Philippine
facts & tidbits

information you can trust

 

Philippine
facts and tidbits

Numerous islands

The Philippines has over 7,107 islands (second only to Indonesia). The collective coastline - if stretched out - would almost encircle the globe.

Population and religion

The population of the Philippines is roughly 90 million. Five out of six Filipinos are Roman Catholics. About 5% are Muslims, who are concentrated mainly in the south in Mindanao.

Language

 

Filipino (also called Pilipino)

It's the official and most widely spoken language.

English

It is widely spoken, too. The Philippines is the world's third-largest English-speaking country (after the USA and Great Britain).

Languages and dialects

There are many spoken in the Philippines. You likely won't be able to understand many people in some parts of the Philippines even if you are fluent in Filipino and English.

Names

 

Namesake

The Philippines was named for the 16th century Spanish King Felipe II.

Official

The nation's official English name is "Republic of the Philippines". However, "Philippines" and "Philippine Islands" are also widely and acceptably used.

Misspelling

"Phillipines" is a somewhat common writing mistake by foreigners.

Many Filipinos
have Spanish names

They were urged upon most of the Christianized, urban-dwelling Filipinos by the Spanish colonists. However, some families have proudly kept their ancestral names. Dumaual, Macapagal and Magsaysay are examples.

Learn More

for Philippine facts - Page 2

Learn my other
Philippine tips and insights

Top 7 Philippine Wonders
Philippine wonder map
Philippine wonder photo gallery
Best time to visit Manila

Banaue Rice Terraces
Chocolate Hills
Mayon Volcano
Pamalican Island
Taal Volcano
Tubbataha Reef
Underground River
Honorable mentions

Batad & Bangaan terraces
Banaue Rice Terraces photo gallery
Banaue Festival photo gallery
Country facts & tidbits

Learn Filipino/Tagalog phrases
Philippine cuisine

 

Flag photo by Mike Gonzales - CC BY-SA 3.0

 

 

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