The
Philippine
Islands
are
a
cluster
of
more
than
7000
islands,
lying
north
of
the
Malay
Peninsula
in
South
East
Asia.
From
north
to
south,
the
archipelago
extends
over
nearly
1850
kilometers.
Philippines
is
of
volcanic
origin,
it
has
more
than
20
active
volcanoes,
and
regularly
experiences
earthquakes.
The
total
land
area
of
the
Philippines
is
about
300,000
square
kilometers,
and
the
largest
city
is
the
its
capital,
Manila.
The
two
largest
islands
are
Luzon
to
the
north,
and
Mindanao
to
the
south,
with
a
host
of
smaller
islands
in
between,
including
some
unnamed
and
uninhabited
patches
of
land.
The
predominant
ethnic
groups
on
the
islands
are
of
Malayan
origin,
with
some
Chinese
influence.
There
are
also
the
Mestizos
(Filipino-Spanish
and
Filipino-American)
who
are
evidence
of
the
long
Spanish
and
American
occupation
of
the
country.
The
islands
got
their
name
from
the
Spanish
-
they
named
the
country
Filipinas
after
King
Philip
II
of
Spain.
Due
to
extensive
proselytization
by
the
Church
during
the
Spanish
era,
the
Philippines
are
the
only
Christian
nation
in
Asia,
with
over
82%
of
its
population
following
the
Roman
Catholic
faith.
The
Filipinos
are
a
very
outgoing
and
friendly
people,
whose
ethos
is
ruled
by 'bayanihan'
- a
communal
spirit
which
binds
them
together,
and
embraces
all
visitors
to
their
country
as
well.
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites
PEOPLE
The
Filipino
is
basically
of
Malay
stock
with
a
sprinkling
of
Chinese,
American,
Spanish,
and
Arab
blood.
The
Philippines
has
a
population
of
76.5
million
as
of
May
2000,
and
it
is
hard
to
distinguish
accurately
the
lines
between
stocks.
From
a
long
history
of
Western
colonial
rule,
interspersed
with
the
visits
of
merchants
and
traders,
evolved
a
people
of a
unique
blend
of
east
and
west,
both
in
appearance
and
culture.
The
Filipino
character
is
actually
a
little
bit
of
all
the
cultures
put
together.
The
bayanihan
or
spirit
of
kinship
and
camaraderie
that
Filipinos
are
famous
for
is
said
to
be
taken
from
Malay
forefathers.
The
close
family
relations
are
said
to
have
been
inherited
from
the
Chinese.
The
piousness
comes
from
the
Spaniards
who
introduced
Christianity
in
the
16th
century.
Hospitality
is a
common
denominator
in
the
Filipino
character
and
this
is
what
distinguishes
the
Filipino.
Filipinos
are
probably
one
of
the
few,
if
not
the
only,
English-proficient
Oriental
people
today.
Pilipino
is
the
official
national
language,
with
English
considered
as
the
country's
unofficial
one.
The
Filipinos
are
divided
geographically
and
culturally
into
regions,
and
each
regional
group
is
recognizable
by
distinct
traits
and
dialects
-
the
sturdy
and
frugal
llocanos
of
the
north,
the
industrious
Tagalogs
of
the
central
plains,
the
carefree
Visayans
from
the
central
islands,
and
the
colorful
tribesmen
and
religious
Moslems
of
Mindanao.
Tribal
communities
can
be
found
scattered
across
the
archipelago.
The
Philippines
has
more
than
111
dialects
spoken,
owing
to
the
subdivisions
of
these
basic
regional
and
cultural
groups.
The
country
is
marked
by a
true
blend
of
cultures;
truly
in
the
Philippines,
East
meets
West.
The
background
of
the
people
is
Indonesian
and
Malay.
There
are
Chinese
and
Spanish
elements
as
well.
The
history
of
American
rule
and
contact
with
merchants
and
traders
culminated
in a
unique
blend
of
East
and
West,
both
in
the
appearance
and
culture
of
the
Filipinos,
or
people
of
the
Philippines.
Hospitality,
a
trait
displayed
by
every
Filipino,
makes
these
people
legendary
in
Southeast
Asia.
Seldom
can
you
find
such
hospitable
people
who
enjoy
the
company
of
their
Western
visitors.
Perhaps
due
to
their
long
association
with
Spain,
Filipinos
are
emotional
and
passionate
about
life
in a
way
that
seems
more
Latin
than
Asian.
The
Spaniards
introduced
Christianity
(the
Roman
Catholic
faith)
and
succeeded
in
converting
the
overwhelming
majority
of
Filipinos.
At
least
83%
of
the
total
population
belongs
to
the
Roman
Catholic
faith.
The
American
occupation
was
responsible
for
teaching
the
Filipino
people
the
English
language.
The
Philippines
is
currently
the
third-largest
English
speaking
country
in
the
world.
