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jon448
09-13-2005, 10:32
History: Up until the 16th Century the Philipines were a archipelago of islands with no true common background. The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Between 1898 and 1901 the Phillipino natives and Americans fought in the Philipine-American War. 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines attained their independence. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term in May 2004. In June of this year there have been accusations of massive cover-ups and electoral fraud concerning the 2004 elections.

Area: Slightly Larger then Arizona, 300,000 sq miles

Capital: Manila

Bordering Countries: None, no land borders of any kind

Climate: Tropical, with a Monsoon season in the Northeast from November to April and in the Southwest from May to October.

Terrain: Mountainous interior and coastal lowlands.

Enviromental Issues: Uncontrolled Deforestation, Soil Erosion, Air and Water Pollution

Natural Hazards: Flooding

National Government: A representative republic with a constitution based on the U.S.

International Relations: A founding and active member of the U.N. Currently in a dispute with Taiwan, PROC, Vietnam and Malaysia over the Spratly Islands, a rich Oil and Natural Gas island Chain. The government is also having problems with Muslim and Communists seperatists in the southwest of the Archipelago.

Population: 87 Million, growth rate of 1.84%

Ethnic Groups: 80% of the population are descended from people who speak Austronesian languages. Their descendants form the vast majority of the Philippines' population. Twelve major native groups descended from them. The largest and most prominent of these groups are the Tagalog (24%), Sugbuhanon (24%), and the Ilocano (11%), together with the Hiligaynons, Bicolanos, Waraynons, Kapampangans. Pangasinenses, Kinaray-as, Maranaos, Maguindanaos, and Tausugs. Many minor groups, such as the Cordillera and Mindanao hilltribes have mixtures of Austronesian and Nesiot (Primitive Caucasoid) blood, which explains their white physiognomy. Further migrations from Formosa gave rise to the Ivatans of Batanes, and from Malaysia came the Badjaos of Tawi-Tawi. Most are Roman Catholic Christians, although some are Sunni Muslims.

10% of the country's population are Chinese. The ethnic Chinese are divided into three primary ethnolinguistic groups: Hokkien (also called Min, Lan-nang, and Hoklo), Cantonese (also called Yueh), and Shanghainese (also called Wu). They control 60-70% of the country's economy, and form a significant portion of the country's elite. Also, the Chinese community in the Philippines are divided on the basis of immigration date. Many intermarriages among the Chinese and the native Filipinos have produced a sizeable Chinese Mestizo group. Most are Protestant Christians. Most Chinese and Chinese Mestizos live in Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga.

4% of Filipinos are Whites, being Europeans, Americans, or Australians. The most significant of all Europeans are the Spaniards, descendants of the former colonizers and conquistadores of the Philippines. They have intermingled freely with the natives, and the offspring of Filipino-Spanish people are called Mestizos. The Spanish people of the Philippines still control a significant part of the country's economy and form the traditional elite. Other Europeans include Basques, Catalans, Spanish-Jews, Dutchmen, Germans, British, Irish, Italians, and Polish people. They have also intermingled with the native Filipinos. Most Americans in the Philippines are either expatriates, businessmen, or missionaries. Many have intermarried with the Filipinos. There are currently 180,000 Americans in Manila alone. American mestizos, or people of mixed Filipino and American parentage mostly live in Manila, Angeles, and Olongapo.

3% of all Filipinos belong to the Indian race. Most are Sindhis or Punjabis. Indians in the Philippines engage in business and trade affairs. Sindhis form the upper class of Indians and Punjabis form the lower class. Most are either Hindu or Sikh. Virtually all Filipinos of Indian descent live in Manila or in provincial centers.

2% belong to various Asian ethnicites, including Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Many expatriate Japanese have assumed residency status and have married Filipina wives. Koreans, of which the vast majority are students are mostly semi-permanent residents, and most return to Korea after finishing studies here in the Philippines. Vietnamese, descendants of the boat-people refugees of the Vietnam War, have remained a separate entity in reference to the Filipinos. They are in a majority in a certain township in Palawan, and many of them have mixed Vietnamese-American parentage.

1% of Filipinos are Negritos, descendants of people from the Andaman islands who came to the archipelago thousands of years ago. They are the aborigines of the Philippines.

Languages: 170 various tribal languages are spoken, however English and Tagalog are the official languages.

Currency: The Phillipine peso which has lost over 99% of its value since 1949.

GDP: $409,445 million, per capita $4770.

Economy: In 1998 the Philippine economy — a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services — deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to 0.6% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to about 3% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. . Heavy debt (public debt at 77% of GDP), is hampering efforts to improve the economic situation. Budget allocation for servicing of debt is higher than the budget for the Department of Education and for the military combined.

The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, furthering deregulation and privatisation of the economy, and increasing trade integration with the region. Prospects for the future depend heavily on the economic performance of the two major trading partners, the United States and Japan, and a more accountable administration and consistent government policies.

Military: The Armed Forces of the Philipines or AFP was founded in 1935, and was organized by General Douglas MacArthur. The AFP consists of an Army, Navy and Air Force with the Navy being divided into 2 branches, the Marines and the Philipine Fleet. There are 2 military academies, and in 1998 the budget was $995 Million.

Currently the Chief of Staff, General Efren F. Abu, is in the process of retiring after serving at the post for only 10 months although General Abu has brought about great reform within the corrupt Philipine military.

Sources:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Peso
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Philippines
http://www.afp.mil.ph/

Airbornelawyer
09-13-2005, 10:46
Philippines. One "L" and two "P"s. I think you have every possible variant in there. :rolleyes:

Airbornelawyer
09-13-2005, 11:07
Also, for military links I see you have just the AFP link. Add these:

Official: Department of National Defense (http://www.dnd.gov.ph/)
Philippine Army (http://www.army.mil.ph/)
Philippine Air Force (http://www.paf.mil.ph/)
Philippine Navy (http://www.navy.mil.ph/)

Philippine Fleet (http://fleet.mil.ph/)
Philippine Marine Corps (http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/)


Philippine National Police (http://www.pnp.gov.ph/)

Unofficial: Manoski's ORBAT (http://www.hueybravo.net/): Armed Forces of the Philippines Order of Battle
Opus' Unofficial Philippine Defense Page (http://www.timawa.net/)

jon448
09-13-2005, 18:19
Philippines. One "L" and two "P"s. I think you have every possible variant in there. :rolleyes:
Sorry AL, I thought I corrected them all but I must have missed a few... Thats what I get for trying to write one up between classes. :o

Go For Broke
12-05-2005, 21:05
Indigenous Communications: Philippine cell phones use the GSM system with information stored on individual SIM cards for the phones. SIM cards are available at a number of stores, the most prominant being SMART (http://www.smart.com.ph) and GLOBE (http://www.myglobe.com.ph/myglobe/default.aspx). The GSM footprint for these phones is excellent in the Metro Manila area, however the further south one travels, the footprint weakens. Best bet (currently as of Dec 05) is the Ericsson R-190 (http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=ph&lc=en&ver=4000&template=pp1_1_1&zone=pp&lm=pp1&pid=9439) which is a GSM / Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS (http://www.acesinternational.com/)) phone. It is also recommended to purchase the pre-paid cards versus the cards which rely on a credit card / monthly payments. Additional benefit of using the ACeS is that it is much less expensive to place international calls than using Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) calling cards.

Indigenous Living Quarters: If forced to live in bare base type structure, it is recommended that one purchase nipa from the locals. Not only does this help to put money into the local economy, but the quality fo the nipa is much superior, with some structures lasting in excess of 25 years.

Local Language: Learn a few key words of Tagalog which, along with English, is part of the school system. However be aware of two key facts. 1) There are many various local dialects to include Illocano; Visaya; Chavacano; Bahasa, etc..etc.. and 2) Most of the local will want to practice their English skills with you e.g. "Hello po...how you do po?"

Driving: Driving is on the right hand side of the road. A international drivers permit, while acceptable is not required. Traffic is very congested, and driver's are encouraged to be moderately aggressive. Traffic is further complicated by the Tuk-Tuks (motorized tricycles, which the drivers signal lane changes by sticking out a foot and are packed well over maximum load / passenger carrying capacity) and the garishly decorated Jeepneys (a bus...of sorts...)

Internet Connections: can be horribly slow, if available at all. Remote regions will require a satellite link up to an internet connection.

Computers and other electronic devices: The high temperatures and humidity will wreck havoc with electronic equipment if proper precautions are not taken. It is recommended, that if you are not in a location where it can be temperature / humidity controlled, that you place bottle caps underneath the electrical devices to help air flow. A fan directed at the cooling mechanisms of the electrical devices is also a good idea. Plastic sheets should be suspended over the electronics (if they must be left out) or ideally stored in a waterproof container filled with desiccant (available in many dive shops - be careful when purchasing overseas that you are not purchasing small mothballs...on the plus side, your delicate electrical equipment will not be eaten by moths as was soon learned :D )

Power: In remote locations power is generally from a generator. This can result in an uneven power flow (think SURGE PROTECTORS and UPS) and is usually 220 V (think POWER ADAPTORS, not just plug adaptors).

Climate: Very humid (obvious) Leather products need to be treated and inspected regularly!!! (Not so obvious)

Fauna:

Mosquitos (Malaria Vector): Take the chemoprophylaxis as directed (preferably at night when 1) mosquitos are most active and 2) lessens the effects of photosensitivity) . Apply insect repellant / Permethrin to clothing. Wear long sleeves and trousers. Standard stuff, just remember the pills.

Rodents: Standard rules apply, be aware that they will chew through 1000 denier cordura.

Snakes: Prevalent in remote reqions. Normally active at night. Will climb the walls of your nipa hut and surprise you by dropping down from the roof.

Leeches: Can be found in streams and other bodies of water.

Water: Treat ALL water as suspect unless it is a) boiled or b) bottled (bottled water, soda, beer :D, juices, etc). DO NOT trust ice unless it is from a hotel that caters to tourists.

Hope this helps.

V/R,

lrd
02-21-2006, 14:00
Magdalo escapee recaptured
By Jaime Laude And Arnell Ozaeta
The Philippine Star 02/22/2006

BATANGAS CITY — A leader of the failed Magdalo mutiny in July 2003 who escaped from his Fort Bonifacio detention cell along with three other junior Army officers last month was recaptured early yesterday at a police checkpoint in Padre Garcia, Batangas.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Generoso Senga confirmed the arrest of Army 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan, along with two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas, after they were stopped in a Mitsubishi van with license plates XAY-269 at a roadblock set up by military and police in Barangay San Felipe in that town.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said San Juan was intercepted after attending a meeting with top NPA leaders in nearby Rosario town. "This is treason," Lomibao declared.

Lomibao added a firefight was underway in Rosario between government forces and other NPA leaders who had met with San Juan.

Although the PNP chief gave no other details of the operation, the military said San Juan had a meeting with NPA leaders identified as Tirso Alcantara and Leo Velasco.

Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Pedro Cabuay said combined police and military troops raided Barangay Bucal, a village in Rosario, at early dawn where San Juan was supposedly meeting with the NPA leaders.

Sensing the raid, San Juan and two communist guerrilla suspects identified as Albert Guyal and lawyer Jose Christopher Belmonte were able to escape in a Mitsubishi van while the rest managed to escape on foot, Cabuay said.

"There must have been something cooking there," Cabuay said, describing the meeting participants as an "unholy alliance between two groups of different ideologies."

"During the raid, the engine (of one of the vehicles left at the scene) was still running and the food was still hot, indicating that they had just left when they sensed the government agents," Lomibao added. Tactical alliance
Lomibao said San Juan was intercepted by police and military personnel who were already waiting for him at Barangay San Felipe.

He told a news conference at Camp General Malvar here that intelligence agents from the Air Force’s 740th Combat Group frustrated the rebel plans when it raided a suspected safehouse in Barangay Bucal.

"The meeting between Lt. San Juan and top members of the NPAs took place in a farmhouse in Barangay Bucal last Monday evening until they were assaulted by our troops at around 5 a.m.," Lomibao said.

Immediately after the raid, the military and the police deployed a ring of security around Bucal to prevent the rebels and the renegade Army officer from trying to escape.

San Juan and the two suspected rebel leaders were later intercepted at the road checkpoint in Barangay San Felipe, about six kilometers away from the meeting place. Police said the renegade Army officer and the two rebels were on their way to Lipa City.

San Juan did not resist arrest, nor did Belmonte or Guyal.

Before his recapture, the police and military intelligence had already been monitoring San Juan’s attempts to forge a tactical alliance with the communists.

"The meeting only showed that they were at the initial stage of alliance," Lomibao stressed.

"This (recapture of San Juan) confirms the reports that the New People’s Army and the Magdalo Group had linked up to fight against the government," he said.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao said the recapture of San Juan and the two rebel leaders had confirmed earlier suspicions that the renegade Army officer, representing the Magdalo group, was trying to forge an alliance with the NPA.

Pagdilao pointed out Belmonte and Guyal were known to have active links with the communist rebels.

"It is really very unfortunate that this is a sign of desperation on the part of the Magdalo to link up with an established enemy of the state, the enemy that these officers who are graduates of the Philippine Military Academy had sworn to fight because they have taken their oath to defend the Constitution," Pagdilao added.

The military said Belmonte had been wounded in 2003 while driving a car with NPA leader Nilo de la Cruz and another rebel that was ambushed by government forces.

Cabuay declared in the same news conference here that Belmonte, who had been acting as counsel for San Juan, was a member of the NPA.

On the other hand, NPA spokesman Gregorio Rosal said he was unaware of both the arrests and the ongoing firefight.

"If they had been meeting in Padre Garcia, it would not have been necessary for them (his comrades) to notify me about it," Rosal told dzRH radio.

The communists had previously issued statements praising the actions of the escaped officers and offering a tactical alliance with them. End of the line
The AFP top brass downplayed the capability of the "reformist" military faction or any other anti-Arroyo group to mount a power grab against the administration.

Senga said the military was well on top of the situation with the recapture of San Juan.

The AFP chief noted San Juan was recaptured a day after the fugitive Army officer supposedly sent taped messages to news organizations urging citizens to show defiance of President Arroyo by wearing red armbands.

San Juan claimed he had the support of 10 active generals who would join him in a planned coup against President Arroyo. The renegade Army officer even warned that Magdalo would "take action" before the end of the month.

San Juan was among the junior officers who led 300 troops during their occupation of the posh Oakwood Premier Ayala Center and a nearby shopping mall in Makati City’s central business district in July 2003.

Calling themselves the Magdalo, the group rigged the area with bombs in an attempt to highlight their accusations of high corruption involving Mrs. Arroyo and officials.

San Juan had managed to escape along with four other junior military officers earlier this year while on trial for the 2003 mutiny, and all have since called for the ousting of Mrs. Arroyo.

One officer who had escaped earlier, Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, was arrested in Malabon late January.

Yesterday’s arrest of San Juan followed a mysterious explosion in Malacañang last Monday that caused no casualties or damage. Hours later, a shadowy group of self-proclaimed military rebels claimed the explosion and issued threats against the government.

The group described itself as "reformist" military officers and claimed in a statement to news agencies that it "started today a series of explosive protest activities that will continue and even escalate until Gloria Arroyo leaves the presidency." ‘Lessened capability’
The AFP top brass declared the arrest of San Juan had lessened the capability of the Magdalo and other rebel groups to launch a coup.

Senga stressed the military remains united in support of the government as shown in coordinated efforts to recapture San Juan.

However, Senga said the military is not taking the issue lightly as it continued to look into reports of destabilization and the groups believed to be supporting such coup plots.

Senga added the military has started its probe on the existence of the Young Officers Union New Generation (YOUng), one of the groups that had claimed responsibility over last Monday’s "explosion" near Malacañang.

The AFP chief also described as "irresponsible" the statements made by anti-Arroyo groups in the wake of the tragedy that struck a farming village in Southern Leyte last Friday.

"The whole Philippines is concerned about how we can help in the tragedy in St. Bernard in Southern Leyte, and yet the preoccupation of this group is to trigger destabilization," Senga noted.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said the alliance being sought by San Juan with the communists was merely to advance his personal agenda.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said San Juan’s efforts to join with the NPA, a sworn enemy of the state, indicates a pursuit of personal ambition by abandoning his commitment to the nation and joining a group seeking to overthrow the government.

Ermita said the arrest of San Juan should serve as an eye opener for the officers and servicemen of the AFP.

Administration lawmakers added it will simply be a matter of time before the other military fugitives are recaptured.

House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin (Basilan) and Davao del Sur Rep. Douglas Cagas said the recapture of San Juan had "further exposed the weakness of the Magdalo group and the emptiness of its threat to oust President Arroyo."

"This (arrest) is a signal for the remaining fugitive mutineers to come out and surrender because they will eventually be located and captured by authorities. Theirs (Magdalo’s advocacy) is a lost cause from the very beginning," Cagas said. — With reports from Cecille Suerte Felipe, Christina Mendez, Delon Porcalla, AP, AFP

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200602220401.htm

lrd
02-24-2006, 12:28
...declared by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.


Comments and text of Proclamation No. 1017:

http://philippinecommentary.blogspot.com/2006/02/live-blogging-edsa-anniversary.html

http://deanjorgebocobo.blogspot.com/

http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=629

hoot72
11-16-2006, 07:17
Its a fact the abu syaff and other factions of the moro guerilla's use sandakan (small villages outside of the town of Sandakan) as their homes. Most of them moved across in the late 70's and early 80's during the war over there and settled in Sabah, not that the government at the time minded.

Its a major problem for the Malaysian government now because so many of these immigrants arent technically citizens but some of them have, through dubious means managed to get ID cards and birth certs and are now citizens..

Its extremely rampant and its hard to tell who is bugis, bajau or suluk....

I did a 250km march from sandakan across to ranau last year to re-trace the sandakan-ranau deathmarch trail with a group of aussie soldiers from butterworth in Penang and even they needed a platoon of malaysian army regular's to escort us for the entire trek, because we were all aware of the existence of rebels living/mixing with civilians in rural villages outside of sandakan and near the town of beluran.

The army regulars were armed and it was a little unnerving but its not something new. We all know where they are. And given the border is so hard to manage and the Malaysian navy is pretty useless at border security, these guys go back and forth almost at will across the borders.