Portal:Philippines

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Welcome to the Philippines Portal / Maligayang pagdating sa Portal ng Pilipinas

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands, with a total area of about 300,000 square kilometers, which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With a population of over 112 million, it is the world's fourteenth-most-populous country.

The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. It has diverse ethnicities and a rich culture. Manila is the country's capital, and its most populated city is Quezon City. Both are within Metro Manila.

Negritos, the archipelago's earliest inhabitants, were followed by waves of Austronesian peoples. The adoption of animism, Hinduism with Buddhist influence, and Islam established island-kingdoms. Extensive overseas trade with neighbors such as the late Tang or Song empire brought Chinese people to the archipelago as well, which would also gradually settle in and intermix over the centuries. The arrival of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan marked the beginning of Spanish colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II. Catholicism became the dominant religion, and Manila became the western hub of trans-Pacific trade. Hispanic immigrants from Latin America and Iberia would also selectively colonize. The Philippine Revolution began in 1896, and became entwined with the 1898 Spanish–American War. Spain ceded the territory to the United States, and Filipino revolutionaries declared the First Philippine Republic. The ensuing Philippine–American War ended with the United States controlling the territory until the Japanese invasion of the islands during World War II. After the United States retook the Philippines from the Japanese, the Philippines became independent in 1946. Since then, the country notably experienced a period of martial law from 1972 to 1981 under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and his subsequent overthrow by the People Power Revolution in 1986, returning to democracy.

The Philippines is an emerging market and a developing and newly industrialized country, whose economy is transitioning from being agricultural to service- and manufacturing-centered. It has a variety of natural resources and a globally-significant level of biodiversity. The country is also part of multiple international organizations and forums, mainly in ASEAN. Despite its fast economic growth, it continues to struggle with inequality, widespread corruption, and vulnerability to natural disasters due to its location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, and to the equator, making it prone to earthquakes, monsoon rains, and typhoons, to which the Philippines has built a resilience. (Full article...)

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Makati Central Business District

Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila [kalakˌhaŋ maɪˈnilaʔ]), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region and largest metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, the region lies between the Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions. Encompassing an area of 636.00 km² (245.56 sq mi) and with a population of 13,484,462 as of 2020,^[1] it consists of sixteen highly urbanized cities: Manila—the capital city—Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, along with one independent municipality, Pateros. As the second most populous and the most densely populated region in the Philippines, it ranks as the 7th most populous metropolitan area in Asia and the 8th most populous urban area in the world.

The region is the center of culture (including arts and entertainment), economy, education, and the government. Designated as a global power city, the region exerts a significant impact on commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment both locally and internationally. It is home to all embassies in the Philippines, making it an important center for international diplomacy in the country. Its economic power establishes the region as the country's premier center for finance and commerce. The region accounts for 36% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines. Greater Manila is the fourth largest ASEAN country subdivision by GDP, after Singapore, and the Jakarta, and Bangkok metropolitan regions. (Full article...)

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... that the Office of the President of the Philippines released a diagram in 2019 which it claimed revealed participants in a plot to oust president Rodrigo Duterte?
... that Tropical Storm Pabuk forced PAGASA to issue cyclone advisory bulletins outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility in December 2024, for the first time since 1963?
... that the Red October ouster plot allegedly tried to "brainwash and incite students" in multiple universities across the Philippines?
... that VMB-611 was the only United States Marine Corps bombing squadron to operate in the Philippines during World War II?
... that the Philippine embassy in Pretoria responded to a South African newspaper's denunciation of horse fighting in the Philippines by saying that the practice was already illegal?
... that the 1976 Philippine film Itim was described as "one of the most remarkable debuts in cinema history" in a 2022 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art?
... that Philippine senator Bong Go showed his back two times to refute accusations from a YouTube series?
... that Tomas Fung founded the predecessor of the restaurant Ling Nam with only 3,000 Philippine pesos?

Selected picture

Image 1A skyline view of Manila
Image 2Picture of a Carabao in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Image 3The Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Image 4A selection of dishes found in Filipino cuisine
Image 5A map of the Philippines showing the location of all the regions and provinces
Image 6Banaue, Philippines: A man of the fugao tribe in traditional costume
Image 7Shipping on the Pasig River, 1899
Image 8Banaue, Philippines: a view of Banaue Municipal Town
Image 9A view at Francisco Bangoy International Airport, 2019
Image 10A view of Barlas Island, Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines
Image 11A leaning belfry of St. Andrew Church, in Bacarra town, province of Ilocos Norte

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Miguel Malvar y Carpio (September 27, 1865 – October 13, 1911) was a Filipino general who served during the Philippine Revolution and, subsequently, during the Philippine–American War. He assumed command of the Philippine revolutionary forces during the latter, following the capture of resistance leader Emilio Aguinaldo by the Americans in 1901. According to some, he could have been listed as one of the presidents of the Philippines. However, is not recognized as such by the Philippine government. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Philippines-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Vigan City in Ilocos Sur (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 2Manny Pacquiao, the only 8-division world boxing champion in history. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 3The Kutkut art from Samar (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 4Carabao is a major symbol of Filipinos hard labor. And is known to be the "Filipino farmer's bestfriend". (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 5Museum Agrifina Circle (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 6Good Friday observance in Pampanga (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 7Loboc Church in Bohol (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 8Sungka, a traditional Filipino game. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 9A Tboli woman weaving t'nalak from South Cotabato. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 10Parol (Christmas lanterns) being sold during the Christmas season (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 11Filipina in traditional attire (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 12Original image of the Santo Niño de Cebú. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 13Harana (serenade) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 14The University of Santo Tomas, located in Manila, was established in 1611. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 15Dominant ethnic groups by province. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 16Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 17Pineapple fiber is used to create traditional Philippine garments. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 18Noli Me Tángere (novel) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 19Mila del Sol starred in one of the earliest Filipino movies, Giliw Ko (1939), along with Fernando Poe Sr. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 20Bahay na bato, a traditional Filipino house (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 21Kalesa, a traditional Philippine urban transportation, in front of Manila Cathedral entrance (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 22Tortoise-shell and silver Salakot (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 23Filipinos cockfighting, circa 1800's. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 24Letras y figuras painting by Jose Honorato Lozano (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 25Aguinaldo Shrine in Cavite (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 26Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 27A performer depicting a babaylan (shaman) (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 28A grandmaster of Arnis. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 29Villa Escudero exhibit depicting 19th century Principalía family in Philippine traditional attire. (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 30An Itneg shaman offering pigs to anito spirits, 1922 (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 31Vega Ancestral House, Misamis Oriental (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 32Filipino traditional dance at a festival (from Culture of the Philippines)
Image 33A PBA game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (from Culture of the Philippines)

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In the news

8 March 2026 – 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, 2026 Iranian diaspora protests: Diaspora protesters surround the bus of the Iranian women's soccer team following their match against the Philippines in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, amidst fears of their safety upon returning to Iran after members of the team gave SOS hand signals from the team bus. (ABC News Australia) (DW)
20 February 2026 –: Seven people are killed, including a pregnant woman, two children are injured and 3,000 are displaced in three landslides in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro, Philippines. (CTV News) (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
18 February 2026 – 2028 Philippine presidential election: Philippine vice president Sara Duterte announces her candidacy in the next presidential election. (AFP via France 24) (Reuters)
15 February 2026 – 62nd Munich Security Conference: The Philippines signs military defense cooperation pacts with Estonia and Italy at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany. The agreements will particularly expand cooperation in cybersecurity and capacity building for their respective armed forces. (Manila Standard)

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More did you know - show different entries

...that Rafael Buenaventura, once-governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and one of the world’s top central bankers, was largely responsible for removing the Philippines from an FATF black list?
...that the De La Salle University-Manila College of Engineering was established in 1947 with the aim of providing young men with knowledge of science and technology to help rehabilitate the Philippines, which had been devastated during World War II?
...that the Judicial and Bar Council of the Philippines recommends appointees to the country's courts, without the "advice and consent" of the Commission on Appointments?
...that although Negros Occidental has the most chartered cities in the Philippines, many of those cities merely resemble medium-sized towns?