Country information

Area: 300,000 sq km (117,187 sq mi)
Population: 90 million (2007 estimate)
Capital City: Metro Manila (10.4m)
People: Christian Malay (92%), Muslim Malay (4%), Chinese (2%) and other (3%)
Languages: Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language, English is an official language for education and communication.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (83%), Protestant (9%), Muslim (5%) and others (3%).
Currency: Peso
Major political organisations: Main political parties are: the Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) founded by former President Fidel Ramos and headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) headed by Eduardo 'Danding' Cojuangco Jr. and the Liberal Party (LP) headed by Senator Manuel Roxas II.
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), Colombo Plan, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), G24, Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Bank, Cairns Group.

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