The Philippines *
Flag of the Philippines and the Republic of the Philippines Coat of Arms
The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of about 90 million people. Its national economy is the 45th largest in the world , with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$ 168.6 billion (nominal). There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, estimate about 11% of the population. A former colony of Spain and the United States , the Philippines is one of two predominant Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor . There are also a number of minority religious groups, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other beliefs. Multiple ethnicities, and cultures are found throughout the islands. Ecologically , the Philippines is one of the most diverse countries in the world. * Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/Philippines
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