Geography 

Physical geography

The 7,107 islands of the Philippines stretch 1,850 kilometres from north to south (equivalent to Melbourne to Bundaberg) and 1,100 kilometres east to west (equivalent to Sydney to Broken Hill). Many of the islands are mountainous and many of the mountains are volcanic. The two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao, make up 65% of the country’s total land mass. The highest mountain, Mount Apo, which is 2,954 metres, is on the island of Mindanao. 

Climate

The climate of the Philippines is tropical with high rainfall and consistently high temperatures, with local variations according to altitude. Monsoon winds and rains affect the country all year round – from the north-east from November to April, and from the south-west from May to October. On average, 20 typhoons, or tropical cyclones, cross the Philippine region each year between June and December.  

Environment

The Philippine archipelago is one of the most biologically diverse regions of the planet. The tropical rainforests and coral reefs are home to many wonderful plants and animals, including the world's largest fish, the whale shark; the world's second-largest eagle, the Philippine eagle; the world's smallest primate, the tarsier; and the world's longest snake, the reticulated python.

Deforestation; soil erosion in rural areas; air and water pollution in the cities; and pollution of the fish-breeding grounds in the coastal mangrove swamps are major environmental issues facing the Philippines.

The Philippines is home to the World-Heritage listed Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which features an underground river and a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem; and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, an atoll reef with a large number of marine species, including turtles, tiger sharks, barracuda and trevally fish.

Population

Of the more than 94 million people, two-thirds live in urban areas. The capital city, Manila, is the largest city with a population of 11.5 million. Other cities with more than one million inhabitants are Davao and Caloocan. Rapid population growth and pressure on land means more people are moving from agricultural areas to the cities in search of a better life.

People

Culture and identity

Most Filipinos are of Malay ethnicity (closely related to the people of Malaysia and Indonesia), although significant numbers also have Chinese or Spanish ancestry. The Spanish and American colonial influences give the country western elements as well.

Numerous indigenous peoples, with their own languages and cultural traditions, also live in the Philippines. Among the best known are the Aeta people who live on Mount Pinatubo, and the Ifugao people of northern Luzon who maintain the World Heritage-listed rice terraces.

Filipino, based on Tagalog, the language spoken around Manila, was declared the national language in 1973. English is used extensively for commerce and politics.

Health

The government has increased health spending to improve primary healthcare. Life expectancy is 68 years (males 65; females 62) and the infant mortality rate is 33 per 1,000 live births. Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and pneumonia are key health concerns. Most people (91%) have access to clean water and 76% have access to sanitation facilities. Non-communicable ('lifestyle') diseases are growing health concerns.

Religion and beliefs

The Philippines is one of the two predominantly Christian nations in Asia (East Timor is the other). Most Filipinos are Catholics, and the Catholic Church has great influence in social and political life. Religious celebrations and rituals are important in daily life, and often reflect a mixture of Spanish Catholic elements and traditional Philippine elements. There is also a Muslim minority, mainly concentrated in southern Mindanao, where Arab traders introduced Islam centuries ago. The small Buddhist community mainly consists of Filipinos of Chinese ethnic origin.Traditional religious practices are still performed by indigenous peoples: the Ifugao people, for example, may kill a chicken or pig to ensure a good harvest.

Food and shelter

Philippine cuisine has Malay, Chinese and Spanish influences. Meat (mostly pork and chicken) and vegetables may be cooked in coconut milk, stir-fried with spices or stewed, but will all be served with rice. Desserts include halo-halo, made from crushed ice, mixed with sweets and fruits and smothered in evaporated milk; cakes; and a wide range of fresh fruit.

Housing in the cities ranges from large mansions to shelters made of corrugated iron and cardboard. Traditional homes in the rural areas vary from region to region but are usually made of wood, bamboo and straw. They are often raised from the ground and have large, open areas to provide shelter from the heat.

Economy

Wealth and poverty

There is great unevenness in the distribution of wealth in the Philippines. The richest 10% of the population share over one-third of the wealth while the poorest 10% share only 2.6%. Poverty affects more than 23 million people, many of whom live in conflict-affected zones. Nearly 10% of GDP is from Filipinos working overseas.

Education and work

Although primary education is free and compulsory for children aged six and above, many are not able to go to school because their parents cannot afford to buy school supplies or children are required to work on the family farm or in the family business. Classrooms are often crowded and have few teaching resources. Many children are malnourished and find it difficult to study effectively. Current indicators show that less than 68% of school age children will complete primary school and less than 40% will complete secondary school.

Despite these obstacles the literacy rate is 95% (95% males, 96% females), reflecting the high importance that is placed on education. More than 35% of the population works in subsistence or commercial agriculture. Unemployment is 6% and many people search for work overseas, especially in the Middle East and Japan.

Industries and products

Agricultural products include rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef and fish.

Industrial products and activities include textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly and petroleum refining.

Trade

The major trading partners of the Philippines are Japan, the USA and Singapore. Export products include electronic and transport equipment, clothing, coconut products and tropical fruits. Philippine imports include electronic products, machinery and equipment, fuels and chemicals, textile fabrics and grains. 

Government

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century. They were ceded to the USA in 1898. The Republic of the Philippines attained independence on 4 July 1946. The republic is currently led by President Benigno Simeon C Aquino III, who was elected in May 2010. The current government’s reforms focus on improving development and eradicating corruption.

Achievements and challenges

The Philippines is rated as the third most disaster-prone country in the world. Every year typhoons bring torrential rains resulting in devastating floods and landslides that destroy crops and often claim many human lives in the Philippines. High population growth has increased demand for services and the cost of living. 

The Philippines Government lacks the revenue needed to provide adequate services, and political instability and corruption have been major issues for some years. However, the population is well-educated and politically aware, and there is a free press and independent institutions promoting greater accountability. There has been ongoing unrest in the south between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has placed strain on government resources and affected the country’s development.

The Philippines progress towards its Millennium Development Goals has been mixed and conflict in some areas has made measuring progress difficult. The Philippines is expected to meet the 2015 targets for gender equality (MDG 3), combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDG 6) and ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7).

Links with Australia

Australia has a sizeable Philippines-born community. During the 1970s, many Filipina women migrated as spouses of Australian residents. Since then, most Philippines-born Australian settlers have been sponsored by a family member. In 2006, there were 120,540 Philippines-born persons in Australia. They lived mainly in New South Wales (57,720), Victoria (27,340), Queensland (18,710) and Western Australia (6,830).

Australia and the Philippines cooperate closely in a broad range of areas, including defence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement and development assistance. There are growing people-to-people links through trade, investment, cultural exchange, tourism and migration. 

Australia is the largest bilateral grant aid donor to the Philippines. The aid program targets education, service delivery, reducing vulnerabilities arising from climate change and conflict and strengthening governance.