your free PDF travel guide for Philippines
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Wikipedia says:
The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas), officially the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas; RP), is an archipelagic nation located in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, bordering countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau and the Republic of China, although it is the only Southeast Asian country to share no land borders with its neighbors. The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country with a population approaching 87 million people. Its national economy is the 37th largest in the world with a 2006 gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$161.01 billion.
Filipinos are mostly of Austronesian descent, but there are significant American, Arab, Chinese, Hispanic and Indian minorities. There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines.
The Philippines became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, and then a U.S. territory and commonwealth after the Spanish-American War. The Philippine Revolution was an attempt to gain independence from Spain, only to be unsuccessful due to spill-over from the Spanish-American War in what would be known as the Philippine-American War. The Philippines ultimately gained its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946 under the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. Today, the Philippines has many affinities with the Western world, derived mainly from the cultures of Spain, Latin America, and the United States. Roman Catholicism became the predominant religion, although pre-Hispanic indigenous religious practices and Islam still exist. The two official languages of the Philippines are Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, and English. (...) more....
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entry requirements for US citizens
Passport and onward/return ticket required. For entry by Manila International Airport, visa not required for transit/tourist stay of up to 21 days. A visa is required for longer stays and business. Visas require 1 application form, 1 photo, onward/return ticket, and $30 fee for single-entry and $60 or $90 fee for multiple entries. Company letter needed for business visa. A Passenger Service Charge, 550 pesos ($11.00 US), must be paid in Philippine pesos when departing the country from international airports. For more information, contact the Embassy of the Philippines, 1600 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202/467-9300/9324/9363) or nearest Consulate General: CA (213/639-0980 to 85 and 415/433-6666 or 69), GU (671/646-4620/30), HI (808/595-6316), NY (212/764-1330 or 34), or COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTH MARIANA ISLANDS (670/234-1848). Internet: www.philippineembassy.usa.org. Mention tripwolf when you contact American Passport following the link below to ensure eligibility for special rates and services.
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