菲律宾(Philippines)
正式名称菲律宾共和国（Republic of the Philippines）
亚洲东南海岸外的群岛国家。面积约299,536平方公里。人口约78,609,000（2001）。首都︰马尼拉，奎松市是国家政府预定地。菲律宾人的祖先主要属马来人的後裔，通常还有中－菲、菲律宾－美国或西班牙－菲律宾混血人。语言︰菲律宾语和英语（均为官方语）；其他主要的语族有宿雾语、伊洛卡诺语、希利盖农语和比科尔语。宗教︰天主教、伊斯兰教和新教。货币︰菲律宾披索（）。该国约由7,100个大小岛屿组成。两座主岛是吕宋（北部）和民答那峨（南部）。米沙鄢群岛位於菲律宾中部，民都洛位於吕宋岛正南方，而巴拉望为西方孤岛。菲律宾地形多样，休眠火山和山峦为多数较大岛屿的显着的特色。该国属市场经济，主要以农业、轻工业和服务业为基础。政府形式为中央集权共和国，两院制。国家元首暨政府首脑是总统。
1521年由麦哲伦发现，西班牙人在该群岛殖民，并一直控制到1898年美西战争後才把它割让给了美国。1935年建立菲律宾联邦，为该国在政治和经济上的独立作准备，但因第二次世界大战和日本入侵而使独立推迟了。1944～1945年美国军队解放了这个群岛，1946年宣布成立菲律宾共和国，按照美国模式成立政府。1965年马可仕当选总统。1972年他宣布实施戒严法，并持续到1981年。经过二十年的专制统治後，1986年马可仕被赶下了台。艾奎诺成为总统，实施民主统治，并在1992年罗慕斯当选总统後继续下去。1990年代，菲律宾政府试图与南部诸岛的独立斗士议和。
English version：
Philippines
Nation, an archipelago off the southeastern coast of Asia. Area: 115,651 sq mi (299,536 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 71,539,000. Capital: Manila; Quezon City is the designated center of national government. Filipinos are predominantly of Malay descent, frequently admixed with Chinese and sometimes with American or Spanish groups. Languages: Pilipino and English (both official); the other main groups are Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and Bicol. Religions: Roman Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism. Currency: Philippine peso. The Philippines consist of about 7,100 islands and islets. The two principal islands are Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south. The Visayan group is in the central Philippines, Mindoro is directly south of Luzon, and Palawan is isolated in the west. The topography of the archipelago is varied, with inactive volcanoes and mountain ranges the main features of most of the larger islands. The country has a predominantly market economy based largely on agriculture, light industries, and services. It is a republic with two legislative houses; its chief of state and head of government is the president. Discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, the islands were colonized by the Spanish, who retained control until the Philippines were ceded to the U.S. in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in 1935 to prepare the country for political and economic independence, which was delayed by World War II and the Japanese invasion. The islands were liberated by U.S. forces 1944-45, and the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed in 1946, with a government patterned on that of the U.S. In 1965 Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. He declared martial law in 1972, and it lasted until 1981. After 20 years of dictatorial rule, he was driven from power in 1986. Corazon Aquino became president and instituted a period of democratic rule that continued with the 1992 election of Fidel Ramos. Through the 1990s the government tried to come to terms with independence fighters in the southern islands.