PHILIPPINE

The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). Main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

PHILIPPINE CLIMATE

March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is 77%.

PHILIPPINE POPULATION

There are a total of 76.5 million Filipinos as of the latest national census in May, 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population.

PHILIPPINE LANGUAGES

Two official languages --- Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education.

Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

Filipino is that native language which is used nationally as the language of communication among ethnic groups. Like any living language, Filipino is in a process of development through loans from Philippine languages and non-native languages for various situations, among speakers of different social backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.

RELIGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Some 80% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 15% are Moslem. The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist.

UNIT OF MEASURE USED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

The Metric System is used in most trade and legal transactions.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels.

PHILIPPINE CURRENCY

The Philippines monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

TODAY IN THE PHILIPPINES -- News

• Filipino Christian group protests Lady Gaga shows
  Herbert Breslin, who helped propel Luciano Pavarotti to international fame during 36 years as the tenor's manager, has died.
  
  
• Power barges save some Mindanao areas from brownouts
  POWER consumers in Kidapawan City and parts of North Cotabato are now spared from brownouts due to the timely delivery of electricity from the power barges of Therma Marine Inc.
  
  
• Teen taking it to body building
  TEEN BODYBUILDER: Aaron Mitchell is preparing for the Manawatu championships at the Speirs Centre at Palmerston North Boys' High School.
  
  
• Prayer Ends 56 Days Of Darkness
  MANILA, Philippines - JUST A THOUGHT: I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
  
  
• Cops nab - notorious' robber
  POLICE operatives arrested a suspected "notorious" thief who allegedly robbed a taxi driver on Wednesday in Barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro.
  
  
• SPORTS: Guam men's national soccer team will face Azkals in Philippines
  The Azkals, Philippines' national soccer team, have made an official announcement to play against Guam's national footballers in a media-hyped Philippine Independence Day exhibition match June 12 in Bacolod City, Philippines.
  
  
• Puerto Princesa: Philippines building 'modest deterrent capability' in West Sea
  Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa, making his first official visit to Palawan on Wednesday since he was appointed Armed Forces chief of staff four months ago, held a closed-door meeting with Western Command chief Juancho Sabban and his key officers to discuss the situation in the disputed region in light of the ongoing tension between China and the ... (more)
  
  
• Beijing Eases Anti-Philippine Talk, Holds Firm on Territorial Dispute
  The Chinese government is not yielding in its weeks-long maritime territorial dispute with the Philippines, although it is softening some of its sharp rhetoric.
  
  
• William Jans's new travel show shares off-the-wall adventures in China, Philippines
  William Jans never forgets a face. So when he arrived by train in Xi'an, China, and asked directions from the first local person he overheard speaking English, a light of recognition clicked on.
  
  
• Central Luzon tour, hotel operators visit Davao
  TOURISM officials and some 27 hotel and tour operators from Central Luzon arrived in Davao City for a three-day familiarization tour, visiting nine small hotels and two of the metropolis' tourist destinations - the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos and Eden Nature Park in Toril.
  
  
• Opol folks earn good from oil palm farming
  RESIDENTS in Opol town, Misamis Oriental are earning good out of oil palm farming with industry leader, A. Brown Company Inc., on the background that follows the provisions of the labor laws.
  
  
• Outdoor Beauties For The Summer
  The Gaza Collection includes a desert-sand twisted-abaca synthetic fiber living set that gives the feeling that your vacation is within your reach.
  
  
• Filipino militants free kidnapped Malaysian
  If only "What to Expect When You're Expecting" had focused on the dads' group, and didn't just drop... MANILA, Philippines - Philippine officials say a Malaysian man has been freed by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants after a year of jungle captivity in the country's south.
  
  
• Is this heaven? No, this is Batanes
  If the Ivatans of Batanes could have their way, they would like to freeze their beloved hometown in time, in exactly the way it is now one where townsfolk smile even at strangers; where young people respectfully call their elders "auntie'' or "uncle''; where locals gladly share their catch of the day without expecting remuneration or anything in ... (more)
  
  
• Education department ready for opening of classes in June
  THE Department of Education Northern Mindanao is reportedly all ready and prepared for the opening of classes on June 4. Wilfreda Famador, Supervisor for DepEd's Elementary Division, said as early as January 28, they had launched the early registration for students who will be entering Grade 1 and first year high school.
  
  
• Death toll in Philippine jeepney accident reaches 11
  MANILA, PHILIPPINES : The death toll after an overloaded jeepney plunged into a ravine in the northern Philippines on Sunday afternoon has risen to eleven, emergency officials said on Monday.
  
  
• S nchez: Fire hazards
  ALL around Bacolod, we see signs of disasters of fire and rain waiting to happen.
  
  
• Coast Guard rescues 26 people off Cebu
  Twenty-six passengers were rescued by the Cebu Coast Guard after a motorized banca stalled off Carmen town, Cebu last Sunday.
  
  
• Philippines chief judge had $28m in bank, papers show
  PROSECUTORS in the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice of the Philippines, Renato Corona, have presented evidence that he had deposited $US28.7 million into various bank accounts at a time when he was earning less than $US935 a month.
  
  
• Fire bureau to inspect schools, boarding houses, dormitories
  ALL boarding houses, dormitories and schools in Northern Mindanao will be subjected to a thorough inspection by the Bureau of Fire Protection in preparation for the school opening in June.