1. SLIDES 1,2,3,4 The Philippines is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it a diverse country. The Philippines is the 73rd largest independent nation in the world covering almost 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi) and an archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, and is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 2. SLIDE 5 Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Because of early settlement, the islands are influenced by Malay, Hindu and Islamic societies. Later Chinese settlement introduced Chinese cultural elements. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of the Spanish colonization. A Spanish colony for more than three centuries and named after a 16th century Spanish king – the Philippines was taken over by the US in the early 20th century after a protracted rebellion against rule from Madrid. Spanish and US influences remain strong, especially in terms of language, religion and government. Self-rule in 1935 was followed by full independence in 1946 under a US-style constitution 3. SLIDE 6 You will fly into Manila, the capital city and the second largest city of the Philippines. Manilla is 800 miles from mainland Asia. It is one of the sixteen cities (along with the municipality of Pateros) that make up the National Capital Region called Metro Manila that has a population of 12 million. Manila has a total population of 1.6 million according to the 2010 census and is the second most populous city in the Philippines, behind Quezon City. The populace inhabits an area of only 38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in the world. Bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country, as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government are found in the city. Manila is also home to many scientific and educational institutions, numerous sport facilities, and other culturally and historically significant venues. 4. SLIDE 7,8 One of the more famous modes of transportation in Manila is the jeepney. Patterned after MacArthur’s U.S. army jeeps, these have been in use since the years immediately following World War II. They have become the ubiquitous symbol of the Philippine culture. Another popular mode of public transportation in the country are the Tricycles, they are a common means of passenger transport in the country especially on rural areas. There are 124,240 miles of roads of which only 20% are paved. However, the road system in Manila Metro area is adequate although crowded. Of course, there are private cars (smaller models) and taxis similar to the US. 5. SLIDE 9,10,11,12 Food shopping is much like the US. The shops will depend on the neighborhood, ranging from traditional markets to supermarkets and hypermarkets in urban areas. The local markets in a big city or regional town are time crowded and colorful. The sellers, young or older, will welcome foreigners in their stall. They are always prepared for a friendly talk, even if you don't buy. The Philippines is one of the developing countries where the sellers don't molest a foreigner in an attempt to sell. Most of the Filipinos speak English, so communication is not a problem. 6. SLIDE 13,14,15 The climate in the area you are going to is very different than Wisconsin. There are are two seasons in the country, the wet season and the dry season, based upon the amount of rainfall. Based on temperature, the seven warmest months of the year are from March to October. May is the warmest month, and January, the coolest. The summer monsoon from the southwest brings heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October. Monsoon rains, although hard and drenching, are not normally associated with high winds and waves. The “trade winds” coming from the northeast dominates from December to May and bring little precipitation. At least 30 percent of the annual rainfall in the northern Philippines can be traced to tropical typhoons that occur in the period June- November. Relative humidity is high in the Philippines. A high amount of moisture or vapor in the air makes hot temperatures feel hotter. This quantity of moisture is due to different factors - the extraordinary evaporation from the seas that surrounds the country on all sides, to the different prevailing winds in the different seasons of the year, and finally, to the abundant rains so common in a tropical country. The least comfortable months are from March to May where temperature and humidity attain their maximum levels. The World Watch Institute (WWI) predicts that climate change will cause more heavy rainfall patterns and typhoons in the future. 7. SLIDE 16,17,18 One of the things in which a tropical country differs from countries of other climate zones, is housing. The architecture as well as the used construction materials, show a clear adjustment to the specific climate conditions. A more important aspect that influences the architecture is the financial position of the family. You can find living arrangements from the traditional Nipa hut (Bahay Kubo) of the indigenous people constructed of bamboo tied together and covered with a thatched roof of palm leaves. The Colonian Filipino house is a mixture of native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences. These stone houses had open ventilation and elevated apartments much like the Nipa hut. The Spanish colonial period brought with it the architecture of Europe along with the Roman Catholic religion. During the 20th century, the Americans constructed many Art Nouveaux Buildings in Manila. Today, the architecture is modern, although houses are considerably smaller than the US. Slumscan be found in all parts of the Philippines. SLIDE 19 A newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. Of the country's total labor force of around 38.1 million, the agricultural sector employs close to 32% but contributes to only about 14% of GDP. Many citizens still live in rural areas and support themselves through agriculture. The country's agriculture sector is made up of 4 sub-sectors: farming, fisheries, livestock, and forestry. The main agricultural crops are rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, coffee, mangoes, tobacco, and abaca (a banana-like plant). The Philippines is the world’s largest producer of coconuts and pineapples and a large producer of sugar and rice. Secondary crops include peanut, cassava, camote (a type of rootcrop), garlic, onion, cabbage, eggplant, calamansi (a variety of lemon), rubber, and cotton. SLIDE 20, 21 Pork is the main animal product produced and consumed in the Philippines today. Like rice and chicken, it is one of the Philippines’s staple food products. Pork comprises about 59% of meat and poultry production in the Philippines. Imports account for less than 5% of consumption and are principally brought in to cover shortfalls in the local supply of lower-end and low-cost products for use by the food processing industry. Chicken is the second largest animal product . Cattle are for the most part Bos indicus type for meat, draft and milk although some dairies use European breeds. Caraboa, or water buffalo, are used for meat, draft and milk, They are well suited to the tropical environment. Duck meat and eggs are popular in the diet and account for 1.5% of the total animal production value. Dairy accounts for less than 1% of production and includes cattle, caraboa and goats. The Philippines has been identified as one of the next eleven by Goldman Sachs, as having a high potential of becoming the world’s largest economies in the 21st century. Currently the 45th largest economy in the world, the Philippines posted the highest GDP growth rates in Asia for the first two quarters of 2013. A youthful population, willing to adopt and develop new technology, bodes well for the future of the country. .