The PHILIPPINES is officially known as the “Republic of the Philippines.” It is one of the countries in the Southeast Asia of the western Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Taiwan in the North, in the West by Vietnam, Celebes Sea in the South and the Philippine Sea in the East. The country is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Its tropical climate makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. It is an archipelago comprising of 7,107 islands and is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The capital of Philippines is Manila.

It has an estimated population of about 92 million people and considered as the world’s 12th most populous country. Negritos were some of the archipelago’s earliest inhabitants in the prehistoric times. They were followed by Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu and Islamic cultures. The Chinese introduced the trading system in the country.