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| Capital (and largest city) |
Manila | ||||
| Language | Pilipino, Spanish, English | ||||
The Philippines is an Federal Republic archipelago of 7,107 islands in South East Asia. It was once a Spanish colony for 333 years when Andres Bonifacio led a revolt that toppled Imperialism and installed a bipartisan national movement in 1898. As of 2018, only two powers are transferring authority through a democratic constitution written by the neutral Nobel Laureate and their national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
It is comprised of Twelve Federal States: Manila, Solid North(capital: Laoag), Cordillera(capital:Baguio), Bigasan(capital:Subic), Niogan(capital:San Pablo), Kabikulan(capital:Naga), Waraynon(capital:Catbalogan), Visaya(capital:Cabu), Perlas(capital:Kalibo), Western Mindanao(capital:Zamboanga), Eastern Mindanao(capital:Davao), and Bangsamoro(capital:Marawi).
Since its independence, it has isolated itself from colonial powers and promote intense nationalism within its borders. The 1898 Rizal Constitution is the oldest in Asia(second in the world) forged the internal pact of the 12 states never to break the union even in times of political instability. Rizal was assassinated in Spain causing the Filipinos tremendous hate for Spain that caused them to join the Allied Powers and opened the door for Foreign Trade. The Philippines was a founding member of the United Nations.
The two major political parties rooted from the faction of Magdiwang of Andres Bonifacio and Gen. Antonio Luna(later to become the Nacionalista Party) and Magdalo(later to become The Liberal Party) of the first President Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. This country-old political rivalry is known as "Pula't Dilaw". The succession after Aguinaldo went in order as follows: Manuel Quezon(N), Jose Laurel(N), Sergio Osmena(N), Manuel Roxas(L), Elpidio Quirino (L), Ramon Magsaysay(N), Carlos Garcia(N), Diosdado Macapagal(L), Ferdinand Marcos(N), Corazon Aquino(L), Gen. Fidel Ramos(L), Joseph Estrada(N), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo(N), Benigno Aquino(L) and Rodrigo Duterte(N). It is notable of the party shift of Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo from her father(she was a breakaway daughter from Macapagal's polygamous lifestyle).
The Philippines was known as the Birthplace of Rap Music and Culture after the war based on anecdotal origins such as wearing baggy clothes when Western relief supplies sent bigger sized apparels to the devastated country. Moreover, the Philippines embraced the sport of Basketball. Despite all of this, the arcgipelago is still a technology-scarce country due to a "show-off" based ultrareligious identity as well as lack of political backing.