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FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES AND ITS PEOPLE

• The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila.
• It is said to be the third country with the longest combined coastlines, after Canada and Indonesia.
• Filipino and English are the official languages and are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business.
• The Philippines is the world's 3rd largest English-speaking nation, next to the USA and the UK.
• Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans.
• Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines shares many aspects with other Asian countries, with a traditional Malay heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Spanish and American influences. These influences are evident in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.
• With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are an additional 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Its tropical climate sustains one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity in the world.
• An Overseas Filipino is a person of Philippine origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies both to people of Filipino ancestry who are citizens or residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad on a more temporary status.
• Most overseas Filipino migrate to other nations to find employment or support their families in the Philippines. As a result of this migration, many countries have a substantial Filipino community.
• Overseas Filipinos often work as doctors, physical therapists, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, engineers, architects, entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, seafarers, students, caregivers, domestic helpers and household maids.
• There are about 8.7 to 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of the total population of the Philippines.
• It is estimated that there will be some 500,000 Filipinos in Canada as of 2010.
• The United Kingdom is home to around 200,000 OFWs including about 20,000 nurses and other Filipinos of various employment and lifestyle during the past 5 years.
• Money sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) back to the Philippines is a major factor in the country's economy, amounting to more than US$16 billion in 2009
• The Philippines has a tropical climate and is usually hot and humid. The average yearly temperature is around 26.6°C (79.88°F)
• The Philippines is considered as the world's third largest producer of bananas, after Costa Rica and Ecuador. The Philippines is also one of the largest producers of coconut, cassava, mango, pineapple, tilapia, tuna, shrimps, and prawns.
• The world’s second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines. The Philippine Deep or Mindanao Trench is about 34.440 feet (10,497 meters) below sea level.
• The Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao province has been dubbed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
• The Basilica of San Sebastian is the only steel church in Asia and was the second building to be made out of steel, next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
• Despite the many problems hounding the Philippines, Filipinos still consider themselves as among the happiest people in the world.
• The Pound for Pound King of Boxing Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is currently WBO Welterweight Champion, Reigning IBO, RING Junior Welterweight Champion, WBC Lightweight Champion, 2008-2009, WBC, RING Super, Featherweight Champion, 2008 , RING Featherweight Champion, 2003 – 2005, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion, 2001 – 2004, WBC Flyweight Champion, 1998 - 1999 with 55 Fights, 50 Wins (38 by way of Knockout), 3 Loses, 2 Draws
• Gemma Cruz was the first Filipina to win an international beauty title - Miss International 1964
• The exotic jeepney is a post-war creation inspired by the GI jeeps that the American soldiers brought to the country in the 1940s. Enterprising Filipinos salvaged the surplus engines and came out with unique vehicles or art.
• There are 200 volcanoes in the Philippines, 22 of them are said to be active.
• Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.
• The country also has the highest concentration of birds and butterflies in the world. There are some 86 species of birds and 895 species of butterflies in the country. About 352 species of butterflies are endemic to the Philippines. The Philippines is home to some of the world's most exotic birds. The endangered Philippine eagle, also known as the monkey-eating eagle, is one of the largest in the world.
• The world's largest pearl was discovered by a Filipino diver in 1934. Known as the "pearl of Lao-Tzu", the gem weighs 14 pounds and measures 9 1/2 inches long and 5 1/2 inches in diameter. As of May 1984, it was valued at US$42 million. It is believed to be 600 years old.
• Mayon Volcano in Albay province has the distinction of having a nearly perfect cone.
• Taal Volcano, a 406-meter-high crater, is said to be the world's smallest volcano. It is described as "a crater within an island within a lake" because it stands as an island at Taal Lake.
• Widely known as one of the world's finest beach resorts, Boracay Island has unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches.
• The world’s longest underground river system accessible to man can be found at the St. Paul National Park in the province of Palawan. It stretches 15 kilometers in length.
• • The Philippines is a signatory to the following international environmental agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, and Wetlands.

Disclaimer: EMC CAREGIVERS MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR RELIABILITY OF THE ABOVE TRIVIA INFORMATION WHICH WERE COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.