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Kids Edition
Republic of the
2014
Philippines
Republika ng Pilipinas
Text messaging is hugely popular in the Philippines. Altogether, Filipino cell phone users send an average of 400
million text messages every day, more than all the countries of Europe combined.
The tarsier is a monkey whose body is only 6 inches long but whose eyes are enormous. It mostly eats insects.
A bathroom in the Philippines is called a comfort room.
In 1928, Pedro Flores, a Philippine immigrant, became the first person to manufacture yo-yos in the United States.
The Philippines has one of the largest English-speaking populations of any country in the world.
When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, volcanic ash fell 50 miles (80 km) away.
The country’s national bird is the rare Philippine eagle (sometimes called the monkey-eating eagle); there are only
about two hundred of these birds still living in the wild.
There are more than 200 volcanoes found on the islands, though only about 20 of them are active.
The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country that shares no land borders with its neighboring countries.
The flag of the Philippines is the only one in the world to be flown upside down when the nation is at war.
The country was named after King Philip II of Spain, while the capital city, Manila, was named for a white-flowered
mangrove plant, the nilad.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to achieve independence after World War II. It gained
independence from the United States on 4 July 1946.
Flag
The stars on the Philippines flag symbolize the three main islands: Mindanao, Luzon,
and the Visayas. The sun’s eight rays represent the provinces that fought for
independence from Spain. Blue stands for the country’s ideals, and red for courage.
National Image
The national dish of the Philippines is called lechon, a whole pig roasted for several
hours over coals. Sometimes it is served with a liver sauce.
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Philippines
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 115,831
Area (sq. km.): 300,000
The Philippines consists of more than seven thousand islands. The islands are spread
out over a very large area, but if you stuck them all together, they would be about the
size of Ecuador or the state of Arizona. Most people live on 11 main islands; the largest
are Luzon and Mindanao. Located in between Taiwan and Borneo, the Philippines is
about 500 miles (800 km) away from the Asian mainland. Mountains, some of which are
active volcanoes, cover many islands. About one quarter of the land is covered by
forests. Most of the islands have many streams and sandy beaches, and earthquakes
are common.
The weather is tropical, usually hot and humid with a rainy season from June to
October. The Philippines is in a typhoon belt, meaning that a hurricane could happen at
any time.
Population
Population: 105,720,644
Over 11 million Filipinos live in Manila, the capital city. Most Filipinos are of Malay
descent, but some are Chinese and a smaller portion is indigenous (native) to the area.
The Igorot and Ifugao of the Cordillera Mountains, in northern Luzon, are known for
their stunning two-thousand-year-old rice terraces in Banaue. Where you live in the
Philippines determines your language, your traditions, and even what you eat. Filipinos
are proud of their country but also of their individual regions and towns.
Language
Close to 70 languages are spoken in the Philippines, but almost everyone can understand Tagalog (Filipino) and
English, the two official languages. Because the United States ruled the country for 48 years, English is used still in the
schools, businesses, and government. Filipinos might have math and science classes in English but history or reading
classes in Tagalog. In Luzon, spoken English is heavily laced with Tagalog words in casual conversation. Just
remember, in the Philippines it’s rude to speak in a language that someone listening can’t understand!
Can You Say It in Tagalog?
Hello
Kumusta
(koh-moo-STAH)
Good-bye
Paalam
(pah-AH-lahm)
Please
Pakisuyo
(pah-kee-SOO-yoh)
Thank you
Salamat
(sah-LAH-maht)
Yes
Oo
(OH-OH)
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No
Philippines
Hindi
(hin-DAY)
Religion
The Philippines is one of only two mostly Christian nations in Asia (the other is East Timor). About 81 percent of the
population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, 2 percent belongs to the Philippine Independent Church, and 10
percent belongs to various other Christian churches. Five percent of Filipinos are Muslim. Violent conflicts between
Christians and Muslims sometimes occur. A number of Buddhists also live in the Philippines. In remote areas of the
country, people still follow native beliefs, worshiping a variety of gods.
Time Line
Thousands of years ago, native peoples live in caves on the islands
AD 900
900s
People sailing in barangays (boats) settle in small communities
1200s
Malay peoples migrating from Borneo inhabit Panay Island
1390
Raja Baginda and Abu Bakar establish the first Muslim sultanate
(kingdom)
1500
1521
Ferdinand Magellan claims the islands for Spain and is killed by Lapu
Lapu
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1565
Philippines
The Philippines becomes part of the Spanish Empire as Spain
establishes its first permanent settlement in Cebu
1800
1896
Writer José Rizal, who helped start the independence movement, is
executed
1899–1901
The Philippine-American War begins after Spain turns the Philippines
over to the United States
1900
1941
Japanese invade and occupy the islands during World War II
1946
Americans and Filipinos regain control of the islands; the Philippines
gains independence and is renamed the Republic of the Philippines
1947
The United States is awarded military bases on the islands
1951
The Philippines signs a peace treaty with Japan
1960s
Rioting and revolutionary movements occur over land and religious
issues
1965
Ferdinand Marcos becomes president
1972
President Ferdinand Marcos declares martial law (a
government-declared emergency in which military forces administer the
law)
1973
A new constitution gives Marcos absolute powers
1981
Martial law is lifted, and Marcos wins the presidential election
1986
The People’s Power Revolution drives out Marcos, and Corazon
Aquino takes control
1992
The U.S. military closes its bases in the Philippines
1996
A peace agreement is reached with the Muslim rebel Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF)
2000
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2001
The People’s Power II movement drives film star and president Joseph
Estrada out of office
2004
About 1,800 people are killed by severe storms and mudslides; the
Philippines withdraws its troops from Iraq
2006
The death penalty is outlawed
2009
The Mindanao massacre occurs when a group of people traveling to
file election nomination papers on Mindanao are attacked and 57
people are killed
2011
A typhoon strikes the south; flooding and mudslides result in the deaths
of over 1,200 people
2013
Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) sweeps through the
Philippines, the strongest storm to ever be recorded; hundreds of
thousands of Filipinos are displaced and several thousand die
PRESENT
First Inhabitants
Thousands of years ago, the first Filipinos lived in caves, used tools, and made pottery. Later, Malay peoples from
Borneo joined them on the islands. Soon, Chinese, Indian, and other merchants would sail over to buy jewels, cloth,
and other items and to sell their goods. The different cultures mingled, and the early Filipinos incorporated both
languages, tools, and methods of writing from their early visitors. The islanders lived in fiefdoms (small kingdom-like
areas), which often would fight each other. They worshiped the forces of nature as well as their ancestors, and they
wrote on sheets of bamboo and used shells as a kind of money. Muslim missionaries arrived in the area in the 14th
and 15th centuries and had some success among Malays who had spread south to the island of Mindanao.
Spanish Conquest
Ferdinand Magellan was the first Westerner on the islands on 16 March 1521, and he
immediately claimed them for Spain. The Spanish later established settlements on the
islands to convert the natives to Catholicism and increase trade in the region. The
islands were named the Philippines after King Philip II of Spain. Native chieftains who
cooperated with the Spanish colonists were awarded valuable pieces of land and higher
social status. Those who did not cooperate were forced to work for the Spanish and pay
high taxes. Filipinos fought for independence, but Spain conquered and ruled for more
than three hundred years. A writer and patriot known as José Rizal helped inspire a
revolt against Spain in 1896. Spain was forced to sell the Philippines to the United
States in 1899, after being defeated by the United States in the Spanish-American War.
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World War II
The United States governed the islands until the Japanese invaded in 1941, and the
U.S. military was forced to withdraw from the area. Many brave Filipino and American
soldiers who were left behind were captured and forced on a long march around Luzon.
Thousands died from sickness, torture, and lack of food and water. The march was so
horrible that it’s been named the Bataan Death March. Filipinos fought fiercely for three
years against the Japanese before they were able to recapture the islands.
Independence
Filipinos finally gained their freedom in 1946. Manuel Roxas was elected to be the first
president of the newly independent Philippines. The country struggled to rebuild the
war-torn cities and create new jobs, and the government had to borrow money from the
United States to keep the economy afloat. In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos, the Filipino
president, stopped all elections under a condition called martial law (a
government-declared emergency in which military forces administer the law). He and
his friends were corrupt and made more and more money while the normal citizen
became even poorer. He put many people who disagreed with him in jail and controlled
what information was published in the newspapers or broadcast on television.
People Power Movements
In 1986, some members of the military refused to follow Marcos any longer. Thousands
of Filipinos poured into the streets to protest against the government. So many people
protested that Marcos fled the country for Hawaii. This protest movement became
known as the People Power Revolution. In 2001, similar protests made Joseph
Estrada, the president, leave office. Vice president Gloria Arroyo became president
after Estrada in a peaceful change of power that earned the Philippines the Nobel
Peace Prize. Other challenges that have faced the nation include a rough economy,
hostage crises, natural disasters, and rebel and religious violence. Filipinos hope that
new leadership will make their lives better.
Games and Sports
Because toys are expensive, most kids play with anything they can find. Kids like to
play marbles, rubber bands, war games (often with paper guns), house, and takyan (a
game using a soft-drink cap and a candy wrapper). Younger kids go outside or to their
cousins’ or neighbors’ homes to play. Teenagers get together after school and go to a
mall or a park. Families enjoy picnics at the beach. Sports generally are played on
Sunday. Boys enjoy basketball, and courts can be found all over the cities. Girls play
sports mostly in school, where volleyball and track are popular.
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Holidays
Fiestas, or local festivals, are held to honor particular saints. These festivals are very
important family days in the Philippines. Everyone eats, plays, laughs, and gives gifts.
The favorite holiday is Christmas. People start decorating as early as September, with
stockings, lights, and tropical Christmas trees. On Christmas Eve, families gather to
exchange gifts and enjoy a large feast of special dishes. The Christmas season lasts
through 6 January (Three Kings Day) and is a time of family reunions and great
merriment. People explode firecrackers from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day to
celebrate the season and banish the old year’s evil spirits. Windows, doors, and
drawers are opened to let out the bad spirits and welcome the good. For luck, people
hang thirteen ripe, round fruits at their doorway, wear clothes with circular prints, and
carry money in their pockets. Children love to go caroling because at each house they
are given coins.
Food
What’s for dinner in the Philippines? Almost always rice. Fish and green vegetables are
usually eaten with the rice, with some fruit for dessert. Sometimes meat such as pork,
beef, chicken, goat, and even dog (in rural areas) is cooked. A favorite treat is a
banana-Q (ripe bananas on a stick, fried in brown sugar). Ice-candies (fruit-flavored ice
pops), fish or squid balls, and pastries are other favorites. Kare-kare is a stew of meats
and vegetables served in a peanut sauce. A favorite snack is the halo-halo, made from
sweetened beans, milk, and fruits served in colorful layers with crushed ice. Parents
expect their children to come to dinner on time, wash their hands before they eat, and
eat all the food on their plates.
Schools
Adult Literacy: 92.6%
Nearly all Filipino children begin school at age six or seven. After six years of
elementary school, most of the students continue on to four years of high school. High
school includes one year of military training. Graduation is at age 16 or 17. Classes
tend to be very large. There might be 40 to 60 kids in one class. In some rural
(countryside) areas, especially in the mountains, children have to walk several miles
just to get to class, and they even have to bring their own stools to sit on since schools
don’t have enough money. But education is still very important to Filipinos.
Life as a Kid
Filipino life is very different depending on where you live. If you lived in a small barrio
(village), you might fetch water in buckets, clean the house, ride the carabao (water
buffalo) home, or run errands. Some young children even help their families by selling
small items. But in a wealthier home, you would do pretty much the same things you do
in the United States. Usually, kids wear shorts (or skirts for girls) and T-shirts, but they
get dressed up for special occasions.
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Government
Capital: Manila
Head of State: Pres. Benigno Aquino
Head of Government: Pres. Benigno Aquino
The Philippines has a president, a legislative branch with a 24-member Senate and a 287-member House of
Representatives, and an independent court system. The country itself is divided into 81 provinces (similar to states),
which are made up of smaller communities called barangays. Barangay became the word for a community because
groups of people would come over on boats called barangays and start new villages. The president and vice president
are elected separately to six-year terms, senators to six-year terms, and representatives to three-year terms. Most
government offices are in Quezon City, the former capital, named for the country’s first president, Manuel Quezon.
Several wealthy families control most of what goes on in politics in the Philippines. The voting age is 15 for local
elections and 18 for national elections.
Money and Economy
Currency: Philippine peso
The Spanish gave Filipino currency the name peso. One Philippine peso equals about
two U.S. pennies. Most Filipinos work in some kind of farming. They grow rice, corn,
coconut, sugarcane, and other crops. Flooding and drought are challenges farmers
often face. Other people work in factories, making electronics and clothes that are
shipped to the United States. There are also a lot of Filipinos who go to work in other
countries where they can make more money. They then send the extra money home to
support their families. Earning enough money to survive is difficult for some Filipinos.
Getting Around
Walk down a Filipino street and you might see many people hanging onto, sitting on top
of, and jammed inside a brightly decorated jeepney. A jeepney is a minibus built on the
frame of an old U.S. military jeep. They travel on relatively fixed routes and stop when
waved at from the sidewalk. They carry 10 to 20 passengers for a low fare; passengers
tap or pound on the roof when they want to stop. Some Filipinos who don’t have a car
and who can’t afford to take a taxi or bus have to walk, ride a bike, or ride some kind of
animal. To get from one island to the next, most people take a boat or plane.
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Family Life
A Filipino family doesn’t include just the aunts, cousins, siblings, parents, and
grandparents; it also includes godparents, who are chosen when a new baby is born.
They help protect and care for the child throughout its whole life. They become part of
the family and sometimes will help their godchildren find jobs. When parents get old,
the children have the responsibility of taking care of them. Family and friends are one of
the most important parts of Filipino life.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of the Philippines, 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202)
467-9300; web site, www.philippineembassy-usa.org.
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