|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
Informationes Country, People, Culture (www.datacom.ch) General Informations, Population, Politic, Economic, Agriculture, Origin, Languages, Religion, Customs and Rites, Eating and Drinking, Behavior, Leisure Time, Public Holidays, Art, Music, Libraries and Museums, The Country, History, Economic (2), Industry and Trade, Traffic and Communication, Education, Health
Country: Republic of the Philippines
President: Mrs. Gloria Arroyo
Capital: Manila
Area: 300.000 km2 Inhabitants: 81,159,644 (July 2000) Growth Rate: 2.07% (2000) Density of Population: 225 inhabitants per km2 (estimation in 1995) Ethnic Groups: Malaysian: 95,5%, Chinese 1,5%, Others 3,0% Languages: Filipino (Tagalog) and English (official languages), native languages and dialects Religions: Catholic 83%, Protestants 9%, Muslims 5%, Buddhists and others 3%
Form of State: Presidential
Republic
Independence: July 4, 1946
(from the United States of America)
Constitution: Constitution
as of February 2, 1987
Gross National Product (GNP):
54,07 Billion US Dollars
GNP per inhabitant: 807 US
Dollar
State Budget (in Billion US
Dollar): Income 14, Expenses 15,4
Currency: 1 Philippine Peso
(P) = 100 Centavos
Main Export partners: United
States of America, Japan, Germany, Great Britain
Main products: Rice, coconuts,
corn, sugar, bananas, pineapples, mango
Main products out of cattle-breeding:
Porc, beef, eggs
Resources: Wood, Oil, Nickel,
Cobalt, Silver, Gold, Cupper, Salt
The inhabitants of the Philippines
are mainly of Malaysian origin. The majority is mestize, i.e. their ancestors
came out of European-Asian marriages. The natives of the islands are living
mainly in the highlands, the smaller negritos, e.g. around the Lake of Sul
and the Aetas in the region around the Pinatubo. The Igorot and the Ifugao,
who live in the central cordillery north of Luzon, are famous for their rice
terraces in Banaue which have been built centuries ago. The capital Manila
is the largest city of the country.
The two languages are English
and Filipino. English is spoken by the majority of the population and is the
main language in business and public life as well as at school. Filipino has
been established as second official language during the sixties and seventies.
It is derived from Tagalog, the language which is spoken in Luzon. The English
language on the Philippines is strongly influenced by words and expressions
of the Tagalog. Especially the English, which is spoken in Luzon, this is
called “Taglish”, includes many Tagalog words.
Overall, on the Philippines
there are more than 80 languages. Some ethnic groups only speak their mother
tongue. In the Visayan region, mostly the Visayan languages are spoken which
are called Cebuano. While the Filipino language is slowly gaining influence,
English is still the means of communication between the language groups. People
with Spanish ancestors and some other native groups are still speaking Spanish
at home. The Philippines is the only country in Asia where Christianity is the predominant religion. About four fifth of the population is Roman-Catholic and additional ten percent of the population belong to the independent Philippine Aglipayan Church or other Christian religious communities. The Muslime inhabitants, the so-called moros, are living mainly on the Southern islands, above all in Mindanao. In the highlands and on remote islands, many people are still very close to their tribal religions. In addition to that, some Buddhists are living on the Philippines.
Usually Filipinos marry before
they are 30 years old. The matrimony and the reception, which follows, are
paid by the groom and his parents. The bride wears a dress, the groom usually
a Barong – a shirt with embroideries – and pants, woven out of ananas phases.
During the first dance of the just married couple, the relatives put money
into the shirt of the groom or into the dress of the bride. Some couples are
already living together before the marriage or even prefer this form of lifestyle.
On the Philippines, the closeness of the large family is extremely strong.
If the family or one of its members needs support, they help each other –
sometimes by sacrificing themselves. This system goes so far that there are
some kind of “honorary relatives” wich are called Kumpadrehan or mentorship.
Special respect is given to older family members. Many Filipinos are working
abroad because there they can earn more money and thereby support their family
at home better. Women are in some important positions in politics, economy,
and industry. 37% of the working population are women (estimation as of 1993). In the rural regions, women
are working together with men on the fields. A large portion is also responsible
for the family finance. But nevertheless, women are still suffering from male
dominance in the areas of economy
and industry. An important problem in society is violence against women. The houses of the Filipinos are usually made of concrete or wood. The poor people in rural areas, however, depend on bambus when they want to build their houses. Although the living comfort is constantly increasing, there are still many places where the houses do not have a solid substance.
Rice is the most important
food. It is prepared in many different ways and is used for main dishes as
well as for desserts. The need for proteins is mainly covered by fish. Porc
and poultry are the favorite types of meat. The meals are generously spiced
with garlic. A typical meas consists of
cooked rice, baked fish, and some vegetables. As a dessert, you have
fruits which is also frequently taken for breakfast. Since many cultures influences the Philippines, its kitchen also
offers a wide spectrum of menus. Adobo is a chicken soup with garlic, soy
sauce, and vinegar. Meat is often times barbecued on pins and is also served
in this way. Kare-kare is a meat soup with vegetables which is served together
with peanut sauce. A favorite snack is halo-halo, a milk shake with sweet
beans and fruits. This drink is served in colored layers and with ice cubes.
During large parties, frequently a stuffed porc (lechon) is barbecued over
a charcoal grill. Usually Filipinos eat three main dished per day. In between, light snacks called Meriendas, are taken. In the countryside, the family usually gathers for the meals whereas in the cities, this only takes place on the weekends. On workdays, the common meals are restricted to breakfast and dinner. If guests are present, they are placed closest to the family head. Guests are served first, and nobody starts eating before the guest has taken at least two bites. As a sign, that one had enough, you leave a small rest on the plat. The greeting is friendly and informal with a handshake. Since in most parts of the country English is spoken, the English expressions can be used. Wide-spread greeting expressions in Filipino are Kumusta-ka-na? (How are you?), Anong balita? (What´s new?), and Ayos ba tayo dyan? (Are you ok?). Adults are addressed as Sir, Ma’am or another common name. It is also common that young adults address older, unknown adults as Tita (aunt) or Tito (uncle). Much older persons are called Lola (grandmother) or Lolo (grandfather). In almost all other languages of the country, you find similar expressions. People of the same age, who have the same societal status, address each other by the first name or by a nickname. Filipinos love guests. Especially in the villages (barrios) this custom is very common. Since in rural areas, there are only a few telephone lines, those visits are mosty without prior notice. In the cities the people visit each other less frequently, and they are planned ahead. The guests usually bring small gifts because the visit per se is considered a gift, as well. However, it is expected from visitors, who had been absent for a longer period of time, to bring a small, not too expensive gift which is called Pasalubong. The favorite meeting place is at home or in a public place. Most of the villages have a plaza which is also used for political meetings and dancing events.
Filipinos spend their leisure
time frequently with relatives and neighbors; they also like going to the
movie theater. The Philippines is the country number one when it comes to
film making. Most of the films have a religious character. The most popular
sports are basket ball, baseball, and soccer. Most of the Filipinos have a
passion for gambling which is manifested in horse racing and rooster fighting.
A popular game is the Chinese Mahjong.
There are many national and
local holidays, e.g. New Year (January 1), Easter (Holy Thursday until Sunday),
the Bataan Day (April 9), Labor Day (May 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (May 6), Independence
Day (June 12), Memorial Day for the National Heroes (August 27), All Saints
Day (November 1), Day of St. Bonifacius (November 30), Christmas (December
25), and the Rizal Day (December 30). On the Philippines, it is usual to start
the Cristmas festivities already on December 16. Until December 24, all days,
which are also called “misa de gallo” (rooster mess) are dedicated to prayers,
and the believers go to church every day at sunset. The mess on the first
evening starts with ringing bells, trumpets, and fireworks. Christmas time
ends on January 6. The Rizal Day is in commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal in
the year 1896. He is said to be the founder of the nationalistic movement
on the Philippines. On the day of his death, all flags are put to half mast,
and at his memorial celebrations take place.
The day of the people revolt,
the fiesta sa EDSA, on February 25 commemorates the peaceful revolution in
February 1986. At that time,
two million unarmed civilians supported a revolution by the military and forced
Ferdinand Marcos to retreat from office.
All over the country, on September 14 (Santacruzan), the people commemorate Saint Helena and her search for the Holy Cross of Calvary. To the festivities belong manifestations on rafts which are decorated with pictures of saints and the nine day festival where biblical scenes are displayed.
Until the 19th century, painting
and sculptures were strongly influenced by the Roman-Catholic Church. Seculiar
topics and abstract arts found their way into paintings only later. Remarkable
painters were among others Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, whose
works represent the period of romantics and impressionism. Worth mentioning
are also Fernando Amorsolo who is famous for his landscape paintings, Fabian
de la Rosa, whose strength was the painting of portraits, and Carlos Francis.
Befor the Spanish arrived,
the Philippine literature consisted of orally passed on fairy tales, legends
and sayings which were given from one generation to another in different languages.
Under the Spanish rulership, there was a strong religious influence on literature,
whereas later, with an increasing orientation towards America, also short
stories and dramas have been written.
Remarkable authors are the popular hero Jose Rizal, Francisco Balagtas,
José Garcia Villa, Carlos P. Romulo, Claro Recto, Nick Joaquín, and Pas Marques
Benitz.
The predominant music style
on the Philippines has numerous elements which reflect the colonial rulership
of the Europeans and Americans which lasted several hundered years. The American
influence fostered the interest in jazz and electronic pop music, while the
majority of the songs is written in Tagalog. Frequently, Philippine musicians
use guitar-like instruments which are similar to ukuleles. The original music
has remained mainly on the Northern and Southern islands. Some native tribes
even today hold up certain musical traditions which are similar to those of
South East Asia. An important musical instrument is the gangsas, flat gongs,
which are exclusively played by men. In ensembles each person hits a gong.
Gangsas are also status symbols. Members of society are honoured by allowing
them to introduce a gong ensemble.
In the South, where many different
ethnic groups have their home, there are also other sorts of traditional music.
Here special gongs are hit which remind us
of the gamelan music of Indonesia. The Muslime minority prefers the
music which is characterized by a high, nasal voice. Within the Muslime community,
often times the kulintang (a gong play) and the gabbang (xylophone) and the
ganbang (a two-sided drum) and the agung (freely floating gongs) are combined
to ensembles. Also here playing the agung is reserved for men, whereas the
kulintang can also be played by boys and women.
All important libraries of
the country are located in Manila. Besides the University Library there are
the Manila City Library, the National Library and the Library of the Science
and Technology Information Institut. In Pasay, the Lopez Memorial Museum encompasses
the library, collections of paintings of the most famous Philippine artists
as well as letters and manuscripts of the narrator and patriot Jose Rizal.
In the Santo Tomas-Museum in Manila, there are important archaeological and
natural historical collections which depict the history of the islands.
Besides departments for anthropology, botanics, geology, and zoology,
the National Museum in Manila also owns art collections and a planetarium.
With the new constitution
as of 1987, the constitutional rights, which had been agreed upon already
in 1935, were confirmed. The intention of a new constitution was to avoid
the establishment of a new dictatorship. For that reason, the duration of
the presidency is limited to six years maximum, and he does not have any longer
the power to overrule the congress or to assign the Law of War. The President
rules with the support of the cabinet whose members are appointed. The legislative
power lies in a two-chamber system which consists of the Senate and the House
of Representatives. The Senate has 24 directly appointed members, the House
of Representatives has 250 members. 50 members are elected through a Party
Listing System whereas the remaining members are nominated through general
elections.
In 1996, the Philippines had
75 provinces, each one of them was subdivided into communities which then
were further divided into Barangays (quarters). Most of the Ministeries are
located in Quezon City, the former capital of the country. At the age of 15,
people are allowed to vote at community elections; the voting age at the national
level is 18.
In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos,
the candidate of the Nationalistic Party, won the Presidential elections.
This was the beginning of a two-decade lasting rulership which was characterized
by corruption and increased autocracy. When in 1972 the number of demonstrations
increased and new guerrilla wars, under the leadership of the new Communist
Party and the farmers, were initiated, Ferdinand Marcos announced the Right
of War and promised to introduce a social and economic reformation program.
However, Marcos continued to distribute profitable business among his friends
and allies and in return received a generous part of the profit. In 1981,
the Right of War was officially cancelled, only in the South, it was kept
up. In the same year, Marcos was re-elected for President for another six
years; this election, however, was boycotted by a majority of the opposition.
In 1986, Marcos gave in to US pressure and called for early Presidential elections.
The candidate of the opposition was Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno S.
Aquino. The latter had been the most prominent opponent of Ferdinand Marcos
and was assassinated at the airport of Manila when he returned from his exile
in 1983. Marcos manipulated the elections and declared himself again as the
winner. However, the Philippine people went on the streets and supported a
revolt, guided by a part of the military. When also loyal troops had refused
a confrontation with the people, some key ministers supported Mrs. Aquino.
Under the pressure of the “Revolution of the People”, Ferdinand Marcos fled
into his exile to Hawaii where he died in 1989.
Hopes that Corazon Aquino
would put an end to the dubious Presidency practices and that she would guide
some all encompassing reforms regarding the distribution of land were soon
disappointed. Communists and internal struggles in the military made her cooperate
with conservative forces. After several putsches she resigned from office
in 1992. In the same year, the US military was removed from the Philippines
after the Senate had voted against prolonging the land lease contracts for
the military bases. The successor of Mrs. Aquino became the former Minister
of Defense Fidel V. Ramos.
Ramos was confronted with
several problems, e.g. the bad economic situation, political corruption, and
an inefficient bureaucracy. He succeeded in
mastering several challenges at the same time and created a large coalition
which had the majority of both Houses after the elections in 1995. When many
jobs were lost due to the removal of the US military bases, the government
changed these zones into economic zones. Since 1994, the economy of the country
has enormous growth rates.
In 1996, the 25 year fights
with the largest Muslime independence group in the South Philippines were
settled. It is estimated that during this civial war more than 100 000 people
lost their lives. In September 1996, the Government signed the treaty with
the largest rebel group, the National Liberation Front of the Moro (MNLF),
and at the beginning of 1997, negotiations were made with the smaller groups.
In contrast to that, no solution is in sight regarding the ownership of the
Spratly Islands which are claimed not only by the Philippines but also by
China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam. In 1998, Joseph Estrada was
elected President. At the end of 2000, he was removed from office because
of several dubious business and the embezzlement of state money. Again hundreds
of thousands of Philippinos went on the streets and demonstrated like in the
Marcos times. In January 2001, he stepped back and Mrs. Gloria Arroyo became
President.
The economy of the country
has grown at a lower rate during the last decades than that of most of the
other countries in the region. The Philippines have suffered for a long time
from unfair income distribution and poverty. Only after the election of Corazon
Aquino, a visible economic growth took place. However, at the beginning of
the 1990s there were setbacks due to several circumstances. The Second Gulf
War (1990/91) meant for many Filipinos, who were working in the middle East,
that they could not send any more money home. Besides that, the volcano Pinatubo
erupted in 1991, which had a devastating effect, and agriculture suffered
from both droughts and floodings. But in spite of those circumstances, the
years from 1994 to 1996 were characterized by enormous economic progress.
Up to today, areas like export, privatisation and foreign investment are booming,
and the economy achieves record gains.
The agriculture is an important
factor in Philippine economy. The main products are rice, corn, coconuts,
suger, abaka, and tabacco. Besides agricultural products, the country also
exports electronic devices, minerals, and chemical products.
The Philippines are a member
of the Association of South East Asian Countries (ASEAN). Main trading partners
are the United States of America and Japan. The currency is the Philippines
Peso.
Business hours are from Monday
to Friday from 8 to 12 and from 1 or 2 to 5 p.m. In the capital Manila, the
shops are frequently opened longer; also there is no lunch break. On the countryside,
other opening hours apply. Many street vendors work from early morning to
late evening. Many Filipinos arrange so-called Sari-saris in their homes.
The assortment of those mixed shops ranges from canned products to household
articles, drinks, and candies.
Many people of the middle
and upper class have their own car. The rest of the population depends on
public transportation. In Manila, there are buses, taxis, and so-called Jeepneys,
a special kind of smaller buses which commute on fixed routes and can be stopped
by hand signs. A Jeepney offers seats for 10 to 20 people. The fares are rather
low. In the cities, traffic jams are frequent. The traffic system is not very
well designed; that is why many people walk or ride on horses. In order to
transport goods, people often use a motor cycle version of the Jeepney. There
is a good national air traffic net, and between the islands there are ferries
and other boats called bankas. The telecommunication network is fairly developed.
The educational system is
partly oriented towards the US system. In the cities, the quality of the schools
is better than on the countryside. Almost all children go to elementary school.
In the cities, students usually continue school after that. Many of those
schools are private. The time in one of those schools includes one year of
military training. The schools which are operated by Roman-Catholic ordens,
are said to be the best although the level of the State University of the
Philippines in Quezon City offers international standard. In Manila the supply of medical institutions is mainly good, but not all Filipinos can afford the treatments. The hospitals which are operated by Christian ordens are said to be the best. On the countryside, there are sometimes health centers which lack medication and medical devices. A new law introduced the general health insurance in 1995; it was financed mainly by taxes and state funds. Before this time, a health insurance was difficult to realize, and for unemployed people it was basically unaffordable. Today the Government offers free vaccinations for children. A serious problem – especially in Manila – is environmental pollution.
|
|
