zamboanga 827,000 (2009)

99 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

3.15 children born/woman (2012 est.)

1.153 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2006)

urban: 80% of population

rural: 69% of population

total: 76% of population

urban: 20% of population

rural: 31% of population

total: 24% of population

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)

80 provinces and 39 chartered cities

12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Nga Kinatawan (287 seats - 230 members in one tier representing districts and 57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the total vote but with each party limited to three seats); a party represented in one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms

Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)

Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR]; Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]

ABONO [Robert ESTRELLA]; AKBAYAN [Walden BELLO]; An Waray [Florencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Rafael MARIANO]; ARC [Narciso SANTIAGO III]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Ponciano PAYUYO]; A TEACHER [Mariano PIAMONTE]; BAGON HENERASYON [Bernadette HERRERA-DY]; Bayan Muna [Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE]; BUTIL [Leonila CHAVEZ]; CIBAC [Cinchoa CRUZ-GONZALES]; COOP-NATCO [Jose PING-AY]; GABRIELA [Luzviminda ILAGAN]; KABATAAN [Raymon PALATINO]; Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA]; YACAP [Carol LOPEZ]

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897

Philippine GDP grew 7.6% in 2010, spurred by consumer demand, a rebound in exports and investments, and election-related spending, before cooling to 3.9% in 2011, and 4.8% in 2012. The economy weathered the 2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process outsourcing industry. Economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO administration (January 2001 - June 2010). Despite this growth, however, poverty worsened during her presidency. The AQUINO administration is working to reduce the government deficit from 3.9% of GDP, when it took office, to 2% of GDP in 2013. The government has had little difficulty issuing debt, both locally and internationally, to finance the deficits. The AQUINO Administration reduced public debt to below 50% of GDP and obtained several ratings upgrades on sovereign debt so that the Philippines is now close to investment grade. However, the lack of government spending, especially on infrastructure, was one of several factors which slowed GDP growth in the second half of 2011, leading the government to announce a stimulus effort and increased public spending on infrastructure in 2012. AQUINO's first budget emphasized education, health, conditional cash transfers for the poor, and other social spending programs, relying mostly on the private sector to finance important infrastructure projects. Weak tax collection, exacerbated by new tax breaks and incentives, has limited the government's ability to address major challenges. The AQUINO administration has vowed to focus on improving tax collection efficiency, rather than imposing new taxes, as a part of its good governance platform. The economy still faces several long-term challenges, including reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for overseas Filipino workers.

$416.7 billion (2012 est.)

$397.5 billion (2011 est.)

$382.5 billion (2010 est.)

$240.7 billion (2012 est.)

40.73 million (2012 est.)

19.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

14.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

-2.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

50.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

50.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

3.8% (31 December 2010 est.)

3.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

7.2% (31 December 2012 est.)

6.66% (31 December 2011 est.)

$36.67 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$32.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$132.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$126 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$125.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$112.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$202.3 billion (31 December 2010)

$130.5 billion (31 December 2009)

$85.63 billion (31 December 2008)

sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

$12.15 billion (2012 est.)

$7.078 billion (2011 est.)

$52.17 billion (2012 est.)

$47.23 billion (2011 est.)

semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits

Japan 18.5%, US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Singapore 8.9%, Hong Kong 7.7%, South Korea 4.6% (2011)

$63.42 billion (2012 est.)

$62.68 billion (2011 est.)

electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic

Japan 10.8%, US 10.8%, China 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%, South Korea 7.3%, Thailand 5.8%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Malaysia 4.4% (2011)

$80.58 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$75.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$68.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$72.22 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$28.58 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$27.58 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$6.69 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$6.59 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -

64.16 billion kWh (2010 est.)

51.3 billion kWh (2009 est.)

15.58 million kW (2009 est.)

66.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

21.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

12.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

26,640 bbl/day (2011 est.)

28,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

176,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

138.5 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

179,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

315,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)

29,120 bbl/day (2008 est.)

134,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)

2.86 billion cu m (2010 est.)

98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

85.63 million Mt (2010 est.)

3.556 million (2011)

94.19 million (2011)

multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; five national or major TV networks; three government-owned networks; five major cable TV networks and a government-operated national TV and radio network; about 300 analog TV stations; more than 1,000 radio stations (2010)

8.278 million (2009)

gas 7 km; oil 107 km; refined products 181 km (2010)

3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)

18-23 years of age (officers 20-24) for voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens with either 72 college credit hours (enlisted) or a baccalaureate degree (officers) (2012)

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau

domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited