Full country name: Republic of the Philippines
Area: 299,000 sq km (116,610 sq mi)
Population: 78.4 million
Capital city: Manila (pop: 10 million)
People: Predominantly descendants of Malays, Chinese and Muslim minorities and a number of mestizos (Filipino-Spanish or Filipino-Americans)

CLIMATE
The Philippine has a tropical climate with relatively abundant rainfall and gentle winds. There are three pronounced seasons: the wet or rainy season from June to October; the cool or dry season from November to February; and the hot or dry season from March to May.

SIZE
Stretching 1,840 kilometers north-to-south off the southeast coast of Asia, the Philippines has a total land area of 300,000 sq. kms. or 115,600 sq. miles, slightly larger than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

CAPITAL
Manila

POPULATION
There are about 76.5 million Filipinos as of the last census conducted in May 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the total population.

LANGUAGES
The Philippines is the world's third English-speaking country, after the United States and the United Kingdom. While there are over 100 regional dialects, the national language is Pilipino. English is widely used in commercial and legal transactions.

RELIGIONS
The dominant religion in the Philippines is Catholicism, though a significant number are Protestants and Moslems.

UNIT OF MEASURES

The Philippines use the Metric System in most of trade and legal transactions.

ELECTRICITY
Most residents and business centers in the Philippines are using 220 volts a/c. However, a number of major hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets.

CURRENCY
The Philippines' monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Charge and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

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