World  > South-East Asia  > Philippines
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Travel Information >>> Useful addresses General information Passport & visa Money Duty Free Public holidays Health Getting there Getting around Accommodation Sports and Activities Social profile Business profile Climate History & government Overview Maps	Regions and Cities >>> Resorts & Excursions - Overview Luzon The Visayas Mindanao & the South
General Information Area: 300,000 sq km (115,831 sq miles). Population: 76,498,735 (2000). Population Density: 255 per sq km. Capital: Manila. Population: 1,654,761 (2000). GEOGRAPHY: The Philippines lie off the southeast coast of Asia between Taiwan and Borneo in the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. They are composed of 7107 islands and islets (7108 at low tide), 2773 of which are named. The two largest islands, Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south, account for 65 per cent of the total land area and contain 60 per cent of the country’s population. Between the two lie the Visayas Islands. Government: Republic since 1987. Gained independence from the USA in 1946. Head of State and Government: President Maria Gloria Macapagal Arroyo since 2001. Language: Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is widely spoken, Spanish less so. There are over 111 cultural and racial groups, each with its own language or dialect; in 1990 there were 988 languages. Religion: Roman Catholic 84 per cent; the rest are made up mostly of Muslims, other Christian denominations, Buddhists and Taoists. Time: GMT + 8. Electricity: 220 volts (110 volts in Baguio) AC, 60Hz. 110 volts is available in most hotels. Flat and round two- and three-pin plugs are in use. Telephone IDD is available to main towns. Country code: 63. International calls to the smaller towns must be booked through the operator. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone GSM 900/1800 network. Operators include Digitel (website: www.digitelone.com), Smart Gold GSM (website: www.smart.com.ph) and Globe Telecom (website: www.globe.com.ph). Coverage is limited to Manila and other main urban areas. Fax All 3- to 5-star hotels, most government offices and most businesses have facsimile services. Telegram Telegrams can be sent from Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Incorporated offices. Internet ISPs include Internet Manila (website: www.i-manila.com.ph), Philworld Online (website: www.pworld.net.ph) and Cyber Space (website: www.cyberspace.com.ph). Visitors can access their e-mail from Internet cafes across the country. Post Airmail to Europe takes at least five days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700. Press There are about 17 daily newspapers. English-language daily newspapers include the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and the Manila Times. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.