The
Philippines is situated in Southeast Asia in the
Western Pacific. The Western Pacific is known for
having some of the warmest waters on the planet. In
the warm, shallow waters around the islands, we find
the corals and the coral reefs. Corals
are micro organisms, so, they are the smallest
animals you can imagine. These 'microscopic small'
organisms produce (secrete) lime which form
miniscule small holes (cavities). These miniscule
small holes serve as their living room. The corals
use their tentacles to trap passing
plankton. Plankton is the food for corals.
The
Philippines is the third largest English speaking
country in the world. It has a rich history
combining Asian, European, and American influences.
Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos
had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese
and the Japanese. Spain's colonization brought about
the construction of Intramuros in 1571, a "Walled
City" comprised of European buildings and churches,
replicated in different parts of the archipelago. In
1898, after 350 years and 300 rebellions, the
Filipinos, with leaders like Jose Rizal and Emilio
Aguinaldo, succeeded in winning their independence.
In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only
colony of the United States. Following the
Philippine-American War, the United States brought
widespread education to the islands. Filipinos
fought alongside Americans during World War II,
particularly at the famous battle of Bataan and
Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance and saved
Australia. They then waged a guerilla war against
the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The Philippines
regained its independence in 1946 Filipinos are a
freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful,
bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as
corrupt regimes. The Philippines is a vibrant
democracy, as evidenced by 12 English national
newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds
of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.
Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the
islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and
foreign guests are always welcome to their homes |