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In this section I will write about my view on all things Filipino.

• Personal
  • One of the first question many native Filipinos ask is "Where are you from?" I was born in Manila but my dad is from the town of Bacon and my mom is from the city of Sorsogon (both of which were merged as Sorsogon City in 2000 with a population of 134,678). Sorsogon City is the capital of the province of Sorsogon, which is in the region of Bikol, which is at the south end of Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines. Although I was born in the Philippines, I've been living in the U.S. since I was four.
  • Unfortunately I don't speak Tagalog or any other Filipino language. I know a few words but not much more. I can read Filipino text out loud and it sounds like proper Filipino but I don't know what I'm saying. I can do the same with Spanish too but I probably recognize more words in Spanish. Sorsogon uses the Bicol dialect but since it is next door to the Visayas, the Sorsogon version of the Bicol dialect is influenced by the Visayas dialect.
  • My English has the barest hint of a Filipino accent but the accent magnifies if I am talking with other Filipinos.
  • I am a naturalized US citizen. As far as I know, I do not have dual citizenship with the Philippines.
• Country Name:
  • conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
  • conventional short form: Philippines
  • local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
  • local short form: Pilipinas
  • country codes via ISO 3166-1: PH, PHL, and 608.
• Maps: [W] [W] [W] [W]
• Location:
  • Between latitude 4° - 21° north and longitude 116° - 127° east.
  • North: Taiwan, then Japan, the Koreas, and Russia.
  • East: Pacific Ocean.
  • Southeast: Papua New Guinea.
  • South: Indonesia.
  • Southwest: Malaysia.
  • West: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, and India.
  • Northwest: Macau, Hong Kong, China, and Mongolia
  • Northwest of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia
  • East of Vietnam.
• Area: 7,100 islands covering 300,000 square km.
  • 1,830 square km water
  • 298,170 square km land
• Time Zone:
  • Manila time = H = +08:00 GMT = +14:00 CST [+13:00 CST during DST].
  • Chicago time = S = -06:00 GMT = -14:00 Manila outside of Daylight Saving Time (DST, ~ November through ~March).
    • Chicago 01-09 00:00 = Greenwich 05-09 06:00 = Manila 05/09 14:00.
    • Chicago 01-08 18:00 = Greenwich 05-09 00:00 = Manila 05/09 08:00.
    • Chicago 01-08 10:00, Greenwich 05-08 16:00 = Manila 05/09 00:00.
  • Chicago time = ~R = -05:00 GMT = -13:00 Manila during Daylight Saving Time (DST) ~April through ~October.
    • Chicago 07-09 00:00 = Greenwich 05-09 06:00 = Manila 05/09 14:00.
    • Chicago 07-08 19:00 = Greenwich 05-09 00:00 = Manila 05/09 08:00.
    • Chicago 07-08 11:00, Greenwich 05-08 16:00 = Manila 05/09 00:00.
  • Greenwich time = Z = -08:00 Manila = +06:00 CST [+05:00 CST during DST].
  • For the time in Manila right now, go to http://times.clari.net.au/location2.php3/Asia/Manila or worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_PH.aspx.
• Airports:
  • Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (MNL).
  • Bacolod, Bacolod (BCD)
  • Butuan, Butuan (BXU)
  • Cagayan do Oro, Lumbia (CGY)
  • Cebu, Cebu (CEB)
  • Cotabato, Awang (CBO)
  • Davao, Davao International (DVO)
  • Dipolog, Dipolog (DPL)
  • Dumaquete, Dumaquete (DGT)
  • General Santos, Buayan (GES)
  • Iloilo, Mandurriao (ILO)
  • Kalibo, Kalibo (KLO)
  • Legaspi, Legaspi (LGP)
  • Naga, Naga (WNP)
  • Puerta Princesa, Puerta Princesa (PPS)
  • Roxas City, Roxas City (RXS)
  • Tacloban, D.Z. Romualdez (TAC)
  • Tagbilaran, Tagbilaran (TAG)
  • Tuguergarao, Tuguergarao (TUG)
  • Zamboanga, Zamboanga (ZAM)
• Climate:
  • March-May: Tropical with gentle winds.
  • June to October: Rainy season.
  • November to February: Cool and dry.
  • Current weather in Manila [§]
• National Animal: Carabao (Bubalus bubalis carabanesis. Aka kalabaw). A domesticated subspecies of the domesticated water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with rear pointing horns. These are work throughout the countryside and are also favored for their meat, milk, horns, and hide. I mistakenly startled one once.
• National Anthem:
  • .MID
  • .MP3
  • "Lupang Hinirang" Music: Julian Felipe, 1898

    Tagalog by government committee 1956	Spanish by José Palma, 1899	English	Bikol/Naga
    Bayang magiliw Perlas ng Silanganan, Alab ng puso, Sa dibdib mo'y buhay. Lupang Hinirang, Duyan ka ng magiting, Sa manlulupig, Di ka pasisiil. Sa dagat at bundok, Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw, May dilag ang tula At awit sa paglayang minamahal. Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y Tagumpay na nagniningning, Ang bituin at araw niya Kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim. Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta, Buhay ay langit sa piling mo; Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo. (repeat first two stanzas)	Tierra adorada, Hija del Sol de Oriente, Su fuego ardiente En ti latiendo está. Patria de Amores, Del heróismo cuna, Los invasores No te holláran jamás. En tus azul cielo, en tus auras, En tus montes y en tu mar Esplende y late el poema De tu amada libertad. Tu pabellón, que en las lides La Victoria iluminó, No verá nunca apagados Sus estrellas y su sol. Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores, En tu regazo dulce es vivir, Es una gloria para tus hijos, Cuando te ofenden, por ti morir. (repeat first two stanzas)	Land of the morning Child of the sun returning With fervor burning Thee do our souls adore. Land dear and holy Cradle of noble heroes Ne'er shall invaders Trample thy sacred shore. O'er within thy skies and through thy clouds And o'er thy hills and seas, Do we behold the radiance feel the throb of glorious liberty. Thy banner dear to all our hearts thy sun and stars alight. Never shall its shining rays Be dimmed by tyrants' might. O beautiful land of love, O land of life, In thine embrace 'Tis rapture to lie. But it is glory ever when thou art wronged for us, thy sons, to suffer and die. (repeat first two stanzas)	Dagang namo-motan Aki ka nin sirangan Tingraw niyang malaad Nasa si-mong daghan. Rona kang mawili Nagimatan bayani An mansalakay Dai ka babatayan. Sa si-mong langit, bukid Hayop kadagatan siring man Nagkukutab nagbabanaag An si-mong katalingkasan. Simong bandera na nagkikintab Sa hokbo naglayaw Dai nanggad mapapara An simong bitoon Aldaw. Dagang nawilihan, maogma, maliwanag, Sa limpoy mo hamis mabuhay Minamarhay mi kun ika pagbasangan An buhay mi si-mo idusay. (repeat first two stanzas)

  • Philippines [http://david.national-anthems.net/ph.htm]. Some info, a .midi, lyrics, and sheet music.
  • Background history [msc.edu.ph/centennial/anthem.html]
• National Bird: Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi ). An endangered species, especially considering that 90% primary forest has been lost to logging and development. A nesting pair produces once a year and they require 65-130 square Km = 25-50 square miles. A magnificent raptor, and one of the most powerful of eagles. A brown bird with a white underside. The head has crest feathers which can be raised to give it a mane-like appearance. 100 cm = 3'3" = 39" long, 220 cm = 7'3" = 87" wingspan, 6 Kg = 13.2 lbs. I've only seen these at the Manila zoo.
• National Capital: Manila on Luzon Island.
• National Coat of Arms:
• National Flag: The official ratio is 1:2. The triangle is equilateral. The official hues are royal blue, scarlet red, white, and yellow. Upside down (red on top) indicates the Philippines is at war.
  
• National Flower: The Sampaguita (Jasminum Sambac, aka Arabian Jasmine; kampupot). A wonderfully fragrant flower that blooms all-year round. The flowers are small, white, and star-shaped. The blossoms open at night and wilt within a day. The fragrance of the sampaguita is one of my strongest memories from my youth in the Philippines.
  
• National Fruit: Mangos.
• National Hero: Dr. José Rizal (1861-06-19/1896-12-30). A talented polyglot and polymath who was reformer who wanted an open society (instead of a revolution) but was executed by the Spanish anyway.
• National Motto:
  • "Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa"
  • "For Love of God, People, Nature and Country"
• National Sport: Sipa (aka footbag; hacky sack). Alas! I suck at this.
• National Tree: Narra (Pterocarpus indicus . Aka Angsana; Burmese Rosewood).
• Money:
  • 1 Peso = 1 PHP = 100 Centavos.
  • 1 Peso ~ 0.02 US Dollars. It has been around that rate for years. For a more exact exchange rate, see xe.com or convert right from the Google search bar. EG: As of 2005-08: 1.00 USD = 56.075 PHP. As of 2006-03: 1 USD in PHP is 51.2439468.
  • 1 USD ~ 50 PHP.
  • In your head calculations:
    • To get PHP, divide by half, then increase by 2 decimals.
    • To get USD, multiply by 2, the decrease by 2 decimals.
• Electricity: 220 Volt AC, 60Hz. (The US uses 110 Volt)
• Languages:
  • Two official languages: "Filipino" (based on Tagalog) and English
  • 8 major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bikol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.
  • Over 100 native dialects.
• Religion:
  • 83% Roman Catholic
  • 9% Protestant
  • 5% Muslim
  • 3% Buddhist, etc.
• Population [2002-07 est.]:
  • Total: 84,525,639 
  • 0-14 years: 36.6% (male 15,731,451; female 15,169,264)
  • 15-64 years: 59.7% (male 24,990,500; female 25,478,245)
  • 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 1,399,862; female 1,756,317)
• Telephone country code: 63. (The city code for Manila is 2)
• Important Manila phone numbers:
  • Tourist Hotline: 524-1728; 524-1660
  • Dept of Tourism Assist Line: 524-1703
  • Western District Police: 166; 523-8391
  • Manila Fire Dept: 527-3608-09; 527-3653/27
  • Manila Doctors' Hospital: 524-3011
  • Immigration: 527-3260
• U.S. Embassy
  • Here's the contact info that I copied right out of the card that the U.S. Embassy gave me when I was there in 2004.
  • Embassy of the United States of America
    American Citizen Services (ACS)
    1201 Roxas Blvd., 1000 Manila, Philippines
    Tel. Nos.: (02)528-6300 ext. 2246/2555
    Fax. No.:(02)522-3242
    Web site: http://philippines.usembassy.gov
    Cebu Consular Agency: Tel. No.: (32)231-1261
    Fax No.:(32)231-0174

Page Modified: (Hand noted: 2008-08-26 15:28:13Z) (Auto noted: 2010-12-24 22:58:57Z)