Learn more about this tropical ASIAN COUNTRY.
GEOGRAPHY

The Republic of the Philippines is in South-East Asia. It’s made up of a cluster of little islands between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, near Indonesia and Malaysia

HISTORY

In 1521, explorer Ferdinand Magellan claimed the group of islands for Spain. The Spanish ruled from the 16th century until the United States bought the Philippines from them for $20 million in 1898. The US ignored the Philippines’ growing independence movement, until the Philippine-American War broke out. The US won the war and continued to ruleuntil 1935, when they declared the islands a commonwealth – just one step away from becoming an independent country. But then World War II broke out in 1939, and Japan invaded in 1941, so the plans for independence were put on hold. In 1946, after the end of the war, the Philippines finally gained independence.

CLIMATE

The Philippines has a tropical climate, meaning it is hot and humid for most of the year.

It has three seasons:
March until May is hot and dry, June to November is rainy and from December toFebruary  it’s cooler and dry.
During the rainy season, monsoon winds from the south-west bring rain. From July to October, there are also typhoons. These storms bring thunder and lightning, strong winds and loads of rain. They do major damage, flooding towns and washing away buildings.

NATIONAL FLAG

The national flag of the Philippines has three colours: white represents peace and purity, red stands for patriotism and courage and blue for peace, truth and justice. The flag also has a sun that symbolises freedom, unity, democracy and independence.

FACT

Ready, aim, fire! The Philippine flag is the only flag in the world that is hoisted upside down when the country is at war.

POPULATION

About 94 million people live in the Philippines.

CURRENCY

The Philippine peso (PHP). One peso equals about 20 South African cents.

FACT

The Philippines is often referred to as the ‘text capital of the world’.

LANGUAGES

The two official languages are Filipino and English

CAPITAL CITY

Manila2006, with 35 million cellphone subscribers sending more than 400 million SMSes per day – more than the daily total of America  and Europe combined.