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

• Philippines peace in tatters after rebel attack
  Photo Credit: AP Photo A police officer tries to pacify residents and telling them to return home after they ran away from their villages in panic upon receiving unconfirmed reports of rebel attack Tuesday ...
  
  
• Landslides caused by typhoon kill 4 in Philippines
  Landslides killed three young brothers and an elderly woman in the northern Philippines as a powerful typhoon battered the region Wednesday, prompting authorities to cancel classes and raise storm alerts.Typhoon Nuri skirted the northeastern tip of Cagayan province, on the main island of Luzon, with gusts of up to 106 mph (170 kph), but its outer bands engulfed most of the mountainous northern provinces.Chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said Nuri was a powerful system that likely would gain strength as it moved across Babuyan and Calayan islands in the Luzon Strait toward Hong Kong and Guangdong in eastern China.
  
  
• Muslim Rebels Attack Philippine Villages
  Muslim rebels attacked several southern coastal townships Monday, killing a local official and burning houses in a sharp escalation of fighting amid uncertainty over a fragile peace process, officials said.
  
  
• Philippine president orders military actions against armed separatists
  Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on government troops to fight against radical Muslim rebels in response to a surge of deadly guerrilla attacks launched in the south over the past few ...
  
  
• The frog croaked and said, Korap! Korap!
  ...A frog went inside Malacanang Palace ..It deeply disturbed GMA because when the frog croaked it said..... "Korap! Korap! Korap!
  
  
• Reactions to Arroyo brazenly insensitive in a $3000 dress
  There were at least two (2) existing legal provisions which were brazenly disregarded/violated in Gloria Arroyo's dressing a $3,000 dress which, statutory mandates, sadly, are more honored in their breach than observance, to wit: Art. 25, Civil Code: "Thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display during a period of acute public want or emergency may be stopped by order of the courts at the instance of the government or private charitable institutions." There is a similar legal standard mandated in a more recent legislation grandiosely known and referred to the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" (Rep. Act No. 6713), otherwise known as "The Saguisag Law," which inter alia declares that: "Simple Living. - Public officials and employees shall lead lives appropriate to their positions and income.. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form." Smorgasbord, Cheryl L. Daytec-Yangot
  
  
• Ong ouster from NBI affirmed
  THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the effort of Samuel Ong to reclaim his position in the National Bureau of Investigation, saying his lack of civil service eligibility meant his appointment could be withdrawn anytime. Ong, who remains in hiding until now, had claimed in a press conference in June 2005 that he had the master tape of the wiretapped conversation between President Arroyo and an election official on the 2004 presidential elections. The appellate court's Eleventh Division through Associate Justice Isaias Dicdican dismissed the petition filed by Ong seeking to declare his removal in 2004 from the NBI as unlawful. The appellate court pointed out that there are two requirements- Career Executive Service eligibility and appointment to the appropriate CES rank-so an appointee in the career executive service may attain security of tenure. Rey E. Requejo, Manila Standard
  
  
• Public estates officials, auditors suspended
  THE Sandiganbayan has suspended for 90 days five executives of the Public Estates Authority and six officials of the Commission on Audit who are facing a graft case due to the alleged P630-million overprice in the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City. Suspended were PEA-general manager for finance Theron Victor Lacson, assistant general manager Jaime Millan, technical services department manager Bernardo Viray, project management officer Raphael Pochollo Zorilla and legal department manager Cristina Amposta-Mortel. The PEA has been renamed the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Those from the Commission on Audit were state auditor V Manuela de la Paz, state auditor and technical services division chief Arturo Layug, supervising technical audit specialist Benilda Mendoza, assistant chief of technical services Epifanio Pureza, technical specialist II Jose Capistrano and technical audit specialist I Ma. Cecilia de la Rama. Macon Ramos Araneta, Manila Standard
  
  
• Fernando justifying escorts
  CHAIRMAN Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority yesterday tried to make a way out of criticisms over his heavy security detail. "Don't be irked over my escorts in three convoys tailing me," he said, indicating the necessity of bodyguards especially when he would be dealing with those ignoring the law on squatting and sidewalk usage. "I cannot compromise my safety. Baka mapalaban ako sa pagsita-sita [I may get into an encounter when apprehending violators]," he cited. Why a pick-up van in the entourage? Fernando said the vehicle was for confiscated goods or towing away stalled vehicles. "Please understand. There are times we have to use our sirens, too. Huwag ninyong isipin mas nakakalalaki kami [Please don't think we are throwing our weight around]," he said. General manager Robert Nacianceno said other private vehicles were taking advantage by tailing his convoy. Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard
  
  
• TUCP rejects proposal to restrict deployment of medical workers abroad
  The country's largest labor group yesterday rejected a proposed measure restricting the deployment of Filipino doctors and other medical workers abroad. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the proposed bill requiring Filipino professionals to render compulsory service prior to working overseas is highly discriminatory. "We consider the bill absolutely unfair and highly discriminatory, because it singles out registered professionals," said TUCP secretary-general and former senator Ernesto Herrera. Alarmed by the continuing exodus of health workers abroad and possible paralysis of the country's health system, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo filed House Bill 4580. Under the proposed law, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, medical technologists, physical therapists, engineers, teachers, sailors, accountants, interior designers, nutritionists and criminologists and even librarians, guidance counselors and master plumbers would have to perform at least 24 months of service here before they may be allowed to seek greener pastures abroad. Herrera doubted the government's ability to enforce the bill, once enacted. "How is the government actually going to require compliance, when it is not in a position to physically bar professionals from leaving the country?" he asked. Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star
  
  
• MILF fielding minors in battle
  Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas have started deploying minors as combatants to form part of the rebel group's "expeditionary forces" in its plan to retake the villages of North Cotabato, the military revealed yesterday. Army spokesman Col. Romeo Brawner said the MILF rebels led by Amirel Umbra Kato have started repositioning in several villages in neighboring Maguindanao, all poised to strike back at government troops who drove them out of North Cotabato after two weeks of intense fighting. Brawner said the bulk of the MILF's 105th Base Command under Kato have moved to Maguindanao but some of their fighters, mostly aged 14 to 17 have started to position themselves in M'lang and Tulunan towns and in Barangay Central Labas in Midsayap, North Cotabato. Brawner said the military has redeployed some troops to counter the threat posed by the MILF's expeditionary forces going into North Cotabato. "We have set up temporary detachments in strategic locations, we are repositioning other battalions in areas where tension could mount," Brawner said. James Mananghaya, Philippine Star
  
  
• Stop the madness
  The good news is that the move to change the Charter has been greeted with universal derision. Aquilino Pimentel is beside himself with rage that his favorite idea, federalism, should be used by Malacaņang to keep its current squatter there indefinitely. The other senators who earlier backed his proposal now say they are temporarily backing out from it until such time as it is feasible to push it, namely when GMA is gone. "I am withdrawing my signature and will affix it only when that slippery and winding road is already paved safely," Rodolfo Biazon puts it felicitously. CBCP head Archbishop Angel Lagdameo puts it even more felicitously, though his message is clear: "The CBCP position is calling for an elected constitutional convention if there is to be Charter change. It is hoped that this should be done after 2010 and this task should be left to the new administration." Business is positively up in arms. The Makati Business Club in particular slammed the MOA the government tried to sign with the MILF, which is being used to dredge up Charter change, in these terms: "It is a Trojan horse designed to be foisted on our unwitting people to perpetuate the incumbent's power and her abuse of it." What can I say? I'm glad everybody's using the term "Trojan horse" to depict that MOA. I can only wish the "up in arms" was a little more literal. The bad news is that all this is such a defensive reaction to an absolute evil. Conrado de Quiros, PDI
  
  
• SEN PIMENTEL TO ARROYO:'Don't move holidays, trivialize meaning of events'
  Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Monday urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop transferring the observance of national holidays such as Independence Day, Bonifacio Day and Labor Day to other dates so as not to trivialize the meaning of historic events. Pimentel said the "holiday economics" President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been pushing, encouraging Filipinos to visit the country's tourist spots or visit relatives in the provinces, is not reason enough to shuffle major civic holidays around. "I do not agree with that reasoning [holiday economic] because the meaning of the event -- the martyrdom of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. -- is diluted by transferring the actual celebration of the event to another date," he said in a statement. He cited Ninoy Aquino Day, which is August 21, but is being observed this year on August 18. Pimentel said this had "diluted" the significance of the death of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1983. Veronica Uy, Inquirer.net
  
  
• Gunman kills radio broadcaster
  LEGASPI, Philippines: A motorcycle-riding gunman shot dead a part-time radio broadcaster south of the Philippine capital, a police official and a relative said yesterday.
  
  
• Muslim Filipinos Vote as Violence Rages in Southern Philippines
  Over a million and a half Muslim Filipinos have voted in a regional election held amid escalating violence between the government and Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines.
  
  
• Philippines: MILF silent on 'NGO-led peace talks'
  COTABATO CITY, Philippines, : Leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were tight-lipped on Sunday on the pronouncement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for nongovernment peace advocates to lead in ...
  
  
• Another Task Force for Another Murdered Philippine Journalist
  Santos, South Cotabato last Aug. 4. DOJ Task Force 211 commander undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, in a statement, assured Cuesta's family that the government will use all the resources at its disposal in ...
  
  
• PHILIPPINES: Hungry for Rice, Unwilling to Invest
  When the price of rice nearly doubled to about 90 US cents per kilo, two months ago, Liza Valino put cheaper substitutes like bananas and sweet potatoes on the table to feed her family of ten.
  
  
• Lanao Sur election marred with irregularities, foreign observers say
  Foreign observers and a poll watchdog said Monday the elections in Lanao del Sur were marred with irregularities despite the deployment of automated machines designed to make poll cheating a "thing of the ...
  
  
• Philippine rebels say peace deal on shaky ground
  JOLO, PHILIPPINES -- Efforts to revive a landmark peace deal could collapse if renewed fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels spreads in the southern Philippines, the guerrillas warned Tuesday.