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Global Hotspots: Philippines

Rumsfeld Plans Military Changes In Asia (Nov 14 2003)
The Pentagon is likely to announce changes to the makeup and basing of some U.S. military forces overseas as early as December.

U.S. Spy Planes Monitoring Guerrillas (15 October 2003)
The U.S. military has deployed Orion P3 surveillance planes to scour Philippine jungles for al-Qaida linked guerrillas.

Hambali's Terror Wish List

Marines Set For Philippines Exercise

Mutineers Lacked Support

Philippines Cracks Down on Mutineers

US Sends Security Party to Philippines

Typhoon Toll Rises to Nine

Philippines Bars U.S. From Combat

Background: The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992, the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential transitions since Marcos' removal by "people power." In January 2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass resignations from his government and administered the oath of office to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor. The government continues to struggle with ongoing Muslim insurgencies in the south.

Source: CIA World Factbook

Country Facts

Population: 82,841,518

Population growth rate: 2.03%

Life expectancy at birth: 67.8 years

Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born per woman

Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%

Languages: two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English, eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense

Literacy: 94.6%

Area: 300,000 sq km - slightly larger than Arizona

Currency: Philippine peso
Source: CIA World Factbook