Facts
Official Name: (Republic of the
Philippines) Republika ng Pilipinas
Capital: Manila
Official Language: Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English
Other Languages: 87 dialects
National Anthem: Lupang Hinirang
Climate: Tropical
Population: 73.2 million (July 1995 estimate)
Form of Government: It is a republic headed by a president and vice-president,
which are elected to a six-year term. There are three branches:
legislative, executive, and judicial. The president is head of state and
the leader of the executive branch. The Congress is bicameral with a 24
member Senate and a 200 member House of Representatives. This government
is modeled after the United States of America. President Corazon Aquino
passed a law limiting the president to one six-year term.
Basic Unit of Money: Peso (40 peso = 1 dollar)
Religion: 83% of the population is Roman Catholic; 9% is Protestant; 5% is
Muslim; and the
remaining population practice no established religion.
Flag: A field of two horizontal bands, blue on top and red on bottom.
In war, the colors are
reversed. They are joined at the staff side with a white triangle.
Centered on the triangle is an eight-rayed sun that represents liberty.
The rays stand for the eight provinces in Manila. In each corner of the
triangle is a yellow star, which represents the three major divisions of the
country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Weights and Measures: The Metric System
Largest Cities: Manila, Quezon City, Davao, Cebu, and Zamboanga
Natural Resources: Timber, Petroleum, Nickle, Cobalt, Silver, Gold, Salt,
and Copper
Holidays: New Year's Day, January 1
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter
Bataan Day, April 9
Labor Day, May 1
Independence Day, June 12
Filipino-American Friendship Day, July 4
Halloween, October 31
All Saint's Day, November 1
Bonifacio Day, November 30
Christmas Day, December 25
Rizal Day, December 30