Official Name: Republic of the Philippines

Capital: Metro Manila

Language:

The national language is Pilipino, which is based on the language of Tagalog, although there are at least one or two dialects spoken in every region. English is both spoken and understood throughout the country, especially in business negotiations and in the government. Fokkien, Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken by older members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

The Tagalog language is spoken by 46% of the population. It was made the national language by the government in 1947 as the medium of communication in schools, businesses, and government. Tagalog (taga ilog or river dwellers) came from the people who lived in thriving settlements along the banks of the Pasig River.

Climate:

The climate in the lowlands is warm and humid. The average temperature is 70° - 80° F all year. The average rainfall in Luzon ranges from 35 to 216 inches.

From June to November, it is the wet season. In the cooler months, monsoon winds come from the northeast. From April to October, the monsoons blow from the southwest. The rainiest seasons occur from July through October. Overall, about 40 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, with most originating int he South China Sea, which is on the eastern side of the country.

Population: 76 million

Form of Government:

It is a republic headed by a president and vice-president, who 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. The current president is Pres. Joeseph Ejercito Estrada.

Currency: Piso/Peso (40-41 Pesos = 1 dollar)

Religion:

83% of the population is Roman Catholic; 9% is Protestant; 5% is Muslim; and the remaining population practice no established religion.

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

The peak seasons for tourism in the Philippines are the following:

December 20 to January 2
Chinese New Year (February)
Easter
August