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The '''Philippines''' is a nation comprised of over 7,000 islands in the [[South China Sea]], north of [[Indonesia]], east of [[Vietnam]] and south of [[Taiwan]].  The main geographic divisions are the island of Luzon in the north, Mindanao in the south, and the numerous smaller islands of the Visayas in the center.  

The '''Philippines''' is a nation comprised of over 7,000 islands in the [[South China Sea]], north of [[Indonesia]], east of [[Vietnam]] and south of [[Taiwan]].  The main geographic divisions are the island of Luzon in the north, Mindanao in the south, and the numerous smaller islands of the Visayas in the center.  

The Philippines was subject to Spanish colonial rule from 1865 to 1898, when Spain was defeated by the U.S. in the Spanish-American War.  After an insurgency was put down the United States administered the islands until they were conquered by Imperial Japan in 1942.  In October 1944 America invaded the island of Leyte, which precipitated the largest naval battle in history, the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]].  The result was the virtual annihilation of the Japanese Navy.  After the islands were retaken from the Japanese, America granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

The Philippines was subject to [[Spain|Spanish]] colonial rule from 1865 to 1898, when Spain was defeated by the U.S. in the [[Spanish-American War]].  After an insurgency was put down the [[United States]] administered the islands until they were conquered by Imperial [[Japan]] in 1942.  In October 1944 America invaded the island of Leyte, which precipitated the largest naval battle in history, the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]].  The result was the virtual annihilation of the Japanese Navy.  After the islands were retaken from the Japanese, America granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

Governed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now in her second six-year term, the population of over 85 million Filipinos have a per capital income of aproximately $1,200. Chronic political corruption has prevented the nation from breaking out as an economic "Asian Tiger" like neighboring [[Singapore]], [[Taiwan]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[South Korea]].

Governed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now in her second six-year term, the population of over 85 million Filipinos have a per capital income of aproximately $1,200. Chronic political corruption has prevented the nation from breaking out as an economic "Asian Tiger" like neighboring [[Singapore]], [[Taiwan]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[South Korea]].