The Republic of the Philippines, part of the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia, includes in its geography some 7,100 islands in the Pacific Ocean—and only 880 of them are inhabited! Most of the more than 66 million people there live in urban areas developed around the major cities, particularly the capital, Manila.

The nature of island living means the presence of many languages throughout the country. The Philippines has two official languages—Pilipino, which is based on Tagalog, and English—but 11 separate languages and 87 dialects are spoken regionally. And it's hardly surprising, considering the great number of cultures and peoples to settle in the islands over the centuries.

The first people migrated from China and Malaysia about 250,000 years ago. They were followed later by people who crossed a land bridge from Southeast Asia. By 400 A.D., a fusion of cultures was already underway, which expanded when explorers and traders discovered the Philippines. The newcomers brought with them other cultures and religions, including Islam and Buddhism. By the time Ferdinand Magellan, who was Portuguese, arrived in 1521 and claimed the islands for Spain, a complex society had already developed. The Europeans added Christianity to the mix and, soon, missionaries were spreading Roman Catholicism throughout the land. Today, about 82 percent of the country practices Catholicism.

For three centuries, control of the Philippines passed through Portuguese, Dutch, and Spanish hands as nations squabbled over land rights. In the latter nineteenth century, indigenous groups began to rebel against foreign control. Under Emilio Aguinaldo, insurgents defeated Spain, but the victory was eclipsed by the Spanish-American War. In 1898, Spain turned over the Philippines to the United States, which jointly controlled the islands until 1946, when the country became officially independent.

Philippine culture today is a case of "East meets West." The Filipino people are, by nature, friendly and hospitable. Their energetic spirit of generosity is channeled into helping those less fortunate—a factor Quota International recognized in approving four projects in the Philippines as Club-to-Club World Service Projects. Quotarians are working to alleviate poverty and suffering in communities in the Philippines, striving to make the world a better place by helping those most in need.

To learn more about We Share Foundation Club-to-Club projects in the Philippines, click here.

To view a list of all Quota clubs including clubs in the Philippines, click here.

Visit these sites for more tourism information on the Philippines:
http://www.tourism.gov.ph
http://www.thefilipino.com

To return to the Quota Country Profiles page, click here.