North to south, 7,107 islands spread over 1,150 miles in the western Pacific Ocean to make up the country of the Philippines. About 95 percent of the population lives on the 11 largest islands. In the tropical lowlands, the climate is usually hot, humid, and rainy.
Philippine society is known for its tradition of strong family loyalty, respect for women, recognition of the mother in the family as teacher of values, and a commitment to working together in a community spirit called bayanihan. For centuries, the Philippine Islands have been the crossroads of many cultures, including the Middle East, India, and China, which all came to trade. In 1521, Spaniard Ferdinand Magellan reached the islands, and Spain ruled them until 1898. The Philippines was granted independence from Japanese control in 1946, after Japan's defeat in World War II. Since 1986, when the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was toppled, the Philippines has enjoyed political stability and steady economic growth.