The Philippines
Interactive Map
The map below shows the location of the Philippines in relation to Asia and Australasia
There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines. The bulk of its fast-growing population lives on just 11 of them. It is a country that is rich in culture, history and conflict. It became a Spanish colony during the 16th century but was ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War.
The 20- year rule of Ferdinand Marcos ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile and installed Corazon Aquino as president.
Successive presidents have been and gone with some facing coups and accusations of corruption, whilst others brought in stability, most notably Fide Ramos whose administration was marked with greater stability and progress on economic reforms (1992 – 1998).
Today, the Philippine Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south.
It has a population over 100 million, 26 million of whom live in abject poverty. In a typical urban poor community, you will find hundreds and sometimes thousands of people squatting side-by-side on a deserted portion of land in haphazardly constructed ‘shanty’ homes. These are made from scrap wood, corrugated iron and plastic.
These shanty homes usually consist of one or two small rooms and house on average seven family members. Because of holes and cracks in the materials, many homes are unstable and prone to leaks, flooding and fires.
These urban poor settlements are often located in high risk or danger areas – riverbanks, dumpsites, low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and under bridges. The shanty homes lack basic amenities (e.g. sanitation and running water) and families are often under the constant threat of eviction.
Most adult males earn an income by driving a motorcycle with sidecar, which transport people around the city for a small fee. Others are hired on short-term contracts as labourers in factories or on construction sites. Many women earn a small income by washing clothes for the more affluent living outside of the community.
More about the Philippines
The BBC has produced a number of interesting articles on different aspects of Philippine life.
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