Country

Philippines

Also Known As Republic of the Philippines

South-eastern Asia

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than seven thousand islands in the western Pacific off the southeast coast of mainland Asia, grouped into the three main island regions of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Colonized by Spain from the sixteenth century and ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, it was granted independence by the United States on 4 July 1946 following the Japanese occupation of the Second World War. Its capital, Manila, sits on the island of Luzon on Manila Bay, at the heart of the country's largest metropolitan area.

Facts

Capital

Manila 2

Population

114,000,000 2

Britannica 2026 estimate, over 114 million.

Population Estimate Year

2026 2

Area (sq km)

347,681 2

Independence or Founding Year

1946 2

The United States granted independence on 4 July 1946, ending nearly five decades of American colonial rule that had itself followed over three centuries of Spanish rule.

Landlocked

No 3

Income Group

Upper-Middle 4

Government Type

Republic 3

Classification

Sovereignty Status

UN Member State 1

Learn More

An Archipelago Between Two Empires

This article records tradition as it has been passed down and reported. Its sources are not yet part of the atlas's verified catalogue.

Few countries changed colonial hands as abruptly as the Philippines did in 1898. Spain had ruled the archipelago for more than three centuries, since Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded the first permanent Spanish settlement in the 1560s, governing it for most of that time not directly from Madrid but through the Spanish colonial administration in Mexico City, a reminder that the Philippines' Spanish name, honoring King Philip II, arrived by way of a different Spanish empire across the Pacific entirely. The Spanish-American War ended that in a single year: Spain ceded the islands to the United States in the Treaty of Paris, and a new colonial administration, an ocean away from the old one, began almost overnight. The Philippine-American War that followed was fought by Filipinos who had just finished fighting Spain for their own independence and now faced a second colonial power claiming the same territory. American rule lasted until 1946, interrupted by Japanese occupation during the Second World War, and independence finally arrived on 4 July 1946, a date the United States deliberately chose to echo its own.

Seven Thousand Islands, Three Regions

This article records tradition as it has been passed down and reported. Its sources are not yet part of the atlas's verified catalogue.

An archipelago of more than seven thousand islands cannot be governed, or even easily described, as one undifferentiated landmass, and the Philippines has long organized itself around three island groups that function almost as three countries. Luzon in the north holds Manila and the bulk of the country's population and political weight; the Visayas, a scatter of mid-sized islands including Cebu and Panay, sits between Luzon and Mindanao and gave the archipelago much of its early Spanish-era name recognition, the islands Ferdinand Magellan reached in 1521; Mindanao in the south is the second-largest island, historically less integrated into the Manila-centered state and home to the country's largest Muslim population, a legacy of trade contact with the Islamic sultanates of maritime Southeast Asia that predated Spanish colonization entirely. The three-region structure is not a formal administrative unit so much as a geographic fact every Filipino grows up navigating, since moving between them, even today, more often means a flight or a ferry than a road.

Philippines

Cities

201 entries

Continent

Country (Contained By)

Population Band

Subregion

Capital Status

Founding Era

Elevation Band

Coastal or Inland

Climate Zone

Time Zone

Showing 1 to 50 of 201 in Cities, page 1 of 5.

FAQs

Why does the Philippines celebrate its independence on 12 June when it became independent in 1946?

Independence Day was moved from 4 July to 12 June, the date of Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration.

The Philippines became independent from the United States on 4 July 1946, and that date was first observed as Independence Day. President Diosdado Macapagal later moved Independence Day to 12 June, the date of Emilio Aguinaldo's declaration of independence in 1898.

Connections

Associated With

Bataan Peninsula

Cebu City

Source Cebu City (Wikipedia)

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation in the Philippine province of Bohol.

Source Chocolate Hills (Wikipedia)

Davao City

Davao City is a city in Philippines.

Source Davao City (Wikipedia)

Manila

Manila is Philippines's capital.

Source Manila (Wikipedia)

Metro Manila

Metro Manila is associated with Philippines.

Source Metro Manila (Wikipedia)

Quezon City

Quezon City is a city in Philippines.

Source Quezon City (Wikipedia)

Southeast Asia

The Philippines is the easternmost archipelagic state of the Southeast Asia region.

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Spain

This source names Spain directly: "Colonized by Spain from the sixteenth century and ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, it was granted independence by the United States on 4 July 1946 following the..."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Taguig

Source Taguig (Wikipedia)

Taiwan

The Philippines lies to the south.

Source Taiwan (Wikipedia)

United States

This source names United States directly: "Colonized by Spain from the sixteenth century and ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, it was granted independence by the United States on 4 July 1946 following the..."

Source Encyclopaedia Britannica

Zamboanga City

Source Zamboanga City (Wikipedia)

Zamboanga Peninsula

Bordered By Water

Has Capital

Manila

Manila is Philippines's capital.

Source Manila (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

An Archipelago Between Two Empires

Seven Thousand Islands, Three Regions

In the Other Atlases

Same As

Philippines

Also in Political Atlas: the same subject.

Governed By

Marcos Administration

Also in Political Atlas: which governs this subject.

Source Bongbong Marcos (Wikipedia)tier 2

Nationals Include

Dioscoro L. Umali

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Dioscoro L. Umali

Gurdev Khush

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Gurdev Khush

William Dar

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: William Dar

Leonardo S. Sarao

Also in Business Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Leonardo S. Sarao (Wikipedia)Career, award

Quote, Career, award

Leonardo Sarao was awarded The Outstanding Filipino Award (TOFIL) in 1991 for Entrepreneurship.

Oscar H. Ibarra

Also in Computing Atlas: a national of this subject.

Jenny Anne Barretto

Also in Earth and Environment Atlas: a national of this subject.

Lav Diaz

Also in Film and Media Atlas: a national of this subject.

Artemio Panganiban

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Cesar Bengzon

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Claudio Teehankee

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Hilario Davide Jr.

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Maria Lourdes Sereno

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Maria Lourdes Sereno - WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article

Maria Lourdes "Meilou" Aranal-Sereno (Tagalog: [sɛˈrɛnɔ]; born Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal; July 2, 1960) is a Filipina lawyer and judge who served as de facto chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 2012 until 2018.

Natividad Almeda-Lopez

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Renato Corona

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Ricardo C. Puno

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Tranquil Salvador III

Also in Law Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Tranquil Salvador III

Francisco Balagtas

Also in Literature Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Francisco Balagtas (Wikipedia)Lead section [in-genre]

Quote, Lead section [in-genre]

was a Filipino poet

José Rizal

Also in Literature Atlas: a national of this subject.

Fe del Mundo

Also in Medicine Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Fe del Mundo (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

(born Fé Primitiva del Mundo y Villanueva; November 27, 1911 – August 6, 2011) was a Filipino pediatrician.

Tony Agpaoa

Also in Medicine Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Tony Agpaoa (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph, first sentence

Quote, Lead paragraph, first sentence

was a Filipino practitioner of psychic surgery

Arcadio Maxílom

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Arcadio Maxílom (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

Arcadio Maxílom y Molero (November 13, 1862 – August 10, 1924) was a Filipino teacher, revolutionary leader, and general who played a pivotal role in the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the subsequent Philippine–American War.

Bongbong Marcos

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source CIA World Factbook (factbook.json archive): The World Factbook archive: PhilippinesGovernment, Executive branch, chief of state

Quote, Government, Executive branch, chief of state

President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)

Corazon Aquino

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Corazon Aquino (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

María Corazón "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino ( ə-KEE-noh, Tagalog: [kɔɾaˈsɔn kɔˈhwaŋkɔ ʔɐˈkino]; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992.

Grace Padaca

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Grace Padaca (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

Maria Gracia Cielo "Grace" Magno Padaca (born October 25, 1963) is a Filipino politician and former journalist who served as governor of Isabela from 2004 until 2010.

Jose Rizal

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source José Rizal (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (Spanish: [xoˈse riˈsal, -ˈθal], Tagalog: [hoˈse ɾiˈsal]; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.

Raissa Laurel-Subijano

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Raissa Laurel-Subijano (Wikipedia)Lead section

Quote, Lead section

is a Filipino lawyer

Ramon Bagatsing

Also in Political Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Ramon BagatsingLead

Quote, Lead

Ramon Delaraga Bagatsing Sr. (August 19, 1916 – February 14, 2006) was a Filipino politician.

Achelle Guion

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Achelle Guion (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino powerlifter

Adeline Dumapong

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Adeline Dumapong (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipina retired Paralympic powerlifter

Agustin Kitan

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Agustin Kitan (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

is a Filipino powerlifter

Ainie Knight

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Ainie Knight (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

is a Philippines international lawn and indoor bowler

AJ Manas

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source AJ Manas (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

is a professional pool player from the Philippines

Alex Enriquez

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Alex Enriquez (Wikipedia)Career, national team

Quote, Career, national team

She joined Philippine national ju-jitsu team in 2025.

Alex Pagulayan

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Alex Pagulayan (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino and Canadian professional pool player

Angelo Constantino

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Angelo Constantino (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

was a Filipino bowler who was a gold medalist

Angelo Morales

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Angelo Morales (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

is a Filipino international lawn bowler

Annie Ramirez

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Annie Ramirez (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

Annie Ramirez (born November 25, 1990) is a Filipino Ju jitsu practitioner.

Anton Raga

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Anton Raga (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino professional pool player from Cebu, Philippines

Antonio Gabica

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Antonio Gabica (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Philippine pool player

Antonio Lining

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Antonio Lining (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino pool player

Bong Coo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Bong Coo (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a retired Filipino national athlete and sports administrator

Carlo Biado

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Carlo Biado (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino professional pool player

Carlos Yulo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Carlos Yulo (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino artistic gymnast

Chezka Centeno

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Chezka Centeno (Wikipedia)Lead

Quote, Lead

is a Filipina professional pool player from Zamboanga City

Christopher Dagpin

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Christopher Dagpin (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

Christopher Ebaietor Dagpin is a Filipino international lawn bowler.

Clarice Patrimonio

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Clarice Patrimonio (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipina pickleball player and a former tennis player

Daniel Caluag

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Daniel Caluag (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

competed for the Philippines

Dennis Orcollo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Dennis Orcollo (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino professional pool player

Efren Reyes

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Efren Reyes (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

is a Filipino professional pool player

Elmer Abatayo

Also in Sport and Games Atlas: a national of this subject.

Source Elmer Abatayo (Wikipedia)Lead, nationality

Quote, Lead, nationality

Elmer Metoda Abatayo is a Filipino international lawn bowler.

Showing 1 to 50 of 100 in Nationals Include, page 1 of 2.

Origin Of

Carabao

Also in Agriculture and Farming Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Source Carabao (Wikipedia)Infobox: country

Quote, Infobox: country

Philippines

Bahay na Bato

Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Kwentong Jollibee

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

The Woman Who Left

Also in Film and Media Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Aligue fried rice