Philippines

 Spain owned the Philippines until 1898.  At that point it was given to the United States.  Finally in 1946 they gained their independence.  The white triangle on the flag represents purity and peace.  The sun and stars are for the three main parts of the county: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.  Blue represents patriotism and red is for bravery.  The current flag was first used by the Filipino nationalist that were in exile when the islands were owned by Spain.   The flag was then flown freely while owned by the US until 1907-1919 when it was banned.  During those years only the US flag could be flown.  The eight rays on the sun represent the eight provinces that revolted while under Spanish control.  The flag, when used in war, is flown upside down so that the red stripe is on the top to represent courage.

    Spain rule in the Philippines began in 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legapi arrived in Cebu an became the first Spanish governor-general. Later in 1568 a Portuguese fleet arrived to challenge the Spanish rule, but did not succeed. By 1892 a secret independence group called the Katipunan was formed.  In 1898, when the Spanish-American war broke out the Filipinos declared their national independence from Spain.  But the group of islands was given to the United States in the Treaty of Paris.  A year later the Filipino-American war began.  By 1901 the US had complete control over the Philippines.  During World War Two, however the United States was forced to surrender the islands to Japan.  Two years later General MacArthur reclaimed the Philippines.  A year after the war ended the groups of islands gained their independence from the United States and Manuel Roxas became the first president of the republic.  In 1954 the Philippines became a charter member of the South East Asia Treaty Organization(SEATO). Martial law was declared by Ferdinand Marcos became president in 1965.  Finally, by 1981 martial law ended and Marcos was elected to a six year term.  But that wasn't the end, in 1986 Marcos was forced to leave the country due to protests.  Corazon Aquino then became the president.  Peace finally came to the Philippines in 1996 when the government and Muslim groups signed an agreement that ended the fighting and organized a self-rule region in the southern Philippines.

Country Stats

Official Name: Republic of the Philippines

Capital: Manila

Official Language: Pilipino; English is widely spoken

Official Religion: None; 92% are Christian

Nation alAnthem: "Filipinas"

Government: Constitutional democracy with two legislative houses

Chief of State: President

Head of Government: President 

Population: 76 million

Currency: Pesos and centavos

Literacy: 95%