Country information

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Area: 300,000 sq km (115, 830 sq miles), 7101 islands
Population: 92.23 million (2009 estimate)
Capital city: Manila, part of the Metro Manila conurbation (total population 11.55 million – 2007 census)
People: Filipinos are predominantly of Malay descent, although many have mixed ancestry, with Chinese and Spanish the largest influences.
Languages: Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also an official language. Over 150 native languages and dialects are spoken.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (83%), Protestant (8%), Muslim (4.6%), Iglesia ni Cristo (2.3%) (National Statistical Co-ordination Board, 2008)
Currency: Peso
Major political parties:
- Lakas - Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) founded by former President Fidel Ramos and headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
- Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) headed by Eduardo 'Danding' Cojuangco Jr.
- Liberal Party (LP) headed by Senator Manuel Roxas II.  
Party allegiances are fluid and elections are more about personalities than party manifestos.  A large number of sectoral and cause-orientated groups compete for the 20% of Congressional seats reserved for ‘party-list’ groups.
Government: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Vice President: Noli De Castro
Foreign Minister: Alberto Romulo
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),  International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM),  World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Bank.

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