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...)

More about the Philippines...

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

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...)

List of selected articles

Did you know (auto-generated) - load new batch

... that Angeline Quinto has recorded songs for at least 35 films and television soundtracks in the Philippines?
... that three songs from Kyla's album Not Your Ordinary Girl were nominated in the same category at the 2005 Awit Awards?
... that the chancery of the Philippine consulate general in Honolulu was bought with donations?
... that at the Ryukyu Arc, the Philippine Sea Plate is subducting under the Eurasian Plate at 5 to 7 cm (2.0 to 2.8 in) per year?
... that the Manila Standard described the concert Two for the Knight as the "biggest team-up of a foreign and local artist" in the Philippines?
... that SB19 became the first Filipino group to appear on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, with "Gento"?
... that the Filipino musician No Rome took his stage name from people doubting his career choice?
... that due to a 2024 heat wave in Southeast Asia, heat indices in the Philippines rose to dangerous levels, as high as 51 °C (124 °F)?

Selected picture

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

edit

Things you can do

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

You can join one or more of the various task forces within the WikiProject.

If you are a Filipino, consider adding Category:Filipino Wikipedians to your userpage.

Selected biography - show another

apl.de.ap in 2011

Allan Pineda Lindo (born November 28, 1974), known professionally as apl.de.ap (IPA: /ˌæpəldiˈæp/ AP-əl-dee-AP), is a Filipino-American rapper, singer and record producer. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Black Eyed Peas (BEP). With the BEP, he has been nominated for 16 Grammy Awards, winning six, including Best Pop Vocal Album. (Full article...)

List of selected biographies

General images

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

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

edit

In the news

4 May 2025 –: Two people are killed and four others are injured after a car crashes into an entrance of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila, Philippines. The driver of the car is in police custody. (AP) (Reuters) (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
30 April 2025 – New Zealand–Philippines relations: New Zealand defence minister Judith Collins and Philippine defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro sign a visiting forces agreement in Manila. (The Washington Post)
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)

edit

More did you know - show different entries

...that Paskuhan Village in San Fernando City, Pampanga, is the only existing Christmas theme park in Asia and the third of its kind in the world?
...that Carlos P. Romulo is the first Asian to both win the Pulitzer Prize and be president of the United Nations General Assembly, although in separate years?
...that Philippine Airlines is Asia's first airline?
...that Camiguin has the distinction of having more volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on Earth?