However, new expeditions followed from the 1530s. Members of the López de Viialobos expedition in 1543 named the Felipinas archipelago after the Spanish prince and later King Philip II.
1565 year- the colonization of the Philippines was continued by the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
At the beginning of 1565, the Spaniards ravaged Mariana islands, sailed the islands of Barbudas and Ladrones and saw the Philippines on February 13. We safely landed on Cebu Island and made contact with its inhabitants.
Unlike Magelan, who was attacked and killed by the natives,
Lopez de Legazpi on March 16, 1565 managed to conclude a ritual agreement - sandugo, with the local leader Sikanuta, the leader of the Philippine island of Bohol.
Sandugo is a ritual blood contract. The participants in the ritual drank wine to which the blood of Legazpi and Sikatuna contracting parties was added. Sandugo is seen as the conclusion of a blood brotherhood between the Spaniards and the Filipinos.
Legazpi founded the first Spanish settlement on the island of Cebu
It is believed that the city was founded in 1565 on the very spot where Magellan had landed 44 years earlier. Remarkably, Legazpi discovered on the island an icon of the Holy Infant Jesus, left by Magellan, and which was revered locals... Later, this icon was kept as a valuable relic in the Cebu monastery.
For the six years preceding the founding of Manila, Cebu remained the main European settlement in the Philippines. Built in 1567, the fortress of St. Peter (Fort San Pedro) remained a bastion of Spanish rule in the southern Philippines until the end of the 19th century. Also, it is from the island of Cebu that the history of Christianity in the Philippines begins. Magellan erected a wooden cross in Cebu. The remains of the original cross are embedded in another, black tindalo wood cross. The cross is now kept in the Basilica of Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). In 1595, the University of San Carlos was founded.
Using this foothold, Lopez de Legazpi sent ships to explore the northern part of the Philippines.
Despite clashes with Chinese pirates, he began to baptize the natives in the north of Luzon and on June 24, 1571, founded a new capital there - Manila, as a Metropolis for the colony. A city on the island of Luzon is named after Lopez de Legazpi.
Administratively, the Philippines was declared part of the Spanish colony New Spain and were ruled by a governor subordinate to the Mexican viceroy. The population quickly converted to the Catholic faith and by the 1620s, most of it was Christianized. Large territories and parishes came under the control of religious orders (Augustinians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits). In 1578 a Catholic bishop was established in Manila, and in 1595 an archbishop. The establishment of Christianity marked the beginning of the creation of an education system in a European way. Since 1593, books (mainly of religious content) began to be printed in the Philippines. Already in the first years of colonial rule, new educational institutions were organized, and in 1611 the first University of St. Thomas was opened, but Filipinos were not allowed there until the end of the century. However, the country's culture has undergone significant Spanishization. The Spanish language and Catholicism became widespread, with the exception of the southern rebellious islands inhabited by Muslims. Established a sea link Acapulco - Manila.
The Spaniards introduced in the Philippines the system of "encomienda" that operated in their American colonies - estates transferred to individuals, orders or directly to the crown. Encomendro collected a household tax (tributo) from the population in his favor. The land tenure system finally took shape in the first half of the 17th century. The hacienda became the main type of landlord tenure, and share rent became the main form of labor exploitation. Economically, the Philippines was a loss-making colony and received substantial subsidies from Mexico.
By the end of the 16th century. Manila became the presenter shopping center East Asia, for trade with China, India and the East Indies. Galleons with cargo from the Philippines, including gold, constantly cruised between the Philippines and the islands of New Spain. They were often attacked by British pirates. Between 1600 and 1663 there were constant skirmishes with the Dutch and the Moreau pirates.
The arbitrariness and violence of the colorizers caused powerful, but unsuccessful uprisings (in 1574 and 1587-1588 near Manila, in 1622 on the Bohol and Leyte Islands, in 1639 in the Cagayan Valley, in 1649-1650 on the Leyte and Mindanao Islands, in 1660 –1661 in Central Luzon).
Spain had to wage a stubborn struggle with other states to maintain its dominance over the Philippines. At the end of the 16th century. Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi claimed the islands, and the Spaniards were forced to pay tribute to him. In 1600-1601, 1609-1611, 1616-1617, 1644-1645, Dutch warships blocked the shores of the archipelago, but were never able to capture it. There were constant skirmishes with the Moro pirates.
The Moro themselves associate their origin with the legendary Sayyid Muhammad Kabungsavan from Hadhramaut, who arrived in the Philippines from Johor. Obviously, the Moro peoples were formed on the basis of local population with the participation of immigrants from Malaysia. Some of them moved from the island of Kalimantan. In the 15th century, Malay merchants brought Islam to the Sulu Islands. At first it was accepted by the feudal elite, then it spread among the common population. In the 15th century, early sultanates... The first sultanate was Jolo, with the capital Jolo. These were warlike peoples. From the Samal people, for example, a lot of pirates came out. Muslim sultanates in the southern part of the archipelago constantly attacked Spanish forces and garrisons ("Moro wars"), and only in the 18th century. a balance of power has been established in the area
From the beginning of the 17th century. residents were obliged to perform labor service (polo) and to forcibly deliver goods to the authorities. Famine, which struck entire villages and provinces, and the cruelty of the labor service led to an increase in mortality. During 1621-1655 the population of the colony decreased from 611 thousand to 505 thousand people. The decrease in the number of workers was one of the reasons for the abolition of the labor service in the 1660s. By the end of the 17th century. the encomiend system was replaced by the collection of a poll tax in favor of the crown.
Military threats contributed to the strengthening of the centralization of control and contributed to the finalization of the administrative structure of the Philippines. The functions and powers of the Governor-General were expanded. The country was divided into provinces headed by alcalds - military captains. The provinces were divided into districts, and those into rural volosts (barangai). The administration of the counties and barangays was entrusted to the Filipinos.
1762year- British occupation... The British East India Company, dispatching 13 ships and 6,830 soldiers, took possession of Manila, breaking the resistance of a small Spanish garrison of 600 people. The company entered into an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu. However, the British failed to extend their power even to the territory of Luzon. After the end of the war, they left Manila in 1764, and in 1765 completed the evacuation from the Philippine Islands. The islands were returned to Spain. British occupation gave impetus to new anti-Spanish uprisings
Muslims and the local Chinese diaspora were opposed to the Spaniards. The enemies of Spain have stepped up the national liberation movement.
Uprising began: in Central Luzon (led by H. Palaris) and in northwestern Luzon (led by D. Silang). They were hardly suppressed. On the island of Bohol from 1744, the uprising under the leadership of F. Dagohoy continued, with which the Spaniards could not cope for 85 years. One of the forms of protest was the emergence of numerous sectarian movements of the messianic type.
1778-1787- Governor-General José Basco y Vargas has embarked on important reforms. The first steps were taken to develop the production of export crops - sugar cane, indigo, spices, cotton, cocoa, coffee, to create a textile and tobacco industry, to develop mineral resources.
1781- The Philippines was set aside as a separate colony. The following year, the authorities imposed a government monopoly on the tobacco trade.
1785- Established the Royal Philippine Company, which was allowed direct trade between the islands and the metropolis. In 1789, the Port of Manila was opened to free trade and, although this decision was canceled in 1792, the Spanish authorities were no longer able to stop the trade expansion of European countries and the United States to the Philippines.
During the Spanish Revolution (1808-1814), liberal-minded officials appeared in the Philippines, and a certain softening of the government regime took place. In the educated strata, the idea of equalizing the Filipinos in rights with the Spaniards began to spread. In 1810. the islands were represented in the Spanish Cortes by two Spanish officials and a Creole merchant.
In 1834-1837. the representative of the indigenous Filipino population (lawyer J.F. Lekaros) sat in the Spanish parliament. But already the constitution of 1837 declared the Philippines a crown colony, and their representation in the Cortes was abolished. In the 1850s, the Spaniards began to conquer the Muslim South: by the 1870s, they had succeeded in conquering Sula; the capture of Mindanao was never completed until the end of Spanish rule.
In the XIX century. the Philippines' economy has undergone important shifts.
1815 - Halion flights stopped. In 1830. - abolished the monopolies of the Royal Company, and in 1882 - the tobacco monopoly.
Private Spanish traders were allowed to the islands, more and more merchants from Great Britain, France and the USA became, who soon pushed Spanish competitors and achieved the actual and then official opening for foreign trade of Manila (1834) and other ports (1855-1860). This stimulated the production of export crops, the manufacture of handicrafts for export (textiles and embroidery), the development of urban manufactories (cigar, etc.). Chinese and Filipino entrepreneurship began to grow
In the XIX century. formed the Philippine intelligentsia. Its development was also given impetus by the education reform of 1863, which expanded the access of the indigenous population to educational institutions. In 1869, the "Reform Junta" was formed in Manila.
Gained great popularity. a movement to equalize the rights of Filipino and Spanish priests, led by priests Jose Maria Burgos, Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez. Priest Apolinario de la Cruz, after the banning of the order he created, led a powerful peasant uprising in 1842-1843. The uprising of the arsenal workers in Cavite in Central Luzon, supported by soldiers and surrounding peasants, generated a great response. Members of the movement not only protested against the spread of the poll tax arsenal to workers, but also opposed Spanish rule. The movement was suppressed. The authorities executed not only the participants, but also the priests of Burgos, Zamora and Gomez, who turned into national heroes.
Proponents of reforms (equalization of rights with the mother country, the introduction of democratic freedoms, etc.) created their societies in Spain (Hispano-Filipino circle 1882-1883) and in the Philippines themselves (Junta of Propagandists, 1888). The first nationalist organizations emerged in the form of Masonic lodges (Solidarity in Spain from 1889, Nilad and other lodges in the Philippines after 1891.
Organizations that set as their goal the liberation of the Philippines from Spain. In 1892
The official name is the Republic of the Philippines (Republika сg Pilipinas, Republic of the Philippines). Located on 7107 islands of the Philippine archipelago southeast of the Eurasian continent. The area is 300.8 thousand km2, the population is 84.5 million people. Official language- filipino; official languages- Filipino and English. The capital is Greater Manila, since 1975 it consists of Manila proper and 16 satellite cities with a population of 9.2 million people. (2002). State holiday - Independence Day on June 12 (since 1970). The monetary unit is the peso (equal to 100 centavos). The Philippines claims ownership of 8 islands in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.
Member of the UN (since 1945) and its committees and organizations, as well as the IMF, IBRD, APEC, ASEAN (1967), etc.
Philippines landmarks
Geography of the Philippines
Located between 21 ° 25 'and 4 ° 23' north latitude and 116 ° 40 'and 127 ° east longitude. They are washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. In 100 km from the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean there is the Philippine Trench with a depth of 10 789 m. The coastline is approx. 18 thousand km is indented, there are few good harbors. The largest islands are Luzon (105 thousand km2) and Mindanao (95 thousand km2). All maritime borders: with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the island of Taiwan. More than 3/4 of the territory of the Philippines is mountains and hills. The largest mountain system- Central Cordillera (highest point 2934 m) on the island of Luzon. Highest point Philippines - Apo volcano (2954 m) on the island of Mindanao. Lowland - narrow strips along the coast or along the course of rivers. The largest plains are the Central, or Manila, on the island of Luzon and Cotabato on the island of Mindanao. There are few lakes, the largest are Laguna de Bai, Taal and Lanao. St. 400 rivers, mostly small, they are rapids and stormy; the largest - Cotabato (550 km) and Kagayan (350 km) are navigable in the lower reaches. 5 inter-island seas - Sibuyan, Samar, Visayan, Kamote and Mindanao (the last is the deepest - 1975 m). Laterite soils prevail. Among 10 thousand plant species, more than 9 thousand are higher, 40% of the species are endemic, 5.5 million hectares are covered with forest. The fauna is peculiar: a large percentage of endemics, large mammals are absent, more than 450 bird species. The seas are rich in fish - more than 2 thousand species; some shells produce mother-of-pearl and pearls. Large deposits of copper ore (probable reserves in metal are 9.2 million tons), chromite (10-15 million tons), gold-bearing ore (14 million tons), iron (590 million tons), nickel (3 million tons in metal). Fuel and energy resources do not meet the country's needs, oil is imported. The climate is tropical monsoon type. The annual rainfall is from 1000 to 4500 mm, the annual air temperature is approx. + 27 ° С with an oscillation amplitude of 2-4 ° С. The archipelago is prone to typhoons.
Population of the Philippines
Since the 1970s. the population doubled and the annual growth rate fell from 2.9% to 1.1%. Child mortality 31 people. per 1000 newborns (2001). 59% of the total population lives in cities. There are slightly more men than women. Average life expectancy is 69 years. The population is young. Almost 95% of the population over 15 years old is literate. More than ½ Filipinos speak English.
The population is multi-ethnic - up to 100 ethnic groups; large - Bisayans (1/3 of the population), Tagals (1/4 of the population; play a leading role in the life of the country), Ilokans, Bikols. The indigenous population is homogeneous anthropologically, belongs to the South Asian variety of the Mongoloid race, speaks almost 100 related languages (the Philippine group of the western branch of the Austronesian language family). Of the small nationalities, the Aeta, or Negritos, stand out - the descendants of the Negro-Australoid aborigines of the equatorial race. The non-indigenous population is dominated by the Chinese. According to the Constitution, the church is separated from the state, and the freedom of religion is confirmed. The overwhelming majority of the population is Christians, including St. 80% are Catholics (they were converted to Catholicism by the Spaniards in the 17th century), more than 5% are Protestants, 5-6% are Muslims, approx. 2% - animists, etc.
History of the Philippines
From antiquity to the beginning of European expansion (last quarter of the 16th century), the Philippines is a peripheral part of the cultural and historical Malay-Indonesian area. Since the 1580s. to the end. 1890s The Philippines is a colony of Spain, freed from colonial dependence as a result of the national revolution of 1896-98. With the victory of the rebels in 1898, the First Independent Republic was formed and the democratic Constitution of 1898 was adopted. In the same year, under the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty, which ended the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Philippines as a colony ceded to the United States. From 1901 and almost the entire 1st half. 20th century The Philippines is a colony of the United States, which proclaimed a liberal course for preparing Filipinos for self-government (in particular, they introduced a system of elections and parties since 1907). Since 1934, the United States has introduced a regime of autonomy in the Philippines - a 10-year "transition period" before full sovereignty. In 1935, the Constitution was adopted, and the Filipino President M. Quezon (1935–44) was elected. In 1941-45, the Philippines survived the Japanese occupation. After the expulsion of the occupiers (spring 1945) - the beginning of decolonization. In April 1946 - the election of the first president of the independent Philippines - M. Rojas (1946-48), a protege of the United States, an extremely conservative politician. The American model of decolonization, which in many ways infringed upon the sovereignty of the Philippines, did not suit most Filipinos. Social tension resulted in the bloody peasant war of 1948-53, led by the communists. The decisive role in the defeat of the uprising was played by R. Magsajsay, since 1950 - the Minister of Defense, then the President of the Philippines (1954-57). All R. 1950s - mid. 60s in the Philippines, a kind of façade "oligarchic" democracy was established (real power was in the hands of several landowning clans that manipulated democratic laws and institutions). Since 1965, the President of the Philippines, F. Marcos, was re-elected in 1969. In September 1972, he declared a state of emergency in the Philippines, establishing a regime of personal power. His plans for an accelerated modernization were not implemented due to the growth of corruption, Crownism, and the crisis in the economy (the turn of the 1970s-1980s). In February 1986, the dictatorship was destroyed as a result of mass bloodless actions in Manila by opponents of authoritarianism (the "people's power" revolution). For the first time in the history of the Philippines, a woman became president - K. Aquino (1986-92). A democratic constitution was adopted in 1987. Otherwise, the economic crisis continued to deepen and destabilization continued. The 1992 elections were won by F. Ramos (1992-98), the only post-authoritarian leader who managed to stabilize the situation. In contrast to the reformer Ramos, the populist, former film actor J. Estrada, who was convicted of corruption and removed from power in 2000, won the elections in 1998 (the “power of the people-2” revolution). Since January 2001, the President of the Philippines is again a woman politician G. Macapagal-Arroyo. Her government received a heavy legacy from J. Estrada, and so far attempts to improve the economy and resume the course of modernization are ineffective.
Government and political system of the Philippines
The Philippines is a democratic unitary state, a republic with a presidential form of government. The Constitution adopted in 1987 is in force. Administratively, the Philippines is divided into provinces (73), united in 17 administrative and economic regions, municipalities, barangai (rural districts). Large provinces: Pampanga, Risal, Quezon, Ilocos (North and South), Cebu, Iloilo, Magindanao, etc. Major cities: Greater Manila, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, etc.
The principles of public administration are based on the election of government bodies and the division of its branches - legislative, executive, judicial. The highest legislative body is the bicameral congress. The upper house is the Senate (24 senators aged at least 35), elected for 6 years with midterm elections every 3 years and the right to be re-elected for a second term. The head of the upper house is the president of the senate, who is elected by the senators. The House of Representatives (head - speaker) is elected for 3 years, consisting of no more than 250 deputies (from the age of 25) with the right to be re-elected for 3 terms. The President of the Philippines has the supreme executive power (age for election is at least 40 years old, residence in the Philippines for at least 10 years before the elections). The president (and with him the vice president) is elected for 6 years without the right to be re-elected for a second term. At the same time, he is the head of state, government (forms a cabinet responsible to him), supreme commander in chief. The president cannot dissolve parliament, but has veto power when bills are passed through Congress. In extreme situations, the president has the right to declare a state of emergency for a period limited by Congress.
The Philippines has universal suffrage for all citizens over the age of 18. The electoral system of the Philippines is of a mixed type, including elements of the majoritarian system (elections of the president - vice president, as well as senators by direct secret ballot of the general Filipino electorate) and a modified proportional system. Elements of the latter are present in elections to the lower house (the principle of proportional representation in voting by constituencies and party lists). The persistence of stereotypes of traditional political culture in the political system of the Philippines (clannishness in politics, the system of paternalistic vertical ties, etc.) negatively affects the electoral system. The Philippines is among the developing countries with stable high level violations of the electoral law - the practice of trading votes, falsifying ballots, pressure from above on the electorate, outbreaks of open violence, etc.
Prominent presidents: President of the Autonomous Philippines - M. Quezon (1935-44), known for a unique phenomenon of mass popularity, combined with a tough style of government, pro-Americanism and anti-communism; F. Marcos (1965-86), who failed the modernization program, but deserves attention by the reorientation of the unilateral pro-American foreign policy of the Philippines to expand cooperation and partnership with Asian states; F. Ramos (1992-98), a pragmatist and intellectual who achieved success in economic modernization and stabilization of society without breaking democratic structures and legal order.
Local governments - provincial governors, city mayors, provincial legislative assemblies, municipal councils - are formed on the basis of the same electoral system as the supreme government. At the local level, the principles of decentralized management have been introduced, the authorities have been given broad powers in the field of budgetary, tax policy, etc. Their activities are controlled by Congress (a source of corruption among both Congressmen and local leaders).
The Philippines is characterized by an unformed multi-party system that includes fragile conglomerates of traditional parties (associations around leaders, not programs). Two formerly leading parties - the Nationalists (founded in 1907) and the Liberal (founded in 1946) - failed to consolidate after the dispersal during the years of authoritarianism; at present, these are weak formations and factions in the composition of both pro-government and opposition coalitions and blocs. The pro-presidential coalition "Lakas" ("Power of the People") unites several parties and blocs, incl. such as the "National Union of Christian Democrats", "Struggle for Philippine Democracy", "Provincial Development Party" and others. Opponents of "Lakas" - "Party of the masses" of the ex-president of Estrada, "People's Party of Reforms" and others. Left flank of the opposition - the legal "Party of Workers" (founded in 2001) with a program of peaceful forms of struggle for the interests of the working people. Left radical illegal, operating from the end. 1960s Communist Party of the Philippines (left), leads the armed guerrilla of the New People's Army and is a member of the National Democratic Front.
Leading business organizations: Philippines Chambers of Industry and Commerce; Federation of Philippine-China Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Active elements of civil society are non-governmental organizations (NGOs), their development is encouraged by the state, in particular, in the form of financial support. Areas of NGO activity - protection environment, work to improve the lives of peasants, etc. They participate in politics: in elections and as organizers of mass peaceful demonstrations with a pro- and anti-government orientation. Anti-globalization organizations are at the stage of formation, they adhere to the tactics of non-violent actions. Major NGOs in the Philippines: Village Reform Movement, Green Forum, etc.
The main tasks in the field domestic policy Philippines - implementation of economic modernization as the basis for stabilizing society; consolidation of the political elite around the presidential reform program, suppression of the opposition, especially its extremist currents. None of these tasks are performed. Criticism of President Arroyo for his indecision in the fight against corruption, Crownism, inability to solve the problem of poverty and eliminate the hotbed of violence in the Muslim South comes not only from her opponents, but also from his inner circle (representatives of the middle class, the leadership of the Catholic Church, the military elite). The internal political state of the Philippines remains uncertain and unstable.
The formation of the foreign policy of the Philippines and the adoption of foreign policy decisions are concentrated in the hands of the president (maximum powers), the Philippine Foreign Ministry, its head (often at the same time the vice president), the Security Council, and the National Intelligence Coordination Agency. The 1987 Constitution strengthened the role of the Congress in shaping the foreign policy course (international agreements enter into force only after their ratification by 2/3 of the members of the Senate). Since the presidency of Marcos, the foreign policy of the Philippines has been based on subjectivity in international relations, the priority of ensuring national interests, independence and multilateralism of diplomacy. With the multipolar system of foreign policy relations of the Philippines, special attention is paid to active equal participation in regional affairs and new integration processes in the SEVA region. At the same time, the political elite of the Philippines never faced the question of giving up the priority of relations with the United States (weakened in the early 1990s after the withdrawal of American military bases from the Philippines) as a guarantor of regional and national security. Under the Arroyo government, the US military presence in the archipelago has been restored, so far in a format that does not violate the Philippine Constitution. As the US included the Philippines in an international terrorism zone, Arroyo brought in US military advisers and counterterrorism experts to assist local troops in operations against Muslim separatists. Strengthening pro-Americanism during foreign policy The Philippines worries their ASEAN partners (especially Muslim countries) and causes an increase in anti-Americanism among Filipinos, who fear the possibility of direct American participation in military operations (in violation of the Constitution). Meanwhile, the Muslim South is still far from reconciliation. One of the reasons is the low professionalism and outdated technical equipment of the Philippine army, the weakest in the ASEAN countries. The army in the Philippines is regular, formed partly on the basis of universal conscription (from the age of 20), partly from persons who are hired for 3 years under contracts. Consists of the Ground Forces, the Air Force and the Navy. The total number is less than 200 thousand people. The Constitution establishes the priority of civilian power over the Armed Forces, the military cannot engage in business and politics (except for participation in elections). But among part of the officer corps, dissatisfaction with the ineffectiveness of state policy is brewing, so attempts at military conspiracies and rebellions are not excluded (such precedents have already happened during the presidency of K. Aquino).
The Philippines has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1976).
Philippines Economy
The Philippines is one of the five most advanced economies in Southeast Asia, known as the Second Wave Asian Tigers. The economic policy of all governments of the period of independence reflected the nature of the political regime, for example, authoritarian under F. Marcos, "new democracy" under K. Aquino, F. Ramos, G. Arroyo. The Philippines later than other countries of the "five" (it includes, except for the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) began to modernize the economy. The country suffered several serious economic and socio-political crises, which greatly weakened the economy and held back its modernization. Since 2000, the negative impact on the Philippines of the recession in the world economy, especially in the United States, and the aggravation of the socio-political situation in the country itself, incl. separatist armed uprisings in Muslim areas in the South. The restructuring of the economy is hindered by the corrupt bureaucracy and the management of the so-called. kroni, or "buddies". Important economic reforms remain largely on paper.
Since the 1970s. The Philippines began to lag behind the rest of the more economically developed countries of Southeast Asia in terms of economic growth. In 2003, the rate of economic growth increased to 4.5%, and the volume of GDP - up to 80 billion US dollars.
The share of personal consumption in GDP consumption is the highest: in 2001 it amounted to 2,561.2 billion pesos, 5.8 times higher than government spending and 4.1 times higher than gross savings. The gross national income per capita in 2001 was US $ 1,050, and more than 1/4 of the population was below the poverty line. Most of this group is in rural areas. Sharp inequality in income distribution remains an acute problem. Inflation rate 4.5% (2003).
3/4 labor resources, or 32.5 million people, was the labor force, incl. 29.4 million were employed and 3.1 million were unemployed. With an increase in the technological level of production, the quality of labor indicators changes - the number of qualified specialists is growing. Labor legislation is in effect from the end. 1980s and only applies to a smaller part work force- members of trade unions. It defines the questions wages, including minimums and allowances, working hours, etc. Pensions and other benefits are provided by two insurance organizations, unemployment assistance is provided exclusively by charitable organizations.
The sectoral structure of GDP (1981 and 2001,%): industry 39.2 and 31.2, agriculture 24.9 and 15.2, services 35.9 and 53.6.
In industry, the greatest changes in the technical level took place in the largest group of industries - manufacturing. But its share (like that of the entire industrial sector) fell to 22.4% of GDP in 2001; the share of construction increased to 5.4%, utilities to 3%, and mining fell to 0.2%. The structure of the manufacturing industry is changing most noticeably due to an increase in the production of high-tech products for export.
In agriculture, the most backward sector of GDP, 2/3 of the cost falls on agriculture, 1/3 - on the rest of the sectors - livestock, poultry, fishing and forestry. Rice and corn, vegetables and fruits are mainly grown for the local market, but there is not enough food.
The largest branch of the service sector is trade, which accounted for 14.6% of GDP in 2001, followed by personal and government services- 11.7 and 9.9%, respectively, for other services (real estate transactions, transport, communications, warehousing and financial transactions) - 17.4%. Trade, both in value and in terms of the number of employees, prevails among other services. Wholesale prices are growing more slowly than consumer prices - in 2001 they increased to 134.7 points against 1995 = 100, and consumer prices - up to 149.6 points.
In the Philippines, an island and mountainous country, an important place is occupied by the transportation of passengers and goods by road and shipping. There are few railways. Air traffic is poorly developed. The communication system - telephone, telegraph and telex - does not meet the needs of the population for its services. In terms of the development of foreign tourism - the income received from it and the number of tourists - the Philippines lags far behind the most economically advanced countries of Southeast Asia. In 2002, the number of tourists from the USA, Japan, China, EU, Australia and other countries was approx. 3 million people
The central bank, established in 1949, administers and controls the credit and financial system. It manages gold and foreign exchange reserves, maintains the peso exchange rate, carries out foreign exchange transactions, controls the operations of commercial banks and performs other functions. The credit and financial system is dominated by commercial banks. The volume of resources of development banks, savings and agricultural, insurance is much less. Usury persisted in rural areas. Domestic and foreign loans and credits are one of the main forms of financing the economic development of the Philippines. The national capital market is underdeveloped. The role of stock exchanges (Manila, Makati, Metropolitan) in the mobilization of capital remains insignificant. The government makes extensive use of state credit to cover the state budget deficit. External loans lead to an increase in external debt, which in 2001 amounted to 73.3%, or 2/3 of GDP with foreign exchange reserves of USD 13.44 billion and gold reserves of USD 2.2 billion, or 4 times higher their. Net foreign exchange reserves as of May 2003 were $ 12.5 billion.
The current monetary system was introduced with the creation of a central bank, which has the right to control money circulation and the monopoly right to issue money against the security of foreign exchange reserves, commercial bills of exchange, government securities, etc. Deposit money prevails in the structure of money circulation. By the beginning. 2002 of 2,139.0 billion pesos in circulation, they accounted for 1,746.8 billion pesos, cash - 392.25 billion.
In public finance, a special place is occupied by the state budget, the basis of which is the central budget. Local budgets are financed from it. The bulk of the revenue comes from tax revenue. Expenditures go mainly to finance social and economic development. The state budget for the most part is reduced to a deficit, especially from the end. 1990s Revenues in 2001 amounted to 561.9 billion pesos, expenses - 706.4 billion, i.e. the deficit accounted for nearly 150 billion pesos. In 2002, it increased to over 200 billion pesos, or 3.3% of GDP. In 2003, it was expected to grow to 4.7% of GDP. The use of loans from international financial institutions and individual states to cover the deficit, in addition to loans from central and commercial banks, leads to an increase in external debt.
Foreign economic relations of the Philippines are focused on the United States, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), the EU countries, Australia and, to a lesser extent, on the countries of Southeast Asia. Foreign direct investment comes mainly from US and Japanese multinationals. After the 1997-98 crisis, they dropped significantly. Aid (loans and credits) is provided by international financial institutions - the IMF, the World Bank Group, the ADB, as well as individual governments and private institutions.
Foreign trade growth rates outstrip GDP growth rates. In foreign trade relations (goods and services) of the Philippines, trade with the USA, Japan, China, EU countries, Australia prevails, and from Southeast Asian countries - with Singapore. The export of goods and services (in 2002 it was equal to USD 35.2 billion, or almost half of the country's GDP) was dominated by the export of goods. From ser. 1980s the first place in merchandise exports is occupied by electronics components: in 2001 they accounted for 16.8 billion of US $ 31.2 billion. Among the traditional exports, the largest items are: coconut products, abacus fiber, raw sugar, copper concentrates ... Merchandise imports in 2002 were $ 35.5 billion; half of its cost accounted for capital equipment and 1/10 for fuel and energy raw materials, mainly oil. The rest of the import was dominated by food (grain).
As a result of the 1997-98 monetary and financial crisis, the national currency was seriously devalued. The peso exchange rate against the US dollar has significantly exceeded the pre-crisis level. $ 1 equals 53.5 pesos (June 2003).
Science and culture of the Philippines
In the area of science, the National Research Council of the Philippines and the National Science Administration are the most important coordinating centers. From ser. 1970s the Philippine Center for Basic Research at the University of the Philippines operates, coordinating the scientific activities of various universities and other scientific institutions. The center participates in the development of state programs for the development of science. The main sources of funding for science are the state budget and assistance from the governments of individual countries and international organizations. Practical research is carried out mainly in large corporations. Leading Universities - State University Philippines, private - St. Thomas University, Manila Ateneo, Silliman University. Science lacks funds to finance it.
Education is directed by the Ministry of Education and Culture. State institutions of higher education are governed by Councils of Regents. Primary education is public, compulsory and free. high school 95% private, higher - 80%. Lack of government funding for the education system hinders its development. Nearly 84% of government spending on education goes to primary school, approx. 15% - in the middle and 1% - in the higher. In 2002, there were about 15 million children aged 7-12 in primary school, 6 million in secondary school, and St. 2.5 million
For a long period (almost 400 years), the Philippines was the object of Westernization, which had a deep influence on the development of spiritual culture, in which alien cultural values introduced from the West were partially rejected, partially absorbed by the Filipinos in accordance with their worldview and aesthetic experience. The modern spiritual culture of the Philippines is marked by the growth of "cultural nationalism", the search for identity and cultural self-identification of the Filipinos. The Philippine Constitution defines national culture as “unity in diversity”. The state encourages creative freedom, supports cultural figures and creative associations through a system of grants, scholarships, etc. outside the country. His literary works and journalism had a decisive influence on the development of the national identity of the Filipinos, although he wrote mainly in Spanish. Modern Filipino literature is rich in names, genres, trends. In terms of the large scale and depth of the subject matter, the highly artistic style, the English-language and Tagalog-language literature stands out (literature in regional languages is also developing). Many works of writers and poets writing in English and Tagalog are published in the USA and Europe, including Russia. Major names in English-language prose are N.V. Gonzalez, Nick Joaquin, poets H. Lansang Jr., R. Tinio, F. Cruz and many others. The largest figure in Tagalog-language literature is the poet and short story writer A.V. Hernandez (1903-70), on whose works generations of modern writers were brought up. The Spaniards also noted the unusual talent of the Filipinos in the visual arts, their special sense of color (colors of the tropics). Visual arts of the Philippines 20th century up to the present day, it absorbs a variety of influences: from academism, realism, impressionism, abstractionism, all sorts of modern avant-garde movements to a kind of Filipino primitivism. The most famous names in the visual arts of the Philippines: artists K. Francisco, V. Manansala, A. Luz, Anita Magsaysai-Ho, sculptors N. Abueva, S. Saprid, etc. The history of the country is reflected in the architecture of Philippine cities: each era has left its symbols (Spanish Baroque of the 16-17th centuries, neoclassicism of the early 20th century, constructivism of the 1930s, modern multi-storey buildings of business districts, for example, Makati in Greater Manila). The most famous Filipino architects of the 1970s and 90s. - L. Loksin, S. Konsio.
"The Philippines lived 300 years in a monastery and 50 years in Hollywood ..."
400 thousand years BC NS.
On Philippines inhabited by protomen - upright man (lat. Homo erectus)
40 thousand years BC NS.
The estimated time of the appearance of the first modern people (lat. Homo sapiens) on Philippines... Probably the first inhabitants Philippines were Australoids (Negritos). The descendants of the first settlers were the present-day black mountain tribes (aeta, etc.).
3rd millennium BC NS.
Material evidence of the stay of people on Philippine Islands- Petroglyphs of Angono.
2nd millennium BC NS.
Check in Philippines Austronesian-speaking tribes who came by sea from the coast Of China- the ancestors of today's Filipinos.
1st millennium BC NS. - 1571
On Luzon there is a so-called. Kingdom of luson with the capital in Tondo.
Around the 1st century. BC NS.
Ancient authors describe the legendary golden island Chrysa (Chryza or Chris). Some authors have a location Chryses called Philippine archipelago... Perhaps at this time, Greek merchants reached Philippines.
Around 900
Created the first known written document in the Filipino language - the so-called. "Copper tablet from the Lagoon" containing Sanskrit, Old Javanese and Old Tagalog words.
1205 - 1800
On Mindanao there is an Islamic state - the Sultanate of Maghindanao
Diplomatic relations Kingdom of Luzon with the Chinese Ming dynasty.
V Holo the oldest mosque was built on the territory Philippines- Sheikh Karim Mahdum Mosque.
Around 1500
Attack on Luzon sultanate Brunei
Discovery by Western Mariners Philippines... Fernand Magellan's expedition lands on the island Homonkhon
Fernand Magellan killed by the Maktan leader Lapu-Lapu
Miguel Legazpi's expedition to Philippines
1565 - 1821
Philippines are part of the Viceroyalty New Spain
Conclusion of a blood treaty (Sandugo) between Miguel Legazpi and Datu Skatuna
Miguel Legazpi founded the city Cebu
Andres Urdaneta completed the return passage from Manila to Acapulco through the northern latitudes, opened the "Urdaneta path"
Anti-Spanish uprising in Cebu
Manila city status assigned
Anti-Spanish uprising in Manila
V Manila settles a Catholic bishop
Anti-Spanish uprising on Luzon
1587 - 1588
Anti-Spanish conspiracy in Manila and some other cities
Partially successful advocacy for tax reform Philippines
Jesuits founded a school in Manila, which became a little later the University of St. Ignacio, the first not only in Philippines but also in Asia
The beginning of typography on Philippines
V Manila settles a Catholic archbishop
Insurrection in the provinces Kagayan
Anti-Catholic protests in the north Luzon
St. Thomas University opened
1621 - 1622
Philippines presidents
- May 24, 1899 - April 1, 1901 Emilio Aguinaldo
- October 14, 1943 - August 17, 1945 Jose Laurel (José P. Laurel) - President of the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. Arrested for cooperation with the Japanese and high treason, pardoned under an amnesty. Sometimes not mentioned in the list of Philippine presidents.
- August 1, 1944 - May 28, 1946 Sergio Osmenya (Sergio Osmeña) - Vice President under Manuel Quezon. Got power after the death of Quezon.
- May 28, 1946 - April 15, 1948 Manuel Rojas (Manuel Acuña Roxas) - won the elections for the previous president Osmenya.
- April 17, 1948 - December 30, 1953 Elpidio Quirino (Elpidio Rivera Quirino) - Vice President of the Philippines. Took the presidency after the death of Manuel Rojas
- December 30, 1953 - March 17, 1957 Ramon Magsaysay (Ramon Magsaysay) - won the elections from the nationalist party. Pursued a pro-American policy. Under him, the Philippines became one of the founders of the SEATO bloc. Killed in a plane crash.
- February 25, 1986 - June 30, 1992 Corazon(Corey) Aquino (María Corazón Cojuangco-Aquino) is the first female president in Asia. Widow of Senator Benigno Aquino, who opposed Marcos, who was killed in 1983 while trying to return to the country. She participated in the presidential elections, according to official data, she lost to Marcos. Its supporters did not recognize the results, Marcos was overthrown. Adopted a new constitution. Achieved the withdrawal of American military bases. Refused to stand for election in 1992
- June 30, 1992 - June 30, 1998 Fidel Ramos (Fidel Valdez Ramos) - General, won the elections with the support of the previous President Corazon Aquino.
- June 30, 1998 - January 20, 2001 Joseph Estrada (Joseph estrada, Jose marcelo ejercito) - film actor, won the presidential elections in 1998, mixed in corruption scandals, overthrown as a result of a peaceful revolution.
The first inhabitants of the Philippines appeared 300,000 years ago, possibly moving from the mainland along the narrow isthmus that connected the Philippines to the mainland. Negroids or aeta appeared in the Philippines 25,000 years ago. But they were driven back by several waves of immigrants from Indonesia, followed by Malaysian immigrants. In 1380, the Arab governor Makdum appeared on the Sulu archipelago, who began to create what was later called the Islamic sphere of influence for many centuries.
Ferdinand Magellan appeared on the islands in 1521 and declared the archipelago the property of Spain. Magellan was accepted in peace by one of the leaders on about. Cebu, however, sided with him in a feud, was mortally wounded. Rai Lopez de Villalobos followed in 1543 and named the area the Philippines after Philip II of Spain. The Spanish occupation began in 1565 with the arrival of an expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi, and by 1571 the entire country, with the exception of the Muslim archipelago of Sulu, was under Spanish rule.
The liberation movement in the Philippines unfolded in the 19th century, and the Philippines also sided with the Americans during the Spanish-American War in 1898. When the Spanish were defeated, General Aguinaldo declared the Philippines an independent country. The United States, however, had completely different plans, and quickly bought the islands from the Spaniards for 20 million. But in the end, the United States was forced to recognize the Philippines' aspirations for independence just, and in 1935, Manuel Quezon was proclaimed President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, as part of the program for the transition to full independence. In 1942, Japan invaded the Philippines, rudely intervening in the process, and ruled the country until the US re-invaded the Philippines two years later. The Philippines gained full independence in 1946.
Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965, he declared a military dictatorship in 1972, and ruled the country as dictator until 1986. His regime was attacked by both communists and Muslim guerrillas, accused of rigging election results and fraud. The murder of prominent opposition figure Benigno Aquino in 1983 sparked massive anti-government protests. In the 1986 elections, opposition forces rallied around Aquino's widow, Corazon (Corey). Both parties were declared the winners in the elections, but everyone was sure that Aquino had the majority of the votes. She began an action of civil disobedience, which resulted in the escape of Marcos from the country.
Aquino restored democratic institutions in the country, but failed in attempts to solve economic problems, she also failed to cope with a strong military elite. The US military influence on the country was weakened after 1991, when the eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed the US Clark Air Force Base, and after the Philippine Senate refused to ratify the lease of the Subic Bay naval station. Aquino survived seven coups in six years and gave up her seat to her cabinet's Minister of Defense, Fidel Ramos, in 1992. Ramos tried to revive the economy, attract foreign investment, exterminate corruption and raise the level of providing the population with domestic services.
The Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace agreement in September 1996, ending, at least formally, a 24-year struggle for autonomy for Fr. Mindanao. The peace agreement provided for significant independence in many of the island's provinces. Peace in the region continues to be elusive, given the intensification of splitting groups such as the military Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which opposes the agreement. The government continues to undertake military operations in MILF-held areas, notably Basilan and Sulu.
In 1998, Ramos was replaced by Joseph Estrada, the Filipino version of Bruce Willis. Estrada received the majority of votes thanks to the huge popularity of his on-screen characters, more than due to any political "" torture, he promised economic reforms, and carried them out, not in favor of the people, but to enrich his own pocket. He was impeached and put on trial at the end of 2000 on charges of accepting bribes from criminal gambling syndicates and using them for his own enrichment, as well as building luxurious mansions for his mistresses. When Estrada and his political supporters tried to obstruct the trial and block access to financial accounts for the investigation, the people decided that this was enough and staged massive demonstrations in the streets of Manila. Ultimately, on January 19, 2001, Estrada was forced to surrender, and the next day, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was declared the new President of the Philippines. In a post-inaugural speech that was somewhat familiar to Filipinos, Macapagal-Arroyo promised an end to poverty and corruption, she refused to grant Estrada an amnesty, and announced that only the court would decide his fate.
The state of the Philippines is located on the Philippine Islands, which belong to the Malay Archipelago. The largest islands in the Philippine archipelago are Luzon, Panay, Samar, Negros, Mindanao, Leite, Cebu, Bohol, Mindoro, Palawan. In total, the Philippine Islands, including the smallest, are more than seven thousand. Their length is 2000 km from north to south and 900 km from west to east. The Philippines is located between three seas (South China, Philippine and Sulawesi), and in the north is washed by the Bashi Strait. The total area of the islands is 299.7 thousand km², and their coastline stretches for 36.3 thousand km.
Most of the Philippines is mountainous. The highest of them is the Apo volcano on the island of Mindanao. Its height is 2954 m.In addition to volcanic islands hallmark Philippines are also deep-sea trenches. The Philippine Trench is 10,830 meters deep and is considered one of the deepest in the world. Such a relief of the archipelago is due to the geological features of the area and. It is located at the junction of the continental and oceanic lithospheric plates. In addition, it belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is characterized by increased seismic and volcanic activity.
Ancient time
The history of the Philippines begins in the 5th century, when civilization was formed on this territory as a result of the mixing of peoples and cultures. The first settlers in the local forests were Negritos and Aetae, who came from prehistoric lands, breaking the continental glaciers. Then, settlers from South China arrived in the Philippine Islands. They came through Taiwan and spoke Austronesian languages. From the 8th century, Chinese merchants began to visit these places. From the 7th to the 17th centuries, the Indo-Malay maritime kingdom ruled the Philippine Islands.
In the XIV century, the Arabs landed here, and in 1521 Magellan arrives in the Philippines. By the time the Europeans came to these islands, the Philippines was already, in fact, an independent state with its own system of internal government, although it paid tribute to the states of Southeast Asia (in particular the Kingdom of Srivijaya).
Captaincy General of the Philippines (Spanish Period)
In the 16th century, Spanish sailors explored the Pacific Ocean, discovering and conquering more and more islands, including the Philippines. They declare these lands the possessions of Spain, and to manage them create a captaincy-general as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Initially, the capital of this administrative entity was San Miguel, and from 1591 it became Manila.
The Captain General ruled not only the Philippines, but the entire Spanish East Indies as a whole. In 1784-1787, as a result of the Bourbon reforms in Manila and other islands, intendantships were created, which independently decided their economic and financial issues. Subsequently, they were abolished, and the functions of these quartermaster offices were again transferred to the captaincy general.
In the 19th century, due to revolutions, Spain lost most of its colonies to Latin America... As a result of these events, the Viceroyalty of New Spain was liquidated, and the captaincy general came under the direct subordination of Madrid. In addition, if earlier civilian officials were appointed captains-general, now this post was mainly occupied by the military.
The general captaincy lasted until the end of the 19th century. In 1898, the First Philippine Republic was formed by local rebels. In addition, Spain lost most of the islands in the Pacific Ocean as a result of the Spanish-American wars (they moved into the US zone of influence), and the remaining islands were bought by Germany in 1899.
American period
After the end of the Spanish-American War, in accordance with the Paris Peace Treaty of 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam and Cuba to the United States of America. In return, she received $ 20 million. At the same time, the Filipinos, under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, entered the struggle for independence, which later led to the Philippine-American War.
This conflict officially ended in 1902, although clashes continued until 1913. All this time, the Philippines was subordinate to the United States, but had its own government. In 1935, they achieved autonomy within the United States, and were able to gain final independence only in 1946, after liberation from Japanese occupation and the end of World War II.
Independence period of the Philippines
After gaining independence in 1946, they faced many internal problems and civil unrest directed against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, as well as uprisings of Maoists, Trotskyists, Muslim separatists, etc.
