Philippines
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 300,000 square kilometers, which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 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 is the world's twelfth-most-populous country, with diverse ethnicities and cultures. Manila is the country's capital, and its most populated city is Quezon City. Both are within Metro Manila.
Some of the key events about Philippines
- 1521The first circumnavigation of the globe was completed, with the expedition reaching the Philippines
- 1521The first circumnavigation expedition led to Spanish colonization of the Philippines
- 1565The first permanent Spanish settlement in the Philippines was established in Cebu
- 1762British forces occupied Manila during the Seven Years' War
- 1863The first railway in Southeast Asia opened in the Philippines
- 1872Three Filipino priests were executed, sparking nationalist sentiments
- 1896The Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule began
- 1898The Philippines declared independence from Spain
- 1899The Philippine-American War started, resulting in significant casualties
- 1935The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established, granting more autonomy to the country
- 1942Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II
- 1946The Philippines gained full independence from the United States
- 1965Martial law was declared, leading to human rights abuses and economic decline
- 1983A prominent opposition leader was assassinated, triggering widespread protests
- 1986The People Power Revolution peacefully overthrew the authoritarian regime
- 1991Mount Pinatubo erupted, causing widespread destruction and economic losses
- 1992The U.S. military bases in the Philippines were closed, marking a new era of sovereignty
- 2010The Philippines held its first automated national elections
- 2013Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated parts of the Philippines, causing thousands of deaths
- 2015The Philippines hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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