Source: Wikipedia
Flag of the Philippines
Capital: Manila 14°35′N 121°0′E
Official language:
Filipino and English
Government:
Unitary presidential republic

President: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Vice President: Noli de Castro

Independence from Spain and the U.S. :
- Declared June 12, 1898
- Self-government November 15, 1935
- Recognized July 4, 1946
- Current constitution February 2, 1987

Area :
- Total 300,000 km² (72nd) 115,831 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.6

Population :
- July 2005 estimate 85,236,913[1] (13th)
- 2000 census 76,504,077
- Density 276/km² (42nd) 715/sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate :
- Total $453 billion (25th)
- Per capita $4,923 (102nd)

HDI (2003): 0.758 (medium) (84th)

Currency: Philippine peso (piso) (PHP)

Time zone: PST (UTC+8)

Internet TLD: .ph

Calling code: +63

The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas), officially the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas), is an island nation located in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia , with Manila as its capital. It comprises 7,107 islands called the Philippine Archipelago, with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers or 116,000 square miles, making it the 72nd largest country by area.

Modern day Filipinos are mostly of Austronesian stock, although there are a number of Filipinos with Spanish, Chinese, American, and Arab ancestry.

The country was named "Las Islas Filipinas" by Ruy López de Villalobos after King Philip II of Spain . Spanish colonial rule began in 1565 and lasted for about three centuries until the Philippine Revolution of 1896. The United States gained possession of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War in 1898 and ruled the country for about five decades. Philippine culture has many affinities with the West. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino is an official language, along with English.