Geography of the Philippines

Comprises 7,107 islands at high tide, approximately 1,000 of which are inhabited.
Largest island: Luzon (North); second largest: Mindanao (South); many medium and small islands in the Visayas.
Highest point: Mt. Apo in Mindanao, measuring 2,954 meters; deepest point: Galathea Depth at -10,540 meters.
First settlers, Negritos, arrived around 30,000 years ago; Malays and Chinese migration occurred in the 9th century.
Spain's Ferdinand Magellan claimed the islands in 1521; Spanish influence lasted for 300 years, promoting Catholicism and culture.
The U.S. took control in 1898; the Philippines gained independence in 1946, being the first Southeast Asian country to do so post-World War II.
Currency: Philippine Peso; Time Zone: GMT +8.

Claims the title of the third largest English-speaking country globally, though English is not the first language for most citizens.
National languages include Filipino and English, alongside 90 to 180 regional dialects and languages.
Common languages spoken: Tagalog (22 million speakers), Cebuano (20 million), Ilocano (7.7 million), Hiligaynon (7 million), Bicolano (5 million), Waray (3 million), Pampango, and Pangasinan.

The only predominantly Christian nation in Asia; approximately 80% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic.
About 15% are Muslims, mainly residing in Mindanao.

Diverse ethnic groups present; original Negrito population is now around 30,000.
Majority belong to Malayo-Polynesian groups: Tagalog (28%), Cebuano (13%), Ilocano (9%), Hiligaynon (7.5%).
Filipinos are renowned for their hospitality and warmth.
Recognized as the "texting capital of the world," sending approximately 350-400 million SMS messages daily.

Key industries include agriculture (notable for rice, coconuts, and tropical fruits), electronics assembly, garment manufacturing, fishing, tourism, and mining.
Rich in natural resources, though exploitation is hindered by geographical and political challenges.
Home to over 10 million overseas Filipino workers contributing to the economy.

Colonization began with Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521, leading to over 377 years of Spanish rule; the archipelago was named after King Philip II of Spain.
The world’s largest Christmas lantern, 26.8 meters in diameter, was showcased in San Fernando, Pampanga, in 2002.
Pope John Paul II hosted a mass for about five million people in Manila in 1995, setting a world record for the largest papal crowd.
The Philippines was an early adopter of text messaging, generating around 1.39 billion SMS messages daily by 2009.
The Tagalog word 'bundok' (mountain) contributed to the English term 'boondocks.'
Taal Volcano is among the world's 17 Decade Volcanoes and features a unique geological structure with a lake and island within it.
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 released sulfur dioxide, causing global temperatures to drop by 0.5°C (0.9°F).
Roberto del Rosario patented the karaoke machine in 1975, making him the first producer to hold a patent for the device.