homemaking friendsworld infoglobal etiquette
Offical name
Republic of the Philippines
Capital
Manila
Government type
republic
Language
Filipino
Area
300,000 sq km
Population
89,468,677 ( 2006 est.)
Currency
Philippine peso (PHP)
Religion
Catholic, Protestant
Time zone
GMT/UTC +8 ()
Country dialing code
63
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The Philippine Islands are an archipelago with over 7,000 islands. The islands are of volcanic origin because they are included in the circum-Pacific volcanic belt. Eleven mountains are currently active volcanoes. As a tropical nation with the average temperature of 25°C~32°C (77℉~90℉), this country produces tropical juicy fruits high in sugar like durians, mangos and bananas. The unique and beautiful natural environment attracts foreign tourists each year, and the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (1993) and Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (1999) were designated as the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Most of the Filipinos are Roman Catholics, and this influences people’s lifestyle. Most national holidays and festivals are related to the religious celebrations. While Taglog is commonly used, most people speak Filipino dialects and English. It is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The Tinikling is the most popular and the best-known traditional dance of the Philippines. The performers dance along the sides and between the two bamboo poles, about nine feet long, which are placed horizontally on the ground. Dancers keep their feet from being caught in the poles as they move.
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