festivites
1. Christmas - celebrated on December 25th, it is the most important holiday in the Philippines. It is a time for the whole family to come together and celebrate with food, gifts, and festive decorations. Many Filipinos attend a midnight mass called "Simbang Gabi" that starts on December 16th and ends on Christmas Eve.
2. New Year's Day - January 1st marks the start of the new year, and Filipinos celebrate it by gathering with their families and friends. As midnight approaches, everyone lights firecrackers and makes loud noises to drive away bad luck and welcome the new year.
3. Sinulog Festival - held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City, this festival honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child) and celebrates the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. The highlight of the festival is the grand parade with participants dancing and chanting to the beat of drums and other traditional instruments.
4. Chinese New Year - celebrated in February or March, the date of the Chinese New Year varies depending on the lunar calendar. Many Filipinos of Chinese descent celebrate this holiday by cleaning their homes to get rid of bad luck from the previous year, decorating with red and gold ornaments, and preparing special dishes like tikoy (sticky rice cake).
5. Holy Week - observed during the week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week is a time of religious observance and reflection for many Filipinos. Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, followed by Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Many Filipinos participate in processions, reenactments of Christ's passion, and other religious activities during this time.
6. Independence Day - celebrated on June 12th, this holiday commemorates the country's independence from Spain in 1898. Filipinos typically celebrate by attending parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and other patriotic activities.
7. Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month) - held every August, this month-long celebration honors the Filipino language and culture. Schools and government offices hold events to promote the use of the Filipino language and showcase traditional dances, music, and costumes.
8. All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day - observed on November 1st and 2nd respectively, these holidays are a time for Filipinos to remember and honor their departed loved ones. Many Filipinos visit cemeteries during this time to clean the graves of their ancestors and offer flowers, candles, and prayers.
seasons
The Philippines experiences three main tourist seasons:
1. Peak Season: December to February - This is the peak season due to the cooler weather and Christmas holidays. Expect higher prices and bigger crowds. It's best to book accommodations and flights in advance.
2. Shoulder Season: March to May, June to November (except for September) - These months have good weather conditions and fewer crowds compared to the peak season. Prices are generally lower, and availability of accommodations and flights may be better.
3. Low Season: September to November - This is the rainy season, with occasional typhoons hitting the country. Prices are at their lowest during this time, but outdoor activities may be limited due to the weather conditions. However, some areas like Batanes and Siargao can be visited year-round as they have different weather patterns from the rest of the country.
Here are some recommendations:
- If you want to avoid the crowds and high prices, visit during the shoulder or low season.
- If you're planning to travel during the peak season, book your accommodations and flights in advance to avoid last-minute price hikes and limited availability.
- Check the weather forecasts before traveling, especially during the rainy season. Bring appropriate clothing and gear.
- Be aware of local holidays and festivals, as these can affect prices and availability of accommodations and transportation.
visa
Here are some special VISA rules for citizens of certain countries who want to visit the Philippines:
1. Visa-free entry: Citizens of around 160 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and most European Union countries, can enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
2. Visa-on-arrival: Citizens of a few countries, including China, India, and Pakistan, can obtain a visa-on-arrival at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport or other designated ports of entry for a fee of USD 35. This allows them to stay in the country for up to 14 days.
3. Visa-required: Citizens of a few countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, and Libya, are required to apply for a visa before traveling to the Philippines. The cost of a tourist visa is around USD 30.
Please note that these rules may change, and it is advisable to check with the Philippine embassy or consulate in your home country for the latest information.
souvenirs
1. Handwoven Fabrics: such as the traditional "piña" or "banig" cloth, can be found in specialized shops and markets such as the Salcedo Saturday Market in Makati, with prices ranging from $10 to $100 depending on size and intricacy.
2. Pearls: the Philippines is known for its high-quality pearls, which can be purchased at stores like Jewelmer or at the Greenhills Shopping Center in Manila. Prices vary widely depending on the quality and size of the pearl, but average around $50 to $200.
3. Wood carvings: from intricate statues to functional items such as spoons and bowls, wood carvings are a popular souvenir item. They can be found in markets and specialty shops, with prices ranging from $5 to $50.
4. Local snacks: from dried mangoes to sweet rice cakes called "bibingka," local snacks make for a tasty souvenir. They can be found in grocery stores and markets, with prices ranging from $1 to $5.
5. T-shirts and clothing: featuring Filipino designs and phrases, T-shirts and other clothing items make for a fun and practical souvenir. They can be found in malls and tourist areas, with prices ranging from $5 to $20.
If you have 1 week
Great choice, as the Philippines has plenty of amazing places to visit and explore. Here's a suggested one-week itinerary for you:
Day 1: Start your trip in Manila, the bustling capital city of the Philippines. Visit the historic Intramuros district to see the remnants of Spanish colonialism in the country. You can also check out Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, and the National Museum of the Philippines.
Day 2-3: Head to Palawan, known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters. El Nido is a must-visit with its limestone cliffs, lagoons, and diverse marine life. Take an island-hopping tour, go snorkeling or diving, and enjoy fresh seafood.
Day 4-5: Fly down to Cebu and explore the vibrant city life, including the Magellan's Cross, the Basilica del Santo Niño, and the Taoist Temple. Take a day trip to Osmeña Peak for a panoramic view of Cebu Island.
Day 6: Visit the world-famous Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island, a geological formation consisting of more than 1,000 hills that turn brown during the dry season, resembling giant chocolate mounds. Don't forget to take a river cruise to see the tarsiers, some of the world's smallest primates.
Day 7: End your trip with adrenaline-packed activities like white-water rafting or ziplining in Davao City. Don't miss the chance to sample Durian, the city's famous fruit that is loved by some and despised by others.
I recommend this itinerary because it covers a variety of experiences, from cultural and historical sites to beach adventures, natural wonders, and exciting outdoor activities. The Philippines has so much to offer, and this itinerary allows you to discover some of its most iconic destinations.
If you have 2 weeks
Thank you for sharing your location with me. Based on the rich culture and natural beauty that the Philippines has to offer, I recommend the following two week itinerary:
Week 1:
- Start your trip by visiting the capital city of Manila, where you can explore historic sites such as Intramuros and Fort Santiago. You can also take a food tour to discover the unique flavors of Filipino cuisine.
- From Manila, travel to the island of Palawan, where you can experience the stunning landscapes of El Nido and Coron. Take a boat tour to see the crystal-clear waters and limestone cliffs, and go scuba diving or snorkeling to witness the vibrant marine life.
- Continue your journey to the Visayas region, where you can relax on the beaches of Boracay and Bohol. Enjoy water sports activities such as parasailing, jet skiing, and paddleboarding.
Week 2:
- Head over to the northern part of Luzon island to visit the breathtaking rice terraces of Banaue. Take a guided tour to learn about the history and culture behind these engineering marvels.
- Explore the city of Vigan, which is famous for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture. Wander through the cobblestone streets and try some local delicacies such as empanadas and longganisa.
- End your trip in Batanes, a group of islands located north of Luzon. Known for its rugged landscapes and unique culture, Batanes offers a different side of the Philippines that is not often seen by tourists. Visit traditional stone houses, hike along the cliffs, and immerse yourself in the Ivatan culture.
I recommend this itinerary because it offers a diverse range of experiences that showcase the best of what the Philippines has to offer. From the bustling cities to the tranquil beaches, from the historic sites to the natural wonders, this itinerary will give you a taste of the rich culture and stunning landscapes of this beautiful country.
Culture
The Philippines has significant cultural diversity, reinforced by the country's fragmented geography. Spanish and American cultures profoundly influenced Filipino culture as a result of long colonization. The cultures of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago developed distinctly, since they had limited Spanish influence and more influence from nearby Islamic regions. Indigenous groups such as the Igorots have preserved their precolonial customs and traditions by resisting the Spanish. A national identity emerged during the 19th century, however, with shared national symbols and cultural and historical touchstones.
Hispanic legacies include the dominance of Catholicism and the prevalence of Spanish names and surnames, which resulted from an 1849 edict ordering the systematic distribution of family names and the implementation of Spanish naming customs; the names of many locations also have Spanish origins. American influence on modern Filipino culture is evident in the use of English and Filipino consumption of fast food and American films and music.
Filipino values are rooted primarily in personal alliances based in kinship, obligation, friendship, religion (particularly Christianity), and commerce. They center around social harmony through pakikisama, motivated primarily by the desire for acceptance by a group. Reciprocity through utang na loob (a debt of gratitude) is a significant Filipino cultural trait, and an internalized debt can never be fully repaid. The main sanction for divergence from these values are the concepts of hiya (shame) and loss of amor propio (self-esteem).
The family is central to Philippine society; norms such as loyalty, maintaining close relationships, care for elderly parents, and remittances from family members working abroad are ingrained in Philippine society. Respect for authority and the elderly is valued, and is shown with gestures such as mano and the honorifics po and opo and kuya (older brother) or ate (older sister). Other Filipino values are optimism about the future, pessimism about the present, concern about other people, friendship and friendliness, hospitality, religiosity, respect for oneself and others (particularly women), and integrity.
Philippine art combines indigenous folk art and foreign influences, primarily Spain and the United States. During the Spanish colonial period, art was used to spread Catholicism and support the concept of racially-superior groups. Classical paintings were mainly religious; prominent artists during Spanish colonial rule included Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, whose works drew attention to the Philippines. Modernism was introduced to the Philippines during the 1920s and 1930s by Victorio Edades and popular pastoral scenes by Fernando Amorsolo.
Traditional Philippine architecture has two main models: the indigenous bahay kubo and the bahay na bato, which developed under Spanish rule. Some regions, such as Batanes, differ slightly due to climate; limestone was used as a building material, and houses were built to withstand typhoons.
Spanish architecture left an imprint in town designs around a central square or plaza mayor, but many of its buildings were demolished during World War II. Several Philippine churches adapted baroque architecture to withstand earthquakes, leading to the development of Earthquake Baroque; four baroque churches have been listed as a collective UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanish colonial fortifications (fuerzas) in several parts of the Philippines were primarily designed by missionary architects and built by Filipino stone masons; five of these strongholds are on the World Heritage Site Tentative List. Vigan, in Ilocos Sur, is known for its Hispanic-style houses and buildings.
American rule introduced new architectural styles in the construction of government buildings and Art Deco theaters. During the American period, some city planning using architectural designs and master plans by Daniel Burnham was done in portions of Manila and Baguio. Part of the Burnham plan was the construction of government buildings reminiscent of Greek or Neoclassical architecture. Buildings from the Spanish and American periods can be seen in Iloilo, especially in Calle Real.
There are two types of Philippine folk dance, stemming from traditional indigenous influences and Spanish influence. Although native dances had become less popular, folk dancing began to revive during the 1920s. The Cariñosa, a Hispanic Filipino dance, is unofficially considered the country's national dance. Popular indigenous dances include the Tinikling and Singkil, which include the rhythmic clapping of bamboo poles. Present-day dances vary from delicate ballet to street-oriented breakdancing.
Rondalya music, with traditional mandolin-type instruments, was popular during the Spanish era. Spanish-influenced musicians are primarily bandurria-based bands with 14-string guitars. Kundiman developed during the 1920s and 1930s, and revived in the postwar era. The American colonial period exposed many Filipinos to U.S. culture and popular music. Rock music was introduced to Filipinos during the 1960s and developed into Filipino rock (or Pinoy rock), a term encompassing pop rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, punk, new wave, ska, and reggae. Martial law in the 1970s produced Filipino folk rock bands and artists who were at the forefront of political demonstrations. The decade also saw the birth of the Manila sound and Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Filipino hip-hop, which originated in 1979, entered the mainstream in 1990. Karaoke is also popular. From 2010 to 2020, Pinoy pop (P-pop) was influenced by K-pop and J-pop.
Locally-produced theatrical drama became established during the late 1870s. Spanish influence around that time introduced zarzuela plays (with music) and comedias, with dance. The plays became popular throughout the country, and were written in a number of local languages. American influence introduced vaudeville and ballet. Realistic theatre became dominant during the 20th century, with plays focusing on contemporary political and social issues.
Philippine literature consists of works usually written in Filipino, Spanish, or English. Some of the earliest well-known works were created from the 17th to the 19th centuries. They include Ibong Adarna, an epic about an eponymous magical bird attributed to José de la Cruz (Huseng Sisiw), and Florante at Laura by Tagalog author Francisco Balagtas. José Rizal wrote the novels Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not, also known as Social Cancer) and El filibusterismo (The Filibustering, also known as The Reign of Greed), both of which depict the injustices of Spanish colonial rule.
Folk literature was relatively unaffected by colonial influence until the 19th century due to Spanish indifference. Most printed literary works during Spanish colonial rule were religious in nature, although Filipino elites who later learned Spanish wrote nationalistic literature. The American arrival began Filipino literary use of English. In the late 1960s, during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Philippine literature was influenced by political activism; many poets began using Tagalog, in keeping with the country's oral traditions.
Philippine mythology has been handed down primarily through oral tradition; popular figures are Maria Makiling, Lam-ang, and the Sarimanok. The country has a number of folk epics. Wealthy families could preserve transcriptions of the epics as family heirlooms, particularly in Mindanao; the Maranao-language Darangen is an example.
Philippine media primarily uses Filipino and English, although broadcasting has shifted to Filipino. Television shows, commercials, and films are regulated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Most Filipinos obtain news and information from television, the Internet, and social media. The country's flagship state-owned broadcast-television network is the People's Television Network (PTV). ABS-CBN and GMA, both free-to-air, were the dominant TV networks; before the May 2020 expiration of ABS-CBN's franchise, it was the country's largest network. Philippine television dramas, known as teleseryes and mainly produced by ABS-CBN and GMA, are also seen in several other countries.
Film was first shown in the Philippines on January 1, 1897, and the country's earliest films were in Spanish. Local film-making began in 1919 with the release of the first Filipino-produced feature film: Dalagang Bukid (A Girl from the Country), directed by Jose Nepomuceno. Production companies remained small during the silent film era, but sound films and larger productions emerged in 1933. The postwar 1940s to the early 1960s are considered a high point for Philippine cinema. The 1962–1971 decade saw a decline in quality films, although the commercial film industry expanded until the 1980s. Critically-acclaimed Philippine films include Himala (Miracle) and Oro, Plata, Mata (Gold, Silver, Death), both released in 1982. Since the turn of the 21st century, the country's film industry has struggled to compete with larger-budget foreign films (particularly Hollywood films. Art films have thrived, however, and several indie films have been successful domestically and abroad.
The Philippines has a large number of radio stations and newspapers. English broadsheets are popular among executives, professionals and students. Less-expensive Tagalog tabloids, which grew during the 1990s, are popular (particularly in Manila); however, overall newspaper readership is declining. The top three newspapers, by nationwide readership and credibility, are the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, and The Philippine Star. Although freedom of the press is protected by the constitution, the country was listed as the seventh-most-dangerous country for journalists in 2022 by the Committee to Protect Journalists due to 13 unsolved murders of journalists.
The Philippine population are the world's top Internet users. In early 2021, 67 percent of Filipinos (73.91 million) had Internet access; the overwhelming majority used smartphones. Social networking and watching videos are among the most frequent Internet activities. The Philippines ranked 59th on the Global Innovation Index in 2022, up from its 2014 ranking of 100th.
Public holidays in the Philippines are classified as regular or special. The country's 2007 holiday economics policy allows the observance of public holidays on the nearest weekend to create long weekends. , there are 11 regular holidays:
* New Year's Day on January 1
* Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 10
* Maundy Thursday on April 6
* Good Friday on April 7
* Eid'l Fitr on April 21
* Labor Day on May 1
* Independence Day on June 12
* National Heroes Day on August 28
* Bonifacio Day on November 27
* Christmas Day on December 25
* Rizal Day on December 30
Festivals in the Philippines are primarily religious, and most towns and villages have such a festival (usually to honor a patron saint). Better-known festivals include Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang, Moriones and Sinulog. The country's Christmas season begins as early as September 1, and Holy Week is a solemn religious observance for its Christian population.
From its Malayo-Polynesian origins, traditional Philippine cuisine has evolved since the 16th century. It was primarily influenced by Hispanic, Chinese, and American cuisines, which were adapted to the Filipino palate. Filipinos tend to prefer robust flavors, centered on sweet, salty, and sour combinations. Regional variations exist throughout the country; rice is the general staple starch but cassava is more common in parts of Mindanao. Adobo is the unofficial national dish. Other popular dishes include lechón, kare-kare, sinigang, pancit, lumpia, and arroz caldo. Traditional desserts are kakanin (rice cakes), which include puto, suman, and bibingka. Ingredients such as calamansi, ube, and pili are used in Filipino desserts. The generous use of condiments such as patis, bagoong, and toyo impart a distinctive Philippine flavor.
Unlike other East or Southeast Asian countries, most Filipinos do not eat with chopsticks; they use spoons and forks. Traditional eating with the fingers (known as kamayan) had been used in less urbanized areas, but has been popularized with the introduction of Filipino food to foreigners and city residents. Kamayan sometimes includes the "boodle fight" concept (popularized by the Philippine Army) of banana leaves used as large plates.
Basketball, played at the amateur and professional levels, is considered the country's most popular sport. Other popular sports include boxing and billiards, boosted by the achievements of Manny Pacquiao and Efren Reyes. The national martial art is Arnis. Sabong (cockfighting) is popular entertainment, especially among Filipino men, and was documented by the Magellan expedition as a pastime in the kingdom of Taytay. Video gaming and esports are emerging pastimes, with the popularity of indigenous games such as patintero, tumbang preso, luksong tinik, and piko declining among young people; several bills have been filed to preserve and promote traditional games, especially in schools.
The men's national football team has participated in one Asian Cup. The women's national football team qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, their first World Cup, in January 2022. The Philippines has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1924, except when they supported the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. It was the first tropical nation to compete at the Winter Olympic Games, debuting in 1972. In 2021, the Philippines received its first-ever Olympic gold medal with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's victory in Tokyo.
Religion
Although the Philippines is a secular state with freedom of religion, an overwhelming majority of Filipinos consider religion very important and irreligion is very low. Christianity is the dominant religion, followed by about 89 percent of the population. The country had the world's third-largest Roman Catholic population, and was Asia's largest Christian nation. Census data from 2020 found that 78.8 percent of the population professed Roman Catholicism; other Christian denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo (2.6 percent), the Philippine Independent Church ( percent), and Seventh-day Adventistism (0.8 percent). Protestants make up about 6% of the population. The Philippines sends many Christian missionaries around the world, and is a training center for foreign priests and nuns.
Islam is the country's second-largest religion, with 6.4 percent of the population in the 2020 census. Most Muslims live in Mindanao and nearby islands, and most adhere to the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islam.
About 2 percent of the population follow indigenous religions, whose practices and folk beliefs are often syncretized with Christianity and Islam. Buddhism is practiced by about 2% of the population, primarily by Filipinos of Chinese descent.
Demographics
As of May 1, 2020, the Philippines had a population of 109,035,343. In 2015, 51.2 percent of the country's population lived in urban areas. Manila, its capital, and Quezon City (the country's most populous city) are in Metro Manila. About 12.8 million people (13 percent of the Philippines' population) live in Metro Manila, the country's most populous metropolitan area and the world's fifth most populous.
The country's median age is 22.7, and 60.9 percent of its population is between 15 and 64 years old. The Philippines' average annual population growth rate is decreasing, although government attempts to further reduce population growth have been contentious. The country has reduced its poverty rate from 49.2 percent in 1985 to 18.1 percent in 2021, and its income inequality began to decline in 2012.
The country has substantial ethnic diversity, due to foreign influence and the archipelago's division by water and topography. According to the 2010 census, the Philippines' largest ethnic groups were Tagalog (24.4 percent), Visayans [excluding the Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray] (11.4 percent), Cebuano (9.9 percent), Ilocano (8.8 percent), Hiligaynon (8.4 percent), Bikol (6.8 percent), and Waray (four percent). The country's indigenous peoples consisted of 110 enthnolinguistic groups, with a combined population of 14 to 17 million, in 2010; they include the Igorot, Lumad, Mangyan, and the indigenous peoples of Palawan.
Negritos are thought to be among the islands' earliest inhabitants. These minority aboriginal settlers are an Australoid group, a remnant of the first human migration from Africa to Australia who were probably displaced by later waves of migration. Some Philippine Negritos have a Denisovan admixture in their genome. Ethnic Filipinos generally belong to several Southeast Asian ethnic groups, classified linguistically as Austronesians speaking Malayo-Polynesian languages. The Austronesian population's origin is uncertain, but relatives of Taiwanese aborigines probably brought their language and mixed with the region's existing population. The Lumad and Sama-Bajau ethnic groups have an ancestral affinity with the Austroasiatic- and Mlabri-speaking Htin peoples of mainland Southeast Asia. Westward expansion from Papua New Guinea to eastern Indonesia and Mindanao has been detected in the Blaan people and the Sangir language.
Immigrants arrived in the Philippines from elsewhere in the Spanish Empire, especially from the Spanish Americas. According to the Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH), a substantial proportion of Filipinos sampled have "modest" amounts of European descent consistent with an older admixture. The 2016 National Geographic project concluded that people living in the Philippine archipelago carried genetic markers in the following percentages: 53 percent Southeast Asia and Oceania, 36 percent Eastern Asia, five percent Southern Europe, three percent Southern Asia, and two percent Native American (from Latin America).
Descendants of mixed-race couples are known as Mestizos or tisoy, which originally referred only to Filipinos of European or Spanish descent. The minority Chinese Filipinos are well-integrated into Filipino society. Primarily the descendants of immigrants from Fujian after 1898, Chinese Filipinos number about two million; an estimated additional 20 percent of Filipinos have partial Chinese ancestry from precolonial and colonial Chinese migrants. Almost 300,000 American citizens live in the country, and up to 250,000 Amerasians are scattered across the cities of Angeles, Manila, and Olongapo. Other significant non-indigenous minorities include Indians and Arabs. Japanese Filipinos include escaped Christians (Kirishitan) who fled persecutions by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Ethnologue lists 186 languages for the Philippines, 182 of which are living languages; the other four no longer have any known speakers. Most native languages are part of the Philippine branch of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is a branch of the Austronesian language family. Spanish-based creole varieties, collectively known as Chavacano, are also spoken. Many Philippine Negrito languages have unique vocabularies which survived Austronesian acculturation.
Filipino and English are the country's official languages. Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog, is spoken primarily in Metro Manila. Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business, often with a third local language. The Philippine constitution provides for Spanish and Arabic on a voluntary, optional basis. Spanish, a widely-used lingua franca during the late nineteenth century, has declined greatly in use, although Spanish loanwords are still present in Philippine languages. Arabic is primarily taught in Mindanao Islamic schools.
Nineteen regional languages are auxiliary official languages as media of instruction:
* Aklanon
* Bikol
* Cebuano
* Chavacano
* Hiligaynon
* Ibanag
* Ilocano
* Ivatan
* Kapampangan
* Kinaray-a
* Maguindanao
* Maranao
* Pangasinan
* Sambal
* Surigaonon
* Tagalog
* Tausug
* Waray
* Yakan
Other indigenous languages, including Cuyonon, Ifugao, Itbayat, Kalinga, Kamayo, Kankanaey, Masbateño, Romblomanon, Manobo, and several Visayan languages, are used in their respective provinces. Filipino Sign Language is the national sign language, and the language of deaf education.
Although the Philippines is a secular state with freedom of religion, an overwhelming majority of Filipinos consider religion very important and irreligion is very low. Christianity is the dominant religion, followed by about 89 percent of the population. The country had the world's third-largest Roman Catholic population, and was Asia's largest Christian nation. Census data from 2020 found that 78.8 percent of the population professed Roman Catholicism; other Christian denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo (2.6 percent), the Philippine Independent Church ( percent), and Seventh-day Adventistism (0.8 percent). Protestants make up about 6% of the population. The Philippines sends many Christian missionaries around the world, and is a training center for foreign priests and nuns.
Islam is the country's second-largest religion, with 6.4 percent of the population in the 2020 census. Most Muslims live in Mindanao and nearby islands, and most adhere to the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islam.
About 2 percent of the population follow indigenous religions, whose practices and folk beliefs are often syncretized with Christianity and Islam. Buddhism is practiced by about 2% of the population, primarily by Filipinos of Chinese descent.
Health care in the Philippines is provided by the national and local governments, although private payments account for most healthcare spending. Per-capita health expenditure in 2021 was ₱9,839.23, and health expenditures were six percent of the country's GDP. The 2023 budget allocation for healthcare was ₱334.9 billion. The 2019 enactment of the Universal Health Care Act by President Duterte facilitated the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos in the national health insurance program. Since 2018, Malasakit Centers (one-stop shops) have been set up in several government-operated hospitals to provide medical and financial assistance to indigent patients.
Average life expectancy in the Philippines is 70.14 years (66.6 years for males, and 73.86 years for females). Access to medicine has improved due to increasing Filipino acceptance of generic drugs. The country's leading causes of death in 2017 were ischaemic heart diseases, neoplasms, cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, and diabetes. Communicable diseases are correlated with natural disasters, primarily floods.
The Philippines has 1,387 hospitals, 33 percent of which are government-run; 23,281 barangay health stations, 2,592 rural health units, 2,411 birthing homes, and 659 infirmaries provide primary care throughout the country. Since 1967, the Philippines had become the largest global supplier of nurses; seventy percent of nursing graduates go overseas to work, causing problems in retaining skilled practitioners.
Primary and secondary schooling in the Philippines consists of six years of elementary period, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school. Public education, provided by the government, is free at the elementary and secondary levels and at most public higher-education institutions. Science high schools for talented students were established in 1963. The government provides technical-vocational training and development through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. In 2004, the government began offering alternative education to out-of-school children, youth, and adults to improve literacy; madaris were mainstreamed in 16 regions that year, primarily in Mindanao Muslim areas under the Department of Education.
The Philippines has 1,975 higher education institutions, of which 246 are public and 1,729 are private. Public universities are non-sectarian, and are primarily classified as state-administered or local government-funded. The national university is the eight-school University of the Philippines (UP) system. The country's top-ranked universities are the UP, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of Santo Tomas.
, the Philippines had a basic literacy rate of 93.8 percent of those five years old or older, and a functional literacy rate of 91.6 percent of those aged 10 to 64. Education, a significant proportion of the national budget, was allocated ₱900.9 billion from the ₱5.268 trillion 2023 budget.
Cities:
