Portal:Philippines

Welcome to the Philippines Portal / Maligayang pagdating sa Portal ng Pilipinas

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. In the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of 7,641 islands, with a total area of roughly 300,000 square kilometers, which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With a population of over 110 million, it is the world's twelfth-most-populous country.

The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. It has diverse ethnicities and a rich culture. Manila is the country's capital, and its most populated city is Quezon City. Both are within Metro Manila.

Negritos, the archipelago's earliest inhabitants, were followed by waves of Austronesian peoples. The adoption of animism, Hinduism with Buddhist influence, and Islam established island-kingdoms. Extensive overseas trade with neighbors such as the late Tang or Song empire brought Chinese people to the archipelago as well, which would also gradually settle in and intermix over the centuries. The arrival of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan marked the beginning of Spanish colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II of Castile. Catholicism became the dominant religion, and Manila became the western hub of trans-Pacific trade. Hispanic immigrants from Latin America and Iberia would also selectively colonize. The Philippine Revolution began in 1896, and became entwined with the 1898 Spanish–American War. Spain ceded the territory to the United States, and Filipino revolutionaries declared the First Philippine Republic. The ensuing Philippine–American War ended with the United States controlling the territory until the Japanese invasion of the islands during World War II. After the United States retook the Philippines from the Japanese, the Philippines became independent in 1946. Since then, the country notably experienced a period of martial law from 1972 to 1981 under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and his subsequent overthrow by the People Power Revolution in 1986. Since returning to democracy, the constitution of the Fifth Republic was enacted in 1987, and the country has been governed as a unitary presidential republic. However, the country continues to struggle with issues such as inequality and endemic corruption.

The Philippines is an emerging market and a developing and newly industrialized country, whose economy is transitioning from being agricultural to service- and manufacturing-centered. Its location as an island country on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes it prone to earthquakes and typhoons. The Philippines has a variety of natural resources and a globally-significant level of biodiversity. The country is part of multiple international organizations and forums. (Full article...)

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The UST Main Building during its early years (1920s-1930s).

The University of Santo Tomas is one of the oldest existing universities and holds the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia. It was founded on April 28, 1611, by the third Archbishop of Manila, Miguel de Benavides, together with Domingo de Nieva and Bernardo de Santa Catalina. It was originally conceived as a school to prepare young men for the priesthood. Located Intramuros, it was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás in memory of Dominican theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas. In 1624, the colegio was authorized to confer academic degrees in theology, philosophy, and arts. On November 20, 1645, after representations by Vittorio Riccio, Pope Innocent X elevated the college to the rank of a university and in 1680 it was placed under royal patronage.

Through the centuries, the university was given the following titles: Royal, Pontifical, and Catholic University of the Philippines. In 1785, for the loyalty shown by the administration and students who volunteered to defend Manila against the British invasion, King Charles III of Spain granted it the title of "Royal University". Pope Leo XIII made the University of Santo Tomas a "Pontifical University" in 1902 and in 1947, Pope Pius XII bestowed upon it the title of "The Catholic University of the Philippines". Thus its complete name is Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila. (Full article...)

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... that the Counterintelligence Group was disbanded because the unit was deemed successful in the "neutralization and prosecution of scalawags" in the Armed Forces of the Philippines?
... that Dolly de Leon was the first Filipino to be nominated for a Golden Globe or a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress?
... that in the history of fisheries in the Philippines, the once-dominant local municipal fisheries were supplanted first by commercial fisheries, and then by aquaculture?
... that Bini's performance of "Cherry on Top" at KCON 2024 was the first act by a Filipino pop group at the event?
... that the Philippine embassy in Pretoria responded to a South African newspaper's denunciation of horse fighting in the Philippines by saying that the practice was already illegal?
... that Filipino violinist Gilopez Kabayao was nicknamed the "Mozart to the Barrios"?
... that Angeline Quinto has recorded songs for at least 35 films and television soundtracks in the Philippines?
... that abused Overseas Filipino Workers accused the former chargé d'affaires of the Philippine embassy in Damascus of neglecting them while he was regularly partying with handsome Syrians?

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Image 1A view at Francisco Bangoy International Airport, 2019
Image 2A skyline view of Manila
Image 3Banaue, Philippines: A man of the fugao tribe in traditional costume
Image 4Picture of a Carabao in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Image 5A selection of dishes found in Filipino cuisine
Image 6A view of Barlas Island, Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines
Image 7A map of the Philippines showing the location of all the regions and provinces
Image 8Shipping on the Pasig River, 1899
Image 9The Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Image 10Banaue, Philippines: a view of Banaue Municipal Town
Image 11A leaning belfry of St. Andrew Church, in Bacarra town, province of Ilocos Norte

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Go to the Tambayan (Philippine WikiProject) and help out with articles.

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Ramsay in 2010

Derek Arthur Ramsay Jr. (born December 7, 1976) is a British-Filipino model, actor, and TV host. He has an exclusive contract with GMA Network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramsay froze his contract with GMA Network. Ramsay is currently inactive in showbiz to focus on his personal and married life. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Philippines-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Old Senate Hall with Tampinco style of carving and ornamentation (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 2Kalesa, a traditional Philippine urban transportation, in front of Manila Cathedral entrance (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 3Letras y figuras painting by Jose Honorato Lozano (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 4Filipina in traditional attire (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 5A grandmaster of Arnis. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 6A performer depicting a babaylan (shaman) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 7Original image of the Santo Niño de Cebú. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 8A PBA game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 9Loboc Church in Bohol (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 10Manny Pacquiao, the only 8-division world boxing champion in history. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 11Tortoise-shell and silver Salakot (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 12Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 13Pineapple fiber is used to create traditional Philippine garments. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 14Sungka, a traditional Filipino game. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 15An Itneg shaman offering pigs to anito spirits, 1922 (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 16Mila del Sol starred in one of the earliest Filipino movies, Giliw Ko (1939), along with Fernando Poe Sr. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 17Cockfight (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 18Bahay na bato, a traditional Filipino house (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 19Museum Agrifina Circle (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 20Vega Ancestral House, Misamis Oriental (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 21Noli Me Tángere (novel) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 22The University of Santo Tomas, located in Manila, was established in 1611. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 23A Tboli woman weaving t'nalak from South Cotabato. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 24Carabao is a major symbol of Filipinos hard labor. And is known to be the "Filipino farmer's bestfriend". (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 25Dominant ethnic groups by province. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 26Good Friday observance in Pampanga (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 27Vigan City in Ilocos Sur (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 28Aguinaldo Shrine in Cavite (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 29Parol (Christmas lanterns) being sold during the Christmas season (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 30Villa Escudero exhibit depicting 19th century Filipino family in traditional attire (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 31The Kutkut art from Samar (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 32Harana (serenade) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 33Filipino traditional dance at a festival (from Culture of the Philippines)

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In the news

15 April 2025 –: A Chinese crew member is killed when Chinese sand barge vessel M/V Hong Hai 16 capsizes off Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. A search and rescue operation is launched by the Philippine Coast Guard for missing crew members, which includes seven Filipinos and three Chinese. (The Philippine Star)
3 April 2025 –: China arrests three Filipinos suspected of espionage near Chinese military facilities as part of a network recruited by Philippine intelligence to gather sensitive information. The Philippines say the arrests are related to previous arrests of Chinese nationals for similar offences. (AFP via CNA) (Reuters)

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More did you know - show different entries

...that the Arch of the Centuries (pictured) of the University of Santo Tomas at Manila was disassembled from the University's original campus at Intramuros, carried piece-by-piece, and was re-erected at the current campus at Sampaloc?
... that despite sweeping the elimination round of the 2007 UAAP men's basketball tournament, the University of the East was still beaten by De La Salle University-Manila 2-0 in the finals series?
...that journalist Néstor Mata was the sole survivor of the 1957 Cebu Douglas C-47 crash which killed Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others?
... that Fernando Poe, Sr. was incorrectly identified as the model of the U.P. Oblation?