Environment
The Philippines consists of 7107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, only 2000 of which are inhabited, stretching nearly 1,150 miles (1,850 km) from north to south. Luzon and Mindanao are by far the largest, and comprise roughly 66% of the country's area. Only about 1000 islands are larger than one square kilometer and 2500 aren't even named. The Philippines' nearest neighbours are Taiwan (north), Eastern Malaysia and Brunei (south-west), and Indonesia (south).
The archipelago sits on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. There are 37 volcanoes in the archipelago, which experience frequent seismic activity. The highest peak is Mount Apo (2954m/9689ft) in Mindanao. About half the country is under cultivation and about a third remains forested. The Philippines are hot and humid year-round. The weather pattern can be roughly divided into the dry season (January to June) and the wet season (July to December). The average annual temperature is 77°F (25°C).
History
The first inhabitants of the Philippines arrived up to 300,000 years ago, probably migrating over a land bridge from the Asian mainland. In 1380, the Arab-taught Makdum arrived in the Sulu archipelago and began to establish a powerful Islamic influence over the next hundred years.
Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521 and claimed the archipelago for Spain. Magellan was killed by local chiefs who had disapproved of this notion. Ruy Lopez de Villalobos followed in 1543 and named the territory Filipinas after Philip II of Spain. Permanent Spanish occupation began in 1565, and by 1571 the entire country, except for the strictly Islamic Sulu archipelago, was under Spanish control.
The islands were governed by Spain until 1898, when the islands were then purchased from the Spanish for US$20 million and became the only official overseas colony of the United States, following Admiral George Dewey's victory over a Spanish fleet in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. The United States did recognize the Filipinos' desire for independence and Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. Full independence was postponed however, when Japan invaded the Philippines in 1942. Japan ruled until the US re-invaded two years later. The Philippines received full independence in 1946.
Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965 and ruled virtually as a dictator until 1986. The assassination of the prominent opposition Benigno Aquino in 1983 started massive anti-government protests. A snap election in 1986 saw the opposition parties rally around Aquino's widow, Cory. Both parties claimed victory, but Aquino was widely believed to have polled most votes. She initiated a program of nonviolent civil unrest which resulted in Marcos fleeing the country.
Aquino re-established the democratic institutions of the country, but failed to tackle economic problems or win over the military and the powerful Filipino elite. US strategic influence in the country diminished following the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption which destroyed the US Clark Air Base, and after the Philippine Senate refused to ratify the lease on the Subic Bay Naval Station. Aquino was succeeded by her Defense Minister Fidel Ramos in 1992. Ramos attempted to revitalise the economy, attract foreign investment, cleanse corruption and expand provision of utilities. In 1998 he was replaced by Joseph Estrada.
Economic Profile
