The Republic of the Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago made up of over 7,100 islands. The country is divided into three key geographical areas. Luzon is the island located to the north where Manila – the capital – is located, Mindanao is in the south and Cebu in the middle.
How Philippines got its name
This is one of the most interesting facts about the Philippines. To carry the name of your enemy; is not it strange. During the Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the islands named Philippines after Philip II, the king of Spain that time.
Culture of the Philippines
Being under Spanish rule for 333 years and then the U.S. for a 48 years, the Philippines gained mixed west culture. That is the reason it is the second Asian country (following India) speaking English, it is also one of only two big Catholic countries in Asia (the other is East Timor).
Political turmoil
The country suffered political turmoil in the last quarter of the 20th century, after being more than a decade under Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. The popular People Power movement in 1986 led a bloodless uprising against the regime, resulting in the ouster and exile of Marcos and also in the restoration of democratic government to the Philippines.
Industrial or agricultural?
Rich in resources, the Philippines supposed to have a strong industrial economy, but it remains mainly agricultural. Toward the end of the 20th century, industrial expansion was boosted by a huge domestic and foreign investment.
Education in the Philippines
The Philippines also emerged as a regional leader in education during the late 20th century, with a well-established public school and university system, and by the early 21st century the country had one of the highest literacy rates in Asia.
What is the Philippines known for?
Tourism is an important sector for Philippine economy. The country is rich with tourist attractions; beaches, heritage towns and monuments, mountains, rainforests, islands and diving spots are among the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
Is Philippine a rich country?
The Philippines is one of the emerging markets and is the sixth richest in Southeast Asia by GDP per capita values, after Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. As of 2017, GDP by purchasing power parity was estimated to be at $1.980 trillion.
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