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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES |
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| The Philippines is located on the western part of the Pacific Ocean approximately 10,000 miles west of the United States. It is composed of slightly over 7,000 islands supporting a population of 80 million people. |
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| There are nine major cultural-linguistic groups of people. Tagalog, Cebuano and Bicolano are the leading major groups. Some eleven languages and eighty-seven dialects are spoken in the Philippines. The major languages are derived from Malay-Polynesian language family and are related to Indonesian and Malay. The National language is Pilipino but English is the language of education and commerce. |
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| The Philippine national identity emerged as a blend of diverse ethnic and linguistic groups. The lowland christians make up the majority, the upland tribal groups, ethnic chinese and a growing muslim populance make up the rest. |
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| As an island archipelago nestled in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines through the ages has been invaded and colonized by historical world powers. Spain ruled the Philippines for four hundred years until the United States came and stayed for a few decades. Later the japanese invaded the islands which were then liberated by US troops by General Douglas Mac Arthur. Under the tutelage of the United States, the Philippines gained political as well as economic independence. |
