Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands scattered between Indonesia and Taiwan in the western Pacific. The land mass total is about the size of Arizona. About 95 percent of the area and population are on the 11 largest islands which are mountainous except for the coastlines. The total population is over 77 million and growing at over 2% per year.

For many Filipinos life in a nipa hut, a simple thatch roof bamboo house on stilts, is an idyllic way to live. A short walk to an ocean beach or fish pond provides fresh fish to supplement the diet of rice. But rapidly increasing population, urbanization, militarization and massive logging in the countryside makes this serene life impossible for many Filipinos. Most farmers farm an acre or two and have no land to pass on to their children. The economy is moving towards a more high tech base, which strains rural cultures.

In recent years the Philippines has reeled from natural disasters and warfare, both domestic and international. The economy has taken a slight upswing, mostly due to the uninterrupted availability of electrical power in recent years. The government pursued peace talks with three rebel groups, at the same time struggling with divisions within the government over economic policies.

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