The Philippines is an archipelago of Southeast Asia with over 7,000 islands and 92 million people located between the Philippine Sea and the Sea of south China, the east of Vietnam and Borneo. By combining all of its beaches, it is the largest coastal of white ivory sands and turquoise blue water in the world. It may take several decades to discover each of its islands. Since its Spanish colonial times, The Philippines is considered the largest Catholic country in Asia.
The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. It has a rich history combining Asian roots with the passage of several European and American invaders. Despite its Spanish colonization in 1521, Filipinos have a rich culture through their commercial exchange with the Chinese and Japanese. Spanish colonization in 1571 left several buildings including a walled city and churches with fascinating architecture hides around the archipelago. In 1898, after 350 years and 300 rebellions, the Filipinos with their leader Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, succeeded in winning their independence.
In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only colony of the United States. Following the Philippine-American War, the United States brought a large infrastructure of education and English in the islands. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, especially during the famous battle of Bataan which slowed the Japanese advance and saved Australia. The Philippines will regain their independence in 1946.
The Filipinos are people who love freedom, they won two bloodless revolutions against corrupt regimes. The Philippines today is a vibrant democracy with its 12 national newspapers in English, 7 television stations, hundreds of radio stations. The Filipinos like to party. Everywhere on the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome.
The Philippines is the third most Catholic nation in the world. The Catholic faith is still the biggest legacy of 300 years of Spanish colonialism. The Catholicism is still taken seriously in the Philippines. Some Christians go as far as crucifying themselves publicly in some colourful celebration to celebrate their faith.
Corruption in the 21st century became one of the major problems in the country. There was also, unfortunately, several natural disasters floods, forest fires, volcanic activity and earthquakes hurting the country and his population in a short period of time.
As if that was not enough some Islamic rebel groups commit terrorist acts since the seventies. The country is in strong Christian majority is hard to imagine that Muslim extremists are raging in this country. It is hard to conceive that in 2011 there are still people willing to kill innocents as a matter of partisan religious belief. Don’t be terrorized by its isolated events, because this country is beautiful, the people are sweet, colourful and his magnificent landscapes deserve to be discovered.
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