Philippines - what kind of country? Philippines: history, population, government and political system Philippines area.

The Republic of the Philippines is a large state located in Southeast Asia. It consists of a large number of islands located in the area Pacific Ocean between Taiwan and Indonesia.

There is an opinion that the Philippines is lost among the oceans and seas and even a little fabulous " state of seven thousand islands". By the way, this is not an epithet at all, but a real number. The Philippines occupies 7107 islands, each of which is distinguished by its tourist character and exotic atmosphere. Here, huge skyscrapers coexist with palm groves.

The only negative, perhaps, is a tiring flight. But there's nothing you can do about it.

Climate and weather

The climate here is monsoonal, tropical, gradually turning into subequatorial in the south. The temperature on the coast is most often +24…+28 °С and slightly cooler in mountainous areas. The rainy season in the Philippines begins in May and lasts until November, when the monsoon blows from the southwest. During the remaining months, the dry season is pronounced in the west of Palawan, Lusson and the Visayas. Precipitation on the islands falls 1000 to 4000 mm.

Nature

Most of the islands are covered with tropical rainforests with palm trees, rubber trees, banyan trees, apitong trees, Mayapis and lauan trees. Often you can find bamboo, orchid and cinnamon in them. Shrubs and many meadows grow at an altitude of about 1200 meters above sea level.

In the Philippines, you can find deer, mongoose and even wild boar. There are a lot of birds and various reptiles here. In coastal waters, you can find pearl mussels - mollusks that can form pearls.

Attractions

The largest city in the Philippines is Manila. The city is on Luzon island. It is not only the capital of the state, but also its main economic and cultural center. The city is part of the Greater Manila conurbation, which has a population of 10 million people. It also includes Caloocan, Quezon City and Pasay.

In Manila are:

• National Museum of the Philippines;
• Museum of Anthropology and Natural History of Santo Tomas;
• Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In the historical center, which is called Intramuros, there are fortifications, houses and churches of the XVI-XVII centuries. There is a big one in the city Botanical Garden.

Guides offer tourists excursions not only in Manila, but also to Lake Taal where air safaris and numerous folklore shows are held.

Nutrition

Perhaps the most popular dish in the Philippine Islands is rice. It is often served as a side dish to a main course. You can also try various seafood here.

The interesting thing is that you can choose the seafood you like in the store, buy it and bring it to any cafe where it will be prepared for you. But for this you will need to order a drink in this cafe.

by the most unusual dish in the Philippines is baluot". This is a boiled duck egg with an embryo inside. First, the eggs are kept in special incubators at the right temperatures, and then the seller travels around the city and sells them.

Fresh juices, various wines, coconut milk, local beer made from coconut milk are the most popular drinks on the islands.

Accommodation

Basically all hotels in the Philippines bungalow type You can also stay in guesthouses. There are very few high-rise hotels on the islands. This is due to the fact that the state cares about the preservation of the natural landscape. Recently, hotels with a world-famous name have appeared on the islands. But the number of stars on them does not always correspond to the level of the service personnel: many of them are very slow.

The standard voltage for the Philippines is 220V, 60Hz. Sockets here are found with two (American-style) pins and three. It is better to ask for an adapter as soon as you arrive at the hotel.

Entertainment and recreation

The Philippines is known for its picturesque coral reefs and beaches. The best tourist resorts are located in the southern part of the Cebu islands, Boracay, Palawan And bohol. Tourists are offered not only beach holidays, but also more active ones: diving, cruises, surfing.

There are many national parks on the islands. The largest and most interesting places for tourists will be Mount Apo, Mayon, Taal, Kanlaon located on the islands Mindanao And Luzon.

Today the islands offer all types of tourism: extreme, beach, ecological, sports and educational. Political conflicts and the unstable situation in the country have a negative impact on tourism.

Purchases

Shopping in the Philippines pleases with the possibility of useful and inexpensive purchases. Manila is considered the cheapest city for shopping. Mall of Asia is the largest shopping center in Southeast Asia. This shopping complex occupies four buildings at once, and trams run across its vast territory, transporting customers.

Among the souvenirs, South Sea pearls, dishes made from terracotta, mother-of-pearl, fabric lanterns, shell jewelry, various T-shirts, wooden figurines and clothes made from local chintz are very popular.

Cheap everywhere in the Philippines Coconut oil. According to the sellers, it will provide excellent protection against sunburn.

Transport

To travel around the country, it is better to choose domestic flights. Each resort island has its own airport. It is better to book tickets in advance if you plan to fly on holidays, because if you realize it too late, you may not have tickets. You will need to add the price of a fuel surcharge to the ticket price: for international flights - 15 $ , domestic flights - 3-4 $ . Remember that on domestic flights you are allowed to carry no more than 10 kilograms of luggage.

The second convenient option for moving around the islands is ferries. The prices for them are much lower than for the plane, but the journey takes much longer.

You can travel around the island using an interesting form of transport - “ jeepney". This is a local minibus that is made from a military jeep. Each Jeepney is unique and tuned to suit the owner's preferences.

Buses are also common in the Philippines. Here, an air-conditioned bus will cost almost twice as much as a bus without air conditioning.

Taxis in the Philippines are a very cheap form of transport. Don't forget to ask the driver to reset the meter before your trip. If suddenly the meter works too fast, be sure to pay the taxi driver's attention to this. Near the airport you will see yellow taxis with an electronic display. They cost more to travel than regular cars.

Connection

Since the Philippines is a country that occupies more than seven thousand islands, mobile communications here are well developed and mobile Internet is also quite accessible.
According to statistics, almost every third Filipino has access to the Internet, and every fourth has his own Facebook account. However, most of the country's traffic goes through browsers for mobile devices, but not everyone has a computer.

Safety

There may be natural hazards in the Philippine Islands. Thus, according to a study by the Brussels Center, the Philippines is the most dangerous country in the world in terms of natural disasters. Earthquakes, typhoons, landslides, and volcanic eruptions have already become familiar to local residents.

In addition to natural disasters, various religious and political conflicts occur on the islands, when marches of demonstrators block streets and traffic stops running. There are even sea pirates here!

If we take tourism as a whole, then the crime rate here is very low, Filipinos are very friendly with foreigners and behave respectfully.

Business climate

The advantage of the Philippines is its openness to any foreign investors. Citizens' savings often depend on foreign funds.

The Philippines is, first of all, an agrarian-industrial country. Agricultural productivity and exports of bananas and pineapples are growing. The textile, electronic, food, chemical, pharmaceutical and woodworking industries are well developed.

The monetary unit of the islands is Philippine peso.

Real estate

The most interesting properties for sale in the Philippines will be houses and villas that are located on the ocean. Here you can also buy an apartment from a developer company, for example in the capital. It is Manila that is more often interesting for buyers, primarily for those who do business in the country or work in a trade mission, since Manila is the economic, cultural and political center of the country.

Many investors buy real estate in the Philippines to rent it out later, because the property here brings in a good rental income. Many foreign pensioners, primarily from European and Asian countries, buy housing here. After all, life here is inexpensive and calm.

Filipinos are actually very shy and slow, so don't be surprised.

Don't forget to take a Russian-English phrasebook with you. Thanks to the country's colonial past, almost everyone here speaks English.

Remember that in the Philippines better not to drink tap water and do not brush your teeth with it. Better to use bottled water.

There are a lot of police on the streets, both in uniform and in civilian clothes, especially in the capital. Therefore, do not be surprised if an ordinary-looking passer-by comes up to you and asks for your documents. The police treat tourists very carefully and respectfully.

Visa information

Citizens of Russia in order to visit the Philippine Islands do not need a visa, provided that the period of stay in this country does not exceed twenty-one days. When crossing the Philippine border, you will need to present a foreign passport (its validity must be at least six months at the time of entry), as well as evidence of the necessary funds for this trip and return tickets.

Recently, you can also get a visa for a period of 59 days of stay. Such a visa will cost $ 50 + 510 Philippine pesos (about $ 12).

Moscow Philippine Embassy: 121099, Russia, Karmanitsky per., 6/8.

Phone: (+7 495) 241-0563.

General information about the Philippines.

Republic of the Philippines(Tagalog: Republika ng Pilipinas), or Philippines(Pilipinas) is a state in Southeast Asia. Consists of many islands located in the Pacific Ocean between Indonesia and Taiwan.

Geographical position

The state of the Philippines occupies the Philippine Islands, which are part of the Malay Archipelago. The largest of the more than 7,100 islands belonging to the Philippines are Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Panay, Palawan, Negros, Mindoro, Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu. The length of the Philippine archipelago from north to south is about 2000 km, from west to east - 900 km. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the east by the Philippine Sea, in the south by the Sulawesi Sea, and in the north the Philippine Islands are separated from the island of Taiwan by the Bashi Strait. The length of the coastline is 36.3 thousand km. The total area of ​​the islands is 299.7 thousand km².

The relief of the islands is made up mainly of mountains, the highest of which, Apo Volcano (2954 m), is located on the island of Mindanao. The mountain ranges are of volcanic origin, since the archipelago is located at the junction of the continental and oceanic lithospheric plates and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is characterized by increased seismicity and volcanism. Deep-sea trenches and volcanic islands are a hallmark of the Philippines. Off the coast of the island of Mindanao lies the Philippine Trench with a depth of up to 10,830 m - one of the deepest in the world's oceans.

Philippine National Cuisine is an incredible combination of Malay, Chinese and Spanish cuisine.
Filipino cuisine is bright and colorful, but at the same time it has a number of specific features. It was shaped by many natural, national, historical and cultural factors, and each region of the Philippines has its own culinary characteristics. The tropical island position of the country and the Malay population laid the foundations, Philippine cuisine is without a doubt a typical Asian cuisine. The main component, of course, is rice, tropical fruits, coconut milk, a variety of seafood, and spices are widely used. Philippine cuisine is Asian-style spicy, but three centuries of Spanish rule have noticeably softened it. Compared to the dishes of neighboring countries, Filipino dishes are much more moderate and more tolerant to the European stomach.

The official name is the Republic of the Philippines (Republika сg Pilipinas, Republic of the Philippines). Located on 7,107 islands of the Philippine archipelago southeast of the Eurasian mainland. The area is 300.8 thousand km2, the population is 84.5 million people. The official language is Filipino; the official languages ​​are Filipino and English. The capital is Greater Manila, since 1975 it consists of Manila itself and 16 satellite cities with a population of 9.2 million people. (2002). Public holiday - Independence Day June 12 (since 1970). The monetary unit is the peso (equal to 100 centavos). The Philippines claims ownership of 8 islands in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

Member of the UN (since 1945) and its committees and organizations, as well as the IMF, IBRD, APEC, ASEAN (1967), etc.

Sights of the Philippines

Geography of the Philippines

Located between 21°25' and 4°23' north latitude and 116°40' and 127° east longitude. They are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. 100 km from the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is the Philippine Trench with a depth of 10,789 m. The coastline is approx. 18 thousand km is indented, there are few good harbors. The largest islands are Luzon (105 thousand km2) and Mindanao (95 thousand km2). All borders are maritime: with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the island of Taiwan. More than 3/4 of the territory of the Philippines - mountains and hills. The largest mountain system is the Central Cordillera (with the highest point of 2934 m) on the island of Luzon. The highest point in the Philippines is the Apo volcano (2954 m) on the island of Mindanao. Lowland - narrow strips along the coasts or along the course of rivers. The largest plains are the Central, or Manila, on the island of Luzon and Cotabato on the island of Mindanao. There are few lakes, the largest are Laguna de Bai, Taal and Lanao. St. 400 rivers, mostly small, they are rapids and stormy; the largest - Cotabato (550 km) and Cagayan (350 km) are navigable in the lower reaches. 5 inter-island seas - Sibuyan, Samar, Visayan, Kamote and Mindanao (the last deepest - 1975 m). Lateritic soils predominate. Among the 10 thousand plant species, more than 9 thousand are higher, 40% of the species are endemic, 5.5 million hectares are covered with forest. The fauna is peculiar: a large percentage of endemics, no large mammals, more than 450 species of birds. The seas are rich in fish - more than 2 thousand species; Mother-of-pearl and pearls are obtained from some shells. Large deposits of copper ore (probable reserves in metal 9.2 million tons), chromites (10-15 million tons), gold ore (14 million tons), iron (590 million tons), nickel (3 million tons in metal). Fuel and energy resources do not meet the needs of the country, oil is imported. The climate is marine tropical monsoon type. The annual precipitation rate is from 1000 to 4500 mm, the annual air temperature is approx. +27°C with an amplitude of fluctuations of 2-4°C. The archipelago is prone to typhoons.

Population of the Philippines

Since the 1970s the population doubled, and the annual growth rate fell from 2.9 to 1.1%. Infant mortality 31 people per 1000 newborns (2001). 59% of the total population lives in cities. There are slightly more men than women. Average life expectancy is 69 years. The population is young. Almost 95% of the population over 15 years of age is literate. More than ½ of Filipinos speak English.

The population is polyethnic - up to 100 ethnic groups; large - Bisayans (1/3 of the population), Tagals (1/4 of the population; play a leading role in the life of the country), Ilokans, Bikols. The indigenous population is anthropologically homogeneous, belongs to the South Asian variety of the Mongoloid race, speaks almost 100 related languages ​​(the Philippine group of the western branch of the Austronesian language family). Of the small nationalities, the Aeta, or Negrito, stand out - the descendants of the Negro-Australoid aborigines of the equatorial race. Of the non-indigenous people, the Chinese predominate. According to the Constitution, the church is separated from the state, freedom of religion is confirmed. The vast majority of the population are Christians, of which St. 80% are Catholics (they were converted to Catholicism by the Spaniards in the 17th century), more than 5% are Protestants, 5-6% are Muslims, approx. 2% are animists, etc.

History of the Philippines

From antiquity until the beginning of European expansion (the last quarter of the 16th century), the Philippines was a peripheral part of the cultural and historical Malay-Indonesian area. Since the 1580s to con. 1890s The Philippines is a colony of Spain, freed from colonial dependence as a result of the national revolution of 1896-98. With the victory of the rebels in 1898, the First Independent Republic was formed and the democratic Constitution of 1898 was adopted. In the same year, under the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty, which ended the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Philippines became a colony of the United States. Since 1901 and almost the entire 1st floor. 20th century The Philippines is a colony of the United States, which proclaimed a liberal course to prepare Filipinos for self-government (in particular, they introduced a system of elections and parties since 1907). Since 1934, the United States introduced an autonomy regime in the Philippines - a 10-year “transition period” before full sovereignty. The Constitution was adopted in 1935, and the Filipino President M. Quezon (1935-44) was elected. In 1941-45 the Philippines survived the Japanese occupation. After the expulsion of the invaders (spring 1945) - the beginning of decolonization. In April 1946 - the election of the first president of the independent Philippines - M. Rojas (1946-48), a US protege, an extremely conservative politician. The American model of decolonization, which largely infringed on the sovereignty of the Philippines, did not suit the majority of Filipinos. Social tension resulted in the bloody peasant war of 1948-53, led by the communists. The decisive role in the defeat of the uprising was played by R. Magsaysay, from 1950 - Minister of Defense, then President of the Philippines (1954-57). All R. 1950s - mid. 60s in the Philippines, a type of façade “oligarchic” democracy was established (real power was in the hands of a few landowning clans that manipulated democratic laws and institutions). Since 1965, the President of the Philippines has been F. Marcos, who was re-elected in 1969. In September 1972, he introduced a state of emergency in the Philippines, establishing a regime of personal power. His plans for accelerated modernization were not implemented due to the growth of corruption, kronism, and the crisis in the economy (the turn of the 1970s and 80s). In February 1986, the dictatorship was destroyed as a result of mass bloodless actions in Manila of opponents of authoritarianism (the "power of the people" revolution). For the first time in the history of the Philippines, a woman became president - K. Aquino (1986-92). In 1987, a democratic Constitution was adopted. Otherwise, the economic crisis and destabilization continued to deepen. The 1992 elections were won by F. Ramos (1992-98), the only one of the "post-authoritarian" leaders who managed to stabilize the situation. In contrast to the reformer Ramos, the 1998 elections were won by a populist, a former film actor J. Estrada, who was convicted of corruption and removed from power in 2000 (the People's Power-2 revolution). Since January 2001, the President of the Philippines has again been a female politician, G. Macapagal-Arroyo. Her government received a heavy legacy from J. Estrada, and so far attempts to improve the economy and resume the course of modernization have been ineffective.

State structure and political system of the Philippines

The Philippines is a democratic unitary state, a republic with a presidential form of government. The Constitution adopted in 1987 is in force. Administratively, the Philippines is divided into provinces (73), united in 17 administrative and economic regions, municipalities, barangays (rural districts). Large provinces: Pampanga, Rizal, Quezon, Ilocos (North and South), Cebu, Iloilo, Maguindanao, etc. Large cities: Greater Manila, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, etc.

The principles of public administration are based on the election of government bodies and the division of its branches - legislative, executive, judicial. The highest body of legislative power is the bicameral Congress. The upper house is the Senate (24 senators aged at least 35 years), elected for 6 years with midterm elections every 3 years and the right to re-election for a second term. The head of the upper house is the president of the senate, who is elected by the senators. The House of Representatives (headed by the speaker) is elected for 3 years, consisting of no more than 250 deputies (from 25 years of age) with the right to re-election for 3 terms. The supreme executive power is vested in the President of the Philippines (age to be elected is at least 40 years old and has resided in the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election). The President (and along with him the Vice President) is elected for a term of 6 years without the right to re-election for a second term. At the same time, he is the head of state, government (forms a cabinet responsible to him), and supreme commander-in-chief. The president cannot dissolve parliament, but has the right of veto when passing bills through Congress. In extreme situations, the president has the right to declare a state of emergency for a period limited by Congress.

The Philippines has universal suffrage for all citizens over the age of 18. The electoral system of the Philippines is of a mixed type, including elements of a majoritarian system (election of the president - vice-president, as well as senators by direct secret vote of the general Philippine electorate) and a modified proportional system. Elements of the latter are present in elections to the lower house (the principle of proportional representation in voting by constituencies and party lists). Preservation in the political system of the Philippines stereotypes of traditional political culture (clan in politics, the system of paternalistic vertical ties, etc.) has a negative impact on the electoral system. The Philippines is one of the developing countries with stable high level violations of the electoral law - the practice of vote trading, ballot falsification, pressure from above on the electorate, outbreaks of open violence, etc.

Outstanding presidents: President of the autonomous Philippines - M. Quezon (1935-44), known for the unique phenomenon of mass popularity, combined with a tough style of government, pro-Americanism and anti-communism; F. Marcos (1965-86), who failed the modernization program, but deserves attention by reorienting the unilateral pro-American foreign policy of the Philippines towards expanding cooperation and partnership with Asian states; F. Ramos (1992-98), pragmatist and intellectual who achieved success in economic modernization and stabilization of society without breaking democratic structures and legal orders.

Local authorities - governors of provinces, mayors of cities, provincial legislative assemblies, municipal councils - are formed on the basis of the same system of elections as the highest authorities. The principles of decentralized management have been introduced locally, the authorities have been given broad powers in the field of budgetary, tax policy, etc. Their activities are controlled by Congress (a source of corruption among both Congressmen and local leaders).

The Philippines is characterized by an unformed multi-party system, which includes fragile conglomerates of parties of the traditional type (associations around leaders, not programs). The two leading parties in the past - the Nationalists (founded in 1907) and the Liberal (founded in 1946) - could not consolidate after being dispersed during the years of authoritarianism, at present they are weak formations and factions in both pro-government and opposition coalitions and blocs. The pro-presidential coalition "Lakas" ("Power of the people") unites several parties and blocs, incl. such as the "National Union of Christian Democrats", "Struggle for Philippine Democracy", "Provincial Development Party", etc. The opponents of "Lacas" are the "Party of the Masses" of ex-president Estrada, the "People's Reform Party", etc. The left flank of the opposition - the legal "Party of Workers" (founded in 2001) with a program of peaceful forms of struggle for the interests of workers. Left radical illegal, operating from con. 1960s Communist Party of the Philippines (left), leads the armed guerrilla of the "New People's Army" and is part of the "National Democratic Front".

Leading business organizations: Philippine Chambers of Industry and Commerce; Federation of Philippine-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Active elements of civil society are non-governmental organizations (NGOs), their development is encouraged by the state, in particular, in the form of financial support. Areas of activity of NGOs - security environment, work to improve the life of peasants, etc. They participate in politics: in elections and as organizers of mass peaceful protests with a pro- and anti-government orientation. Anti-globalization organizations are in the process of formation, they adhere to the tactics of non-violent actions. Major NGOs in the Philippines: Village Transformation Movement, Green Forum, etc.

Main tasks in the area domestic policy Philippines - the implementation of the modernization of the economy as the basis for the stabilization of society; consolidation of the political elite around the presidential reform program, suppression of the opposition, especially its extremist movements. None of these tasks are performed. Criticism of President Arroyo for indecision in the fight against corruption, kronism, inability to solve the problem of poverty and eliminate the hotbed of violence in the Muslim South comes not only from her opponents, but also from her inner circle (representatives of the middle class, the leadership of the Catholic Church, the military elite). The internal political state of the Philippines remains uncertain and unstable.

The formation of the foreign policy of the Philippines and the adoption of foreign policy decisions are concentrated in the hands of the president (maximum powers), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, its head (often also the vice president), the Security Council, and the National Intelligence Coordination Agency. According to the Constitution of 1987, the role of Congress in shaping foreign policy was strengthened (international agreements come into force only after they are ratified by 2/3 of the members of the Senate). Since the Marcos presidency, Philippine foreign policy has been based on subjectivity in international relations, the priority of ensuring national interests, independence and multilateralism of diplomacy. Under the multipolar system of foreign policy relations of the Philippines Special attention pay active equal participation in regional affairs and new integration processes in the SEEA region. At the same time, the political elite of the Philippines has never been faced with the question of giving up the priority of relations with the United States (weakened in the early 1990s after the withdrawal of American military bases from the Philippines) as a guarantor of regional and national security. Under the Arroyo government, the US military presence in the archipelago has been restored, so far in a format that does not violate the Constitution of the Philippines. Since the United States placed the Philippines in a zone of international terrorism, Arroyo brought in American military advisers and counterterrorism experts to help local troops in operations against Muslim separatists. The increase in pro-Americanism in Philippine foreign policy worries their ASEAN partners (especially Muslim countries) and causes an increase in anti-Americanism among Filipinos, who fear the possibility of direct participation of Americans in military operations (in violation of the Constitution). Meanwhile, the Muslim South is still far from pacification. One of the reasons is the low professionalism and outdated technical equipment of the Philippine army, the weakest in the ASEAN countries. The army in the Philippines is regular, formed partly on the basis of compulsory military service (from the age of 20), partly from persons hired for 3 years under contracts. Comprises ground forces, Air Force and Navy. The total number is less than 200 thousand people. The Constitution fixes the priority of civil power over the Armed Forces, the military cannot engage in business and politics (except for participation in elections). But among a part of the officer corps, dissatisfaction with the inefficiency of state policy is ripening, so attempts at military conspiracies and rebellions are not ruled out (such precedents have already happened during the years of C. Aquino's presidency).

The Philippines has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1976).

Economy of the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the five most advanced economies in Southeast Asia, known as the "Asian Tigers" of the second wave. Economic policy of all governments of the period of independence reflected the nature of the political regime, for example, authoritarian under F. Marcos, "new democracy" under C. Aquino, F. Ramos, G. Arroyo. The Philippines later than other states of the "five" (it includes, in addition to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) began to modernize the economy. The country suffered several serious economic and socio-political crises, which greatly weakened the economy and hindered its modernization. Since 2000, the negative impact on the Philippines of the recession in the world economy, especially in the United States, and the aggravation of the socio-political situation in the country itself, incl. separatist armed uprisings in Muslim areas in the South. The restructuring of the economy is hindered by corrupt bureaucracy and management of the so-called. kroni, or "friends". Important economic reforms remain largely on paper.

Since the 1970s The Philippines began to lag behind other economically more developed countries in Southeast Asia in terms of economic growth. In 2003, the economic growth rate increased to 4.5%, and the volume of GDP - up to 80 billion US dollars.

In GDP consumption, the share of personal consumption is the highest: in 2001 it amounted to 2561.2 billion pesos, exceeding 5.8 times government spending and 4.1 times gross savings. Gross national income per capita in 2001 amounted to 1050 US dollars, and more than 1/4 of the population was below the poverty line. Most of this group is in rural areas. Sharp inequality in the distribution of income remains an acute problem. Inflation 4.5% (2003).

3/4 of the labor force, or 32.5 million people, was the labor force, incl. 29.4 million were employed and 3.1 million were unemployed. With an increase in the technological level of production, the quality of labor indicators is changing - the number of qualified specialists is growing. Labor legislation is in force from con. 1980s and applies only to a minority of the labor force - members of trade unions. It determines wage matters, including minimums and allowances, working hours, and so on. Pensions and other benefits are provided by two insurance organizations, unemployment assistance is provided exclusively by charitable organizations.

Sectoral structure of GDP (1981 and 2001,%): industry 39.2 and 31.2, agriculture 24.9 and 15.2, services 35.9 and 53.6.

In industry, the greatest changes in the technical level have occurred in the largest group of industries - the manufacturing industry. But its share (like that of the entire industrial sector) fell to 22.4% of GDP in 2001; the share of construction increased to 5.4%, utilities to 3%, and mining decreased to 0.2%. The structure of the manufacturing industry is changing most noticeably due to an increase in production high technology for export.

In agriculture, the most backward sector of GDP, 2/3 of the value falls on agriculture, 1/3 - on other sectors - animal husbandry, poultry farming, fishing and forestry. Rice and corn, vegetables and fruits are mainly grown for the local market, but there is not enough food.

The largest branch of the service sector is trade, which accounted for 14.6% of GDP in 2001, followed by personal and government services - 11.7 and 9.9% respectively, the remaining services (real estate transactions, transport, communications, warehousing) economy and financial transactions) - 17.4%. Trade, both in terms of value and number of employees, dominates among other services. Wholesale prices are growing more slowly than consumer prices - in 2001 they increased to 134.7 points (1995 = 100), and consumer prices - to 149.6 points.

In the Philippines, an island and mountainous country, the transportation of passengers and goods by road and shipping plays an important role. There are few railways. Air traffic is poorly developed. The communication system - telephone, telegraph and telex - does not satisfy the population's needs for its services. In terms of the development of foreign tourism - the income received from it and the number of tourists - the Philippines lags significantly behind the most economically advanced countries in Southeast Asia. In 2002, the number of tourists from the USA, Japan, China, EU, Australia and other countries was approx. 3 million people

Management and control over the credit and financial system is carried out by the central bank, created in 1949. It manages gold and foreign exchange reserves, maintains the peso exchange rate, produces currency operations, supervises the operations of commercial banks and performs other functions. The credit and financial system is dominated by commercial banks. The volume of resources of development banks, savings and agricultural, insurance is much less. Usury persisted in rural areas. Domestic and foreign loans and credits are one of the main forms of financing the economic development of the Philippines. The national capital market is poorly developed. The role of the stock exchanges (Manila, Makati, Metropolitan) in the mobilization of capital remains insignificant. The government makes extensive use of state credit to cover the state budget deficit. Foreign loans lead to an increase in external debt, which in 2001 was 73.3%, or 2/3 of GDP, with foreign exchange reserves of 13.44 billion US dollars and gold reserves of 2.2 billion US dollars, or 4 times higher than their. Net foreign exchange reserves as of May 2003 were $12.5 billion.

The current monetary system was introduced with the creation of a central bank, which was assigned the right to control money circulation and the monopoly right to issue money against the security of foreign exchange reserves, commercial bills, government valuable papers etc. The structure of money circulation is dominated by deposit money. To the beginning 2002 of the 2139.0 billion pesos in circulation, they accounted for 1746.8 billion pesos, cash - 392.25 billion.

occupies a special place in public finance the state budget based on the central budget. It finances local budgets. The bulk of income is tax revenue. Expenses go mainly to finance social and economic development. The state budget for the most part is reduced to a deficit, especially from the con. 1990s Revenues in 2001 amounted to 561.9 billion pesos, expenses - 706.4 billion i.e. the deficit accounted for almost 150 billion pesos. In 2002 it increased to over 200 billion pesos, or 3.3% of GDP. In 2003 it was expected to grow to 4.7% of GDP. The use of loans from international financial institutions and individual states to cover the deficit, in addition to loans from the central and commercial banks, leads to an increase in external debt.

Foreign economic relations of the Philippines are focused on the United States, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), EU countries, Australia and, to a lesser extent, on the countries of Southeast Asia. Foreign direct investment comes mainly from US and Japanese multinationals. After the crisis of 1997-98 they dropped significantly. Assistance (loans and credits) is provided by international financial organizations - the IMF, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, as well as governments of individual states and private institutions.

The growth rate of foreign trade outstrips the growth rate of GDP. In foreign trade relations (goods and services) of the Philippines, trade with the USA, Japan, China, EU countries, Australia prevails, and from Southeast Asian countries - with Singapore. The export of goods and services (in 2002 it was equal to 35.2 billion US dollars, or almost half of the country's GDP) was dominated by the export of goods. From Ser. 1980s electronic components occupy the first place in merchandise exports: in 2001, out of 31.2 billion US dollars, they accounted for 16.8 billion. Among traditional exports, its largest items are: coconut palm products, abaca fiber, raw sugar, copper concentrates . Merchandise imports in 2002 amounted to $35.5 billion; half of its cost accounted for capital equipment and 1/10 for fuel and energy raw materials, mainly oil. The rest of the imports were dominated by food (cereals).

As a result of the monetary and financial crisis of 1997-98, the national currency was seriously devalued. The peso exchange rate against the US dollar has significantly exceeded its pre-crisis level. 1 US dollar is equal to 53.5 pesos (June 2003).

Science and culture of the Philippines

In the field of science, the most important coordinating centers are the National Research Council of the Philippines and the National Science Administration. From Ser. 1970s The Philippine Center operates fundamental research at the University of the Philippines, coordinating the scientific activities of various universities and other scientific institutions. The center participates in the development of state programs for the development of science. The main sources of funding for science are the state budget and assistance from the governments of individual countries and international organizations. Practical research is carried out mainly in large corporations. Leading Universities - State University Philippines, private - University of St. Thomas, Ateneo de Manila, Silliman University. Science lacks funds to finance it.

Education is managed by the Ministry of Education and Culture. State higher educational institutions governed by Councils of Regents. Primary education is public, compulsory and free. high school 95% private, higher - 80%. The lack of state funding of the education system hinders its development. Almost 84% of public spending on education goes to primary school, approx. 15% - in secondary and 1% - in higher education. IN primary school in 2002, about 15 million children aged 7-12 studied, in the secondary - 6 million, in the higher, including colleges - St. 2.5 million

For a long period (almost 400 years), the Philippines was the object of Westernization, which had a profound impact on the development of spiritual culture, in which foreign cultural values ​​brought from the West were partially rejected, partially assimilated by the Filipinos in accordance with their worldview and aesthetic experience. The modern spiritual culture of the Philippines is marked by the growth of "cultural nationalism", the search for identity and cultural identity of the Filipinos. The Philippine Constitution defines national culture as "unity in diversity". The state encourages freedom of creativity, supports cultural figures and creative associations through a system of grants, scholarships, etc. outside the country. His literary works and journalism had a decisive influence on the development of the national identity of the Filipinos, although he wrote mainly in Spanish. Modern Philippine literature is rich in names, genres, trends. In terms of large-scale and depth of subject matter, highly artistic style, English-language and Tagalog-language literature is distinguished (literature in regional languages). Many works by writers and poets writing in English and Tagalog are published in the United States and Europe, including Russia. Major names in English prose are N.V. Gonzalez, Nick Joaquin, poets H. Lansang Jr., R. Tinio, F. Cruz and many others. The largest figure in Tagalog literature is the poet and short story writer A.V. Hernandez (1903-70), on whose works generations of modern writers were raised. The Spaniards also noted the unusual talent of the Filipinos in the visual arts, their special sense of color (the colors of the tropics). Visual arts of the Philippines 20th century. up to the present day, it absorbs a variety of influences: from academicism, realism, impressionism, abstractionism, various kinds of modern avant-garde movements to a kind of Philippine primitivism. The most famous names in the visual arts of the Philippines: artists C. Francisco, V. Manansala, A. Luz, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, sculptors N. Abueva, S. Saprid and others. The history of the country is reflected in the architecture of Philippine cities: each era has left its symbols (Spanish baroque of the 16th-17th centuries, neoclassicism of the early 20th century, constructivism of the 1930s, modern high-rise buildings of business districts, for example, Makati in Greater Manila). The most famous Filipino architects of the 1970-90s. - L. Locsin, S. Concio.

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Republic of the Philippines- a state in Asia. Consists of many islands located in the Pacific Ocean between Indonesia and Taiwan.

The country includes more than 7.1 thousand islands, of which about 1000 are permanently inhabited, and more than 2500 are not only not inhabited, but do not even have a name. The islands are located in three groups - the northern island of Luzon and the adjacent islands, the central Visayan group (about 6 thousand islands) and southern Mindanao with the surrounding islands. The Philippines is a predominantly mountainous country.

Philippines airport

Davao Francisco Bangoy International Airport

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

Zamboanga International Airport

Caticlan Godofredo P. Ramos Airport

Mactan Cebu International Airport

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Olongapo City Subic Bay International Airport

Puerto Princesa International Airport

Philippines hotels 1 - 5 stars

Philippines weather

Tropical marine and subequatorial, monsoon. The rainy season is from June to September. From June to October - destructive typhoons. best time to visit the country - the period from late September to mid-May.

Average air temperature in Manila t°C

Language of the Philippines

Official language: Filipino

English, Chinese and Spanish are used.

Currency of the Philippines

International name: PHP

The Philippine peso is equal to 100 centavs. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 pesos, coins of 5 and 1 pesos, as well as 25 and 10 centavos.

You can usually exchange pounds sterling and euros in banks in Manila and other major cities. Outside the capital, servicing other foreign currencies is quite problematic; only branches of the Central Bank of the Philippines offer an exchange rate close to the official one.

The US dollar is widely accepted throughout the Philippines and is often more convenient to use than traveller's checks. Prices are often quoted in both Philippine pesos and dollars.

Banks, shops and hotels in large cities of the country accept credit cards from major world systems and traveler's checks; in the provinces their use is unlikely. To avoid additional conversion costs, it is recommended to take travel checks in US dollars with you.

Customs restrictions

The following can be imported duty free: alcoholic beverages - 2 bottles, cigarettes - 400 pcs, or cigars - 50 pcs, or tobacco - 250 g, food, items and household items - within the limits of personal needs. The import of firearms, items imitating them, explosives, and ammunition is prohibited; written or printed materials of an anti-state or inhumane nature; materials, photographs, engravings and other images of a pornographic nature; any drugs and their components. The export of antiques, paintings, products made of gold, wood, ivory is prohibited. The export of cigarettes is allowed - 200 pcs, or cigars - 50 pcs, or tobacco - 500 g; alcoholic drinks - 0.95 l.

The import of foreign currency is not limited (the declaration is required if the amount exceeds 3,000 US dollars. The export of imported foreign currency is allowed. The export and import of national currency is prohibited.

Mains voltage

Tips

Tipping in most establishments is 5-10% of the bill (including in a taxi, for hotel and restaurant services), but usually service personnel are added for service in excess of this percentage.

Office Hours

Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Restrictions

Some popular resorts (Davao, etc.) have introduced a strict ban on smoking in public places, for violation of which a large fine is due, and if the violator is caught three times, then he will be put in jail for several days.

Safety

Travelers are advised to avoid visiting most areas of Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, where ethnic and religious conflicts occur almost constantly. The safety of maritime transport is also not ensured throughout the country - dozens of gangs of sea pirates have found shelter in the countless bays and bays of the archipelago.

Code of the country: +63

First level geographic domain name:.ph

Medicine

Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended. If arriving from yellow fever areas (within 6 days of departure or transit from such areas), a vaccination certificate is required (children under 1 year of age are exempt). Prophylaxis against malaria is recommended. The risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis exists between April and January in western Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan. There are also natural foci of rabies and dengue fever. Penicillin-resistant gonorrhea and syphilis are common in certain areas of Cebu and Manila.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice had to be boiled. Milk is usually not pasteurized and must be heat treated. Meat and fish should only be consumed thoroughly fried, preferably hot (freshly cooked dishes). Vegetables must first be heat treated, and fruits must be washed and peeled.

Emergency Phones

Police and rescue service - 166.

Philippines in Asia is considered a special country. Indeed, even the dishes there are not as spicy as in other Asian countries. In addition, European colonists had a great influence on the Philippines. Therefore, the Philippines, which consists of many islands, can be considered an amazing Asian country with beautiful nature, waterfalls, ancient attractions and snow-white beaches.

Geography of the Philippines

The island nation of the Philippines is located in the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. To the north across the strait is Taiwan, to the west across the South China Sea is Vietnam, and to the south lie the islands of Indonesia. The total area of ​​this country is 299,764 sq. km

The Philippines consists of more than 7,100 islands, the largest of which are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Most of the territory of the Philippine Islands is covered with dense forests. The largest local peak is Mount Apo, whose height reaches 2,954 meters, located on the island of Mindanao. Earthquakes often occur in the Philippine Islands, but they are not felt because... too weak.

The longest river in the Philippines is the Cagayan with a length of 505 km. Cagayan, flows through the northern part of the island of Luzon.

Capital

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. More than 1.8 million people now live in this city.

Official language of the Philippines

The Philippines has three official languages: Pilipino, which belongs to the Austronesian language family, English and Spanish.

Religion

More than 90% of the Philippines population is Christian (mostly Catholic), while the remaining 10% are Muslim.

Government of the Philippines

Under the current Constitution, the Philippines is a presidential republic. Its head is the President, elected by popular vote for a term of 6 years.

The bicameral parliament in the Philippines is called Congress, it consists of the Senate (24 senators, elected for 6 years) and the House of Representatives (240 deputies, elected for 3 years).

Administratively, the Philippines is divided into 17 regions and 80 provinces.

Climate and weather

The climate is tropical, hot and humid. The hottest months are from March to May. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until the end of October (typhoons are possible during this time). The coldest month is February (average air temperature +21C), and the hottest month is May (+36C).

The best time to visit the Philippines is from November to April. At this time, there is very little rainfall, and the air and sea are very warm.

Sea in the Philippines

The Philippines is washed by the Philippine Sea, which is part of the Pacific Ocean. The total length of the coast of all the Philippine islands is 36,289 km. Thus, the Philippine sea coast is the longest in the world.

The diving season in the Philippines runs from early November to late May. The peak diving season is from March to May.

Rivers and lakes

There are more than 45 rivers in the Philippines. The longest of them is Cagayan, its length reaches 505 km. Cagayan, flows through the northern part of the island of Luzon.

Culture of the Philippines

Spanish and American colonial customs had a great influence on the culture of the Philippines. It was thanks to the Spaniards that the tradition of fiesta and carnivals took root in the Philippines.

Every January, Manila hosts the largest festival in the Philippines - the Day of the Black Nazarene. On this day (which is January 9), several hundred thousand people take to the streets of Manila.

Tourists in the Philippines will be interested in seeing the Mango Festival, Aurora Festival, Ati-Atiha Festival, Pineapple Festival, Lantern Festival and many others.

All Philippine festivals are accompanied by colorful music, dance and theatrical performances. Most of the participants in these festivals take part in traditional national costumes.

Kitchen

Philippine cuisine has been influenced by Chinese, Malay, Spanish and even American culinary traditions. Philippine cuisine is not as well known to Europeans as, for example, Vietnamese, Thai or Chinese dishes. Philippine cuisine differs from other Asian cuisines in that it is not as spicy. Although, of course, Filipinos also like to add spices to their dishes.

Spices (garlic, onion, ginger) are needed by Filipinos to add flavor to their dishes. As in other Asian countries, the staple food in the Philippines is rice, as well as fish and seafood.

1. Adobo – stew (chicken or pork) with garlic in soy sauce;
2. Pansit – rice noodles with chicken, pork or shrimp along with vegetables;
3. Tinola- chicken soup with ginger;
4. Sinigang – spicy soup with pork, chicken, fish or shrimp;
5. Lengua – fried beef tongue in savory sauce;
6. Calamares – fried shrimp/squid;
7. Kare-kare – beef stewed over low heat;
8. Bopis – spicy pork tripe.

Traditional soft drinks in the Philippines - “Sago"t Gulaman” - a sweet drink made from lemon balm, coconut juice, a sweet drink “Taho”.

Sights of the Philippines

There are some very interesting sights to see in the Philippines. Thus, on the island of Mindanao in the city of Davao there is a unique Apo National Park and a large orchid farm. On the same island, tourists can visit the medieval Spanish port of Pilar and several other natural parks. On Sulu Island you can visit local villages built right on the water.

On the island of Cebu there is a very old Spanish fort, built in the mid-16th century, as well as several medieval churches.

Some attractions of the Philippines are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - the city of Vigan, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the rice terraces in the Philippine Cordillera, the St. Augustine Church in Manila, the Miag-ao Church on Iloilo Island, the Paoya Church, the Santa Maria Church, Tubbataha Reefs National Park.

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in the Philippines are Quezson City, Caloocan, Davao, Cebu, Zamboanga, Antipolo and the capital, Manila.

The Philippines is known throughout the world for its fantastic sandy beaches. The infrastructure on most beaches is well developed, offering excellent opportunities for active recreation, including diving. By the way, some of the Philippine diving centers meet all international standards.

Top 10 best beaches in the Philippines:

1. Boracay island. The length of the beach on this island reaches 5 km, the sand is white and fine. Considered one of the best beaches in the world.
2. pagudpud. There can be strong winds here, making Pagudpud a great surfing spot. Compared to Boracay, Pagudpud is considered more secluded and quiet.
3. Mactan Island. This island not only has beautiful beaches, but also a fun nightlife. Suitable for tourists who want to do more than just sunbathe on snow-white beaches.
4. Panglao Island. Do you love diving? Then Panglao Island is just for you. Quiet, secluded island surrounded by coral reefs.
5. Camiguin. This beach is considered the "Garden of Eden". The beach is located near a beautiful waterfall, as well as hot and cold springs.
6. Dakak. This is a private beach, its length reaches 750 m. On the beach there are waterfalls and sources of spring water.
7. Honda Bay Islands. These islands are located in the southwestern province of Palawan. It is considered an excellent place for diving.
8. El Nido. This island is located in the province of Palawan. El Nido is a quiet, secluded place with white sand beaches.
9. pearl farm. The resort is located in the south of the country near the city of Davao. It is considered one of the largest Philippine resorts.
10. Siargao. This beach is considered another popular diving spot in the Philippines.

Souvenirs/Shopping

From the Philippines, tourists usually bring handicrafts, baskets, purses, wallets, rugs, local hand-embroidered clothing, sarongs, scarves, musical instruments (such as bamboo flutes), figurines, hammocks, traditional Filipino knives, hats, Filipino delicacies (mango, for example, is best wrapped in a napkin to keep the fruit fresh).

Office Hours