The archipelago became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, was ceded to the United States in 1898, and has been an independent republic since 12 June 1946. After 20 years of dictatorship under Ferdinando Marcos, democracy was restored by Corazón (Cory) Aquino (the widow of Senator Benigno Aquino, who was assassinated on 23 August 1983). Corazón Aquino was President of the Republic from 1986 to 1992. Since 1969, the Maoist rebels of the NPA (New People’s Army) have been campaigning for agricultural reform and the removal of the American military presence. Guerrilla movements are endemic on the island of Mindanao, which, over time, have become radicalized and have tightened ties with international Islamic fundamentalism. In 1996 a peace agreement was signed with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and in 2014 with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Extremist Islamic groups such as Abu Sayyaf and minor militias are active.
According to the 1987 Constitution, the President, who is also head of the government, is elected directly for a six-year term and cannot be re-elected; the vice-President is elected in a separate but similar procedure.
The Parliament is bicameral: at present the House of Representatives consists of 306 members (245 elected for three years on a first-past-the-post basis, plus 61 representatives of minor parties), the Senate has 24 members who remain in office for a six-year term, half of whom are renewed every three years. Since 2003, voting has also been extended to many Filipinos residing abroad.

Defence.
There are some American military bases in the country.

Justice.
The legal system is based on Spanish Law and British Common Law.

Population by age and gender (% - 2018)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

The annual growth rate, once among the highest in Asia, is in constant decline. About ten million Filipinos live abroad.

Economic situation.
Since 2012, economic growth has remained strong, driven by the government’s expansionary policy to finance infrastructure investments, and by domestic consumption, even though exports have weakened due to the slowdown in global trade. Unemployment is undergoing slow but constant decline. Serious underemployment and unequal distribution of income are still issues, but the percentage of the population under the poverty threshold is in gradual decline, especially in urban areas. Remittances from Filipinos living abroad remain crucial.

Primary sector
Agriculture.
The ongoing agricultural reform has created many small plots of land, though large estates are still the norm. The main crops grown for domestic consumption are rice, maize and cassava; thanks to extensive irrigation, the most productive area is the flat plain north of Manila. The crops bound for export include coconut palms, sugar-cane, bananas, pineapples (Mindanao). One of Manila’s traditional crops is Manila hemp (from the abacà plant). A great deal of tobacco is grown, with most (and the highest quality) tobacco coming from the northern Philippines (in particular from the valley of the River Cagayan on Luzon).
Forests.
Mahogany from the Philippines is greatly prized; the country is one of the largest producers of natural rubber.
Livestock and fishing.
Most of the livestock farming is practised on large estates on Mindanao and Masbate. Fishing is widespread (especially tuna, sardines, herrings and anchovies), but is limited on account of polluted coastal waters and destructive methods of exploitation. Fish-farming is relevant (especially seaweeds, shellfish, Chanos chanos, tilapia, and molluscs).

Secondary sector
Minerals.
There are sizeable nickel deposits (on Palawan Island and in the regions of Caraga and Central Luzon), silver and gold (in the north and south-east of Luzon), coal (at Cebu City), copper (on the Zamboanga Peninsula, in northern Luzon and on the Bicol Peninsula), chromite (in the eastern part of Samar Island, on Dinagat Island and in the province of Zambales). Oil and natural gas are extracted from the deep-sea field of Malampaya.
Industry.
Industry has reached a reasonable level of diversification and is highly developed. The most important sectors are the food-processing sector (oil, sugar, wood, paper and tobacco), electronics, petrochemicals and textiles. There are important iron and steel plants at Iligan, petrochemical plants at Limay, Batangas and Tabangao, and nitrogenous fertilizer plants at Limay, Cebu City, Malabon, Rizal and Taguig. Vehicle manufacturing is significant. Production of electrical and electronic components is located at the former US military bases of Subic Bay and Clark. Craft activities include straw hats, embroidery, reed-matting and ceramics.

Main exports
(M US$ - 2017) 
electrical and electronic equipment 18 552, electronic integrated circuits 13 982, computers and accessories 5 814, machinery 3 312, optical and electro-medical appliances 2 488, refined copper 2 051, ships and boats 1 680, copper oil 1 520, timber 1 411, gold 1 236, vehicles and parts thereof 1 183, bananas 1 128, apparel and accessories 1 067, fresh and preserved fish and crustaceans 1 046

Finance and banking.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas acts as the central bank of the Philippines. The banking system is relatively underdeveloped compared with the country’s economy, while foreign banks are becoming more numerous. There is a stock exchange at Manila.

Education.
Education is completely free; primary school is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 13; secondary education lasts for five years. Lessons are taught in Filipino and English at primary level and English at secondary level and thereafter.