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Updated: March 2009

Philippines

Overview | World Vision's history in Philippines | World Vision in Philippines today

Overview

The Republic of the Philippines, located 500 miles off the coast of mainland Southeast Asia, is an independent island nation in the western Pacific Ocean. This country is comprised of more than 7,100 volcanic islands, the 11 largest of which account for 94 percent of the country’s land mass. The climate is tropical, with average yearly temperatures of 80 degrees. Typical annual rainfall in the Philippines ranges from 38 to 160 inches. The country lies within the typhoon belt of the Pacific and experiences an average of 19 typhoons a year.

Prior to the Spanish-American War, Spain ruled the Philippines for 350 years before it was ceded to the United States in 1898. Shortly thereafter, Filipinos declared their independence and initiated attacks against U.S. troops, which continued until 1902 when peace was established. The Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth in 1935. In 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and held control throughout World War II, until U.S. forces recaptured the islands in 1944. The country attained full independence two years later.

Ferdinand Marcos’ 21-year rule ended in 1986, when a popular rebellion forced him into exile. Corazon Aquino, widow of the rebellion leader, was installed as president, but several coup attempts prevented her from establishing full political stability or furthering the country’s economic growth. In 1987, free elections were held and the republican form of government was sustained, despite rebel factions.

A small group of guerrillas, known as Abu Sayyaf, has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in the country since the 1970s. The group gained international notoriety throughout 2000 and 2001 for a spree of kidnappings and murders. In June 2003, international officials reported that an affiliate of al-Qaida trained recruits in the southern Philippines. Nearly 120,000 people have lost their lives in the conflicts with rebel groups and more than 3 million have been displaced.		map of Philippines


flag of Philippines 


Country statistics 
Population86.2 million
Land mass115,830 square miles
People per square mile745
Life expectancy70.5 years
Under age 5 mortality rate32/1,000
Literacy rate93%
Access to safe water85%
Average annual incomeUS$1,420
Religion
Christian92.5%
Muslim5.0%
Other2.4%
None 0.1%
 


In January 2001, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the daughter of former president Diosdado Macapagal, became president. She narrowly defeated film star Fernando Poe, Jr., in the May 2004 elections. The actor claimed voter fraud, and after an intense investigation, an attempt in September 2005 to impeach Arroyo failed. The government of the Philippines continues to fight corruption issues.

Many cultures are represented in the Philippines, creating a mosaic that reflects Eastern and Western influences. Most Filipinos are an ethnic mix of Malay and some Chinese, Indian, Spanish, and American ancestry. There are two official languages, Filipino and English, and eight major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan.

Education and health care are accessible to most people. Though primary education is free and schools are available, the quality is lower in rural areas. Trained medical personnel are also in short supply in those areas, but Manila has some of the best health-care facilities in Southeast Asia. However, malnutrition-related infant deaths remain high. Increased birthrates and decreased death rates have placed a significant strain on the country’s economy and social services. Consequently, 30 percent of Filipinos live below the poverty line, and 7.3 percent are unemployed.

The Philippines primarily exports raw materials and imports manufactured goods. Rice and corn, the staple food crops, occupy 80 percent of all cropland. Commercial crops include coconuts, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, coffee, and cotton. The processing of agricultural products accounts for almost half of all industrial production. Fishing, forestry, and tourism also are important. Natural resources include timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, and copper.

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World Vision’s history in Philippines

World Vision began working with the people of the Philippines in Manila in 1954. Childcare projects began shortly thereafter to help fund orphanages and daycare centers, health-care programs, educational assistance, hygiene, and spiritual enrichment projects. The Good Shepherd’s Fold Orphanage Project provided a gas stove, 600 reference books, musical instruments, vegetable seeds, and 3,000 textbooks to children on the island of Guimaras.

From 1960 to 1969, sponsorship continued to grow with the addition of the Mercyville orphanage in the village of Polonulig on the island of Mindanao. In addition, the Philippines Medical Boat Mission Project ministered to suffering people in remote, sea-locked villages. Medical and evangelical teams provided health care through two- and three-day clinics in churches and homes.

World Vision opened the Manila office in 1972. Staff sought to improve communities and continued sharing the message of the Gospel. By the end of the decade World Vision sponsored 29,750 children. Community development projects provided a comprehensive approach to integrate development among the small islands, which typically have few resources and are inaccessible during rough seas. Projects there sought to promote fishing, health care, sanitation, and education. The Ilin Island Fishing Project benefited 600 people by promoting self-sufficiency through agricultural production, increased fishing harvests, and improved water supplies.

The 1980s brought about the implementation of programs designed to encourage people to participate as active partners in the transformation of their communities. Projects from 1980 to 1989 included:
  • The Drought Relief Project in 1983 provided victims with dried fish and rice and vegetable seeds. In 1984, a typhoon relief project supplied food, housing materials, tools, and medicine to 25,000 people, and many families received loans for seeds, fishing nets and new boats.
  • The Panama Multi-Purpose Cooperative Project began with the establishment of a revolving loan fund to benefit farmers. It grew from a simple savings and credit operation to include 317 members and more than $55,000 in assets.
Providing relief and support for victims of natural disasters, including an earthquake and volcano eruption, were of primary importance during the 1990s. Efforts continued to promote nutrition, education, and community development. By 1996, 32 sponsorship projects were benefiting more than 27,000 children. Projects in the 1990s included:
  • The First National Children’s Congress Project assembled more than 300 children to share ideas, dreams, and practical recommendations on national and local issues.

    The project initiated a deliberate effort to involve children in the development process.

  • The Philippine Earthquake Relief Project in 1990 assisted 7,240 families in 20 towns following a major earthquake on Luzon Island. The quake caused the loss of many lives and extensive damage to government property and crops. World Vision staff provided tents, blankets, medicines, food, and water.
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World Vision in Philippines today

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of the Philippines to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 104,050 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 19,000 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 49 development programs, 15 of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
  • The Combating Child Labor Through Education Project is a grant-funded program designed to increase awareness of the negative effects of child labor and the importance of education to eliminate it. Project leaders are committed to establishing alternative livelihood programs for youth over 15 years of age and the families of child laborers and children at risk.
  • The Mountain View Project aims to improve the quality of life for children and their families in Bais City, Manjuyod, and Canlaon City by establishing community-based health programs, education, economic development, environmental protection, and disaster management.
For more information on World Vision’s efforts in the Philippines, contact the United States office.

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