Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), or the Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas), is a nation in Southeast Asia. It lies 1,210 km (750 mi) away from mainland Asia and consists of 7,107 islands that form part of the Malay Archipelago.

Demographics

The Philippines is the twelfth most populous country with a population of 86,241,697 as of 2005. Roughly two-thirds are residing in the island of Luzon. Manila, the capital, is the eleventh most populous metropolitan area in the world. The educational system is very efficient and based on United States curriculum. The literacy rate is 95.9%, with 95.8% for females and 96% for males. The sex ratio is roughly equal. Population growth per year is about 1.92% with 26.3 births per 1000 . Life expectancy is 69.29 years with 72.28 years for females and 66.44 years for males. In the 100 years since the 1903 Census, the population has grown by a factor of eleven. The country suffers from overpopulation due a high birth rate.

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The people of the Philippines are collectively known as Filipinos. Colloquially, Filipinos may refer to themselves as Pinoy (feminine: Pinay).

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The vast majority of the population are descended from Austronesian-speaking migrants. There are 13 major native groups in the country, namely, the Tagalogs, Cebuanos, and the Ilocanos, together with the Ilonggos, Bicolanos, Pampangos, Pangasinenses, Karay-as, Warays, Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Tausugs and Negritos make up (94%) of the population. The Mestizos (Filipinos mixed with Spanish, Mexican, Chinese and Anglo-American blood) constituted (3%).

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The largest minority of Foreign Nationality groups in the country is the ethnic Chinese who constitute (1.5%) of the population and are mostly business people. Other people living in the Philippines, includes Spaniards, Latin Americans, North Americans, Arabs and other ethnic Asian immigrants, make up the remaining (1.5%).

Related Topics:
Foreign Nationality groups - Ethnic Chinese - Business people - Spaniards - Latin Americans - North Americans - Arabs - Ethnic Asian immigrants

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Because of the vast number of native ethnolinguistic groups, the Philippines is said to be one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Asia. In recent decades the government has worked to make the country more culturally homogeneous.

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Languages

More than 170 languages are spoken and almost all of them belong to the Western Malayo-Polynesian language group of the Austronesian language family. According to the 1987 Constitution, Tagalog-based Filipino and English are the official languages.

Related Topics:
Western Malayo-Polynesian language - Austronesian language family - Filipino - English

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There are 12 native regional languages and are the auxilary languages of their respective regions, each with over one million speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Bikol, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug.

Related Topics:
Tagalog - Cebuano - Ilokano - Hiligaynon - Waray-Waray - Bikol - Kapampangan - Pangasinan - Kinaray-a - Maranao - Maguindanao - Tausug

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Other major foreign languages spoken include Spanish, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Arabic.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Hokkien - Cantonese - Arabic

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Religion

95% of all Filipinos are Christians. 83% belong to the Roman Catholic Church.The other 12% belonging to various Protestant denominations. There are two native churches, the Philippine Independent Church, founded by Gregorio Aglipay and the Iglesia ni Cristo, founded by Felix Manalo.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - Protestant - Philippine Independent Church - Gregorio Aglipay - Iglesia ni Cristo - Felix Manalo

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The Roman Catholic church exerts considerable influence in the both governmental and non-governmental affairs, although there is a constitutional provision for the separation of Church and State. The Philippines has two cardinals, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Jose Cardinal Sanchez. The late Jaime Cardinal Sin was a leading spiritual leader in the country and was an active participant in People Power I and People Power II. He died on June 21, 2005. Cardinal Vidal is the archbishop of Cebu. Cardinal Sanchez is the former Prefect of Congregation of the Clergy, Roman Curia. Gaudencio Rosales serves as the archbishop of Manila. The most famous cathedral is the huge Manila Cathedral.

Related Topics:
Separation of Church and State - Cardinals - Ricardo Cardinal Vidal - Jose Cardinal Sanchez - Jaime Cardinal Sin - People Power I - People Power II - June 21 - 2005 - Manila Cathedral

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The various Protestant denominations are linked with North American churches and there is a significant presence of American missionaries.

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Many rural people believe in ghosts, anting-antings(lucky charms), mythical creatures, and certain superstitions.

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(4%) percent of all Filipinos are Muslims. Most of the lowland Muslims practice full-fledged Islam, although some Mindanaoan hilltribes practice Islam together with Animism.

Related Topics:
Mindanao - Animism

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