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The Philippines is an archipelagic country located in the southeast coast of Asia, between Taiwan in the north and Borneo in the south. It is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of about 300,000 sq. km. Its main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The country's tropical climate is accompanied by relatively abundant rainfall. The cool season extends from November to February. The onset of the dry season begins in March and lasts until May. The wet or rainy season is from June to October.
Of the 86 million Filipinos who make up the total population, more than half can be found in Luzon, the biggest island group. Manila, the capital and largest city, is the hub of commercial and business activity in the country.
The national language is Filipino although there are over 100 dialects spoken throughout the archipelago. However, English is widely used in business negotiations and government communication. The extensive use of the language makes the Philippines the world's third largest English-speaking country, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
Total : 300,000 sq km
Capital : Manila
Population : 86 million (as of 2004)
Religion : Dominantly Roman Catholic
Climate : Tropical, Temp. 220C to 320C
Season : Dry Season (November - May)
Wet Season (June - October)
Language : Filipino, English
Government : Democratic
Currency : Peso
Exchange Rate : Php 50 to US$ 1 (as of October 2006)
For more info, you may visit: www.gov.ph or www.wowphilippines.com.ph
Transportation
There are eight international airports in the Philippines. The premier gateway is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. The other international airports are located in Clark (Subic), and Laoag (Luzon), Cebu (Visayas) and Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga (Mindanao). These transport hubs handle regular flights from Philippine Airlines -- the national flag carrier -- and several commercial airlines, service chartered and cargo planes.
Being an island nation, water transportation plays a major role in the movement of people and commodities in the country. The country has seven international seaports. These are located in Manila (South and North Harbour), Batangas, Puerto Princesa and Subic ports (Luzon), Cebu (Visayas), Davao and Zamboaga ports (Mindanao). Inter-island passenger vessels ferry passengers to the different islands of the Philippines while cruise liners call on the port of Manila regularly.
Communication
The country enjoys the advantages of modern and efficient communication services. Direct national and international calls, fax, internet and e-mail facilities are widely available. Fixed line and mobile services are provided by major telecommunication companies such as PLDT, Smart, Globe, and Digitel. Pre-paid cards for mobile units are also available throughout the archipelago.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Photos courtesy of www.wowphilippines.com.ph