Masterplanned across an initial 30 hectares, Brittany Corporation's Georgia Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna is an upscale property inspired by the charming communities of the American South. Homes take design cues from classic Colonial architecture...About the Philippines
History of the Philippines
Archeological and paleontological evidence suggests that Homo sapiens existed in Palawan about 50,000 years ago. These inhabitants are called the Tabon Man. During the Iron Age, Austronesian-speakers came from South China and Taiwan via land bridges and settled in the Philippines. Ethnic Chinese merchants arrived in the 8th century.
The Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan, sailing for the Spanish kings, first set foot in the archipelago in 1521. He became friendly with most of the local chieftains and converted them to Roman Catholicism. However, not everyone was converted. Magellan was killed and the Spaniards were defeated by Lapu-Lapu, one of the chieftains who were protecting the right of their local religion. One of Magellan's ships, the Victoria, returned to Spain and brought news about the new land. On April 27, 1565, the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi and 500 armed soldiers came to Cebu and established the first Spanish settlement on the islands.
Roman Catholic missionaries marched with soldiers from island to island, in search of native people. The Spaniards soon established churches and forts, while searching for gold and spices. Roman Catholicism was introduced and embraced by the majority. Sporadic rebellions occurred from tribal groups in the highlands of north Luzon and coastal regions, due to harsh punishments, taxes and other wrongdoings. The Muslims maintained resistance in the southern islands of Mindanao. The Spanish military fought off Chinese pirates, and Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch and British forces, all of whom also had an interest in the Philippines.
New Spain (through Mexico) ruled the Philippines until Mexican independence. A burgeoning Manila Galleon or Manila-Acapulco galleon trade began in the late 16th century. Spanish rule on the Philippines was briefly interrupted in 1762, when British troops invaded and occupied the islands as a result of Spain's entry into the Seven Years' War. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 restored Spanish rule and the British left in 1764. The brief British occupation weakened Spain's grip on power.
In 1781, Governor-General José Basco y Vargas established the Economic Society of Friends of the Country. The Philippines by this time was administered directly from Spain. Developments in and out of the country helped to bring new ideas to the Philippines. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cut travel time to Spain. This prompted the rise of the ilustrados, the enlightened Filipino upper class, since many young Filipinos were able to study in Europe.
Enlightened by the Propaganda Movement to the injustices of the Spanish colonial government and the "frailocracy", they originally clamored for adequate representation to the Spanish Cortes and later for independence. José Rizal, the most celebrated intellectual (and radical illustrado) of the era, wrote the novels Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Filibuster), both now required academic reading at Filipino secondary schools. The Katipunan, ("Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga anak ng Inang Bayan") was founded by Andrés Bonifacio as its Supremo (leader). It was a secret society whose the sole purpose was that of overthrowing Spanish rule in the Philippines.
The confession of a Katipunero led to the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898). Rizal was implicated in the outbreak of the revolution and executed for treason (see sedition) in 1896. The Katipunan split into two groups, Magdiwang led by Andrés Bonifacio and Magdalo led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Conflict between the two revolutionaries culminated in Aguinaldo having Bonifacio likewise executed for treason. The revolution ended in a truce with the Pact of Biak na Bato and the revolutionaries were exiled to Hong Kong.
The United States and Spain became involved in the Spanish-American war in 1898. Aguinaldo was then lured back to the Philippines with a supposed promise of independence similar to the one made by the U.S. to Cuba, which was fighting its own war of independence with Spain. Thus, on June 12, 1898, with victory seemingly attainable, Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite. However, the Battle for Manila between Spain and the U.S. turned out to be an attempt to exclude the Filipinos from the eventual occupation of Manila. Spain and the U.S. ignored the Filipino representative, Felipe Agoncillo, during their negotiations in the Treaty of Paris. Spain was forced in the negotiations to hand over Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico to the U.S. in exchange for US$20,000,000.00, which the U.S. later claimed to be a "gift" to Spain. The first Philippine Republic rebelled against the U.S. occupation resulting in the Philippine-American War (also known in contemporary U.S. government documents and popularly ever since by some Americans as the Philippine Insurrection) (1899–1913). The islands slowly came under overall U.S. control and were organized as a United States Territory. In 1935, their status was upgraded to that of U.S. Commonwealth, and plans were made to grant the islands independence in the next decade. Independence for the Philippines was finally granted on July 4, 1946, even after Japan invaded and occupied the islands during World War II, causing some to call for a delay in the granting of independence, which call was nonetheless discounted by a majority of American and Filipino politicians alike.
Since 1946, the Philippines has faced some economic and political instability. The restive Hukbalahaps (column of the town fighting against Japan or in Filipino HUKbong ng BAyan LAban sa HAPon, guerrillas who fought against the Japanese during World War II), turned Communist in ideology. They won the support of many peasants with promises of land reform. They clandestinely organized mounted anti-government campaigns of sedition and open hostilities against government forces, and conducted terrorist activities, including kidnappings, massacres, assassinations, rapes and extortion. They threatened the countryside, and subsequently the capital, Quezon City, and Manila in the 1950s. The threat was eventually broken when Huk supremo (leader) Luis Taruc surrendered to the young reporter Benigno Aquino Jr. (later elected as Senator), and Secretary of Defense Ramón Magsaysay, who later became president.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the rise of student activism and anti-American demonstrations. A constitutional convention composed of elected delegates drafted a new constitution for the purpose of being the replacement to the American-approved 1935 Commonwealth constitution once there was referendum ratifying it as such. This period was marred by civil unrest and exposés on corruption until martial law was declared on September 21, 1972. The new constitution was subsequently enforced through somewhat questionable means, as the propriety of its ratification was challenged in the Supreme Court. This culminated in the resignation of Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion. The situation appeared to ebb until later years when the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, who had originally been popularly elected but subsequently extended both his power and his tenure by extralegal means, became marred with unmitigated, pervasive corruption and despotism, and public outcry and dissidence resurged to new highs.
In the People Power Revolution of 1986, Marcos and his family were exiled to Hawaii, as Corazon Aquino, widow of assassinated Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., assumed the reins of government in the aftermath of a hotly contested snap election. Following this revolution, in 1987 the current Constitution of the Philippines was adopted. While some cite a return to democracy and governmental reform in the post-Marcos era, government corruption, continuing civil unrest and the activity of communist insurgency and Muslim separatist movements continue to hamper economic productivity in the country. The current presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been marred by political instability and allegations of election rigging and corruption.
Demographics of the PhilippinesThe people of the Philippines are called Filipinos. According to government statistics and genetic studies, the majority of Filipinos are descended from the various Austronesian-speaking migrants who arrived in successive waves over a thousand years ago from Taiwan, with most also possessing variable southern Chinese admixture from groups that also sporadically settled the islands throughout its pre-history - giving rise to the "ethnic Filipino". These "ethnic Filipinos" are divided into twelve major ethnolinguistic groups, the three most numerous being the Tagalogs, Cebuanos, and the Ilocanos. The Negritos or Aetas, also known as the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines, were largely displaced by the invading Austronesian-speaking migrants, and are today thought to number less than 30,000 people (0.03%).
Filipino mestizos, or persons of mixed "ethnic Filipino" and other ancestry (not counting admixture already contributed during pre-history in the formation of the "ethnic Filipino") form a tiny but economically and politically important minority. A recent genetic study by Stanford University indicates that 3.6% of the population has at least some European ancestry.[1]
The three largest foreign minorities are the ethnic Chinese, the Americans, and the South Asians. The remaining foreign population consists of other smaller groups, including Spaniards, other Europeans, Arabs, Indonesians, Koreans, Japanese, and other Asians. The Philippines is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Asia because of the vast number of native ethnolinguistic groups.
Culture of the PhilippinesThe Hispanic influences in Filipino culture are largely derived from the culture of Mexico and the culture of Spain as a result of their over three centuries of colonial rule. These Hispanic influences are most visible in the form of customs and practices related to the Catholic church, especially in religious festivals. Every year, Filipinos from around the country hold major festivities known as Barrio Fiesta which commemorate the patron saints of the towns, villages and regional districts. The festival season is celebrated with church ceremonies, street parades in honor of the patron saints, fireworks, beauty and dance contests, and cockfighting tournaments. The most obvious Hispanic legacy, however, is the prevalence of Spanish surnames among Filipinos. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippines.
The Chinese influences in Filipino culture are most evident in Filipino cuisine, which it has totally penetrated. The prevalence of noodles, known locally as mami, as well as other foods like meat dishes are a testament of the Chinese. American cultural influence in the Philippines is relatively recent, dating from just over a century. The widespread use of English is America's most obvious legacy. The most common and arguably the national sport in the Philippines is basketball. There is also the emulation of other American cultural trends, such as the love of fast-food. In the Philippines, many corners have fast-food outlets, and aside from the American giants like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, native fast-food chains have also been sprung up including Jollibee, Greenwich Pizza, and Chowking. Filipinos also listen to the latest American music, dance to American steps, watch American movies, and idolize American actors and actresses. Native moral codes, respect of family, veneration of elders, and friendliness, all remain intact.
Filipinos honor national heroes whose works and deeds contributed to the shaping of Filipino nationalism. José Rizal is the most celebrated ilustrado, a visionary whose writings created a national identity and awareness. His novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, required readings for Filipino students, provide vignettes of colonial life under the Spanish rule. They give a sense of Filipino identity and historical continuity. Andrés Bonifacio founded the pro-independence Katipunan movement that helped end Spanish rule. Disputes exist about whether he, not Rizal, should be the national hero. Ninoy Aquino is highly revered as the martyr of the People Power revolution.
Philippine provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Philippine cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga.
- Philippines. (2006, April 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
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