Republic of the Philippines
Republika ng Pilipinas

The Republic of The Philippines is an archipelagic country encompassing 7,641 islands across 300,000 square kilometers. The country is situated in the Western Pacific Ocean with the South China Sea to the west and Philippine Sea to the east. Taiwan lies to the north of the country, and and Indonesia to the south and west. The Philippines can easily be divided into three regions: from north to south these are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. For ease of understanding, we have so delineated them here, along with Metropolitian Manila, the largest population center.

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The Philippines were claimed by Spain in the mid-16th century and remained a part of the empire (with only a brief occupation by the British in the Seven Years' War) until Spain was defeated in the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Philippines then became an American colony, later a protectorate, losing a war of independence to the Americans at the turn of the century. The archipelago was captured by the Japanese in the opening months of the Second World War. The retaking of the Philippines under General Douglas MacArthur was a seminal moment in post-colonial Asian history, and the country was quickly granted independence on July 4, 1946.

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The Philippines are situated astride crucial sea lanes in Southeast Asia and the country plays a pivotal role in the economic and security spheres of the region. Several important waterways are situated within the Philippines exclusive economic zone or near to it, including the Luzon, San Bernardino, Surigao, Balabac, and Basilan Straits.

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