Filipino Fun Facts
1. The Philippines is a collection of 7,107 islands of which 4,000 are inhabited and only 2,773 have officially been given names. All of these islands have been assigned into three geographical groups.
2. The Philippines was named after King Phillip II. It was the first country to gain independence after World War II much to the aid of the USA.
3. The Philippines stretches onto the area of 115,830 square miles, which makes it equal to the size of Italy. However, the land area of the Philippines is about 1/30th of the U.S.; it has a coastline of 36,289 kilometers while the U.S. coastline is just 19,924 kilometers.
4. The Philippines has a population of more than 100 million people, which makes it the 12th most populous country in the world
5. Manila, the capital of the Philippines is considered the world’s most densely populated city in the world. With a population of 1,660,714 and an area of just 24 square miles (38.55 square km), it has a population density of 55,446 people per square mile (43,079 people per square km)
6. The yo-yo had its beginnings as an ancient Filipino studded hunting weapon attached to a 20-foot rope. The modern yo-yo was invented by a Filipino American, and its name yóyo comes from the Filipino language Ilocano and means “come back.
7. The Philippines is the only majority Christian nation in Asia. Eighty percent of its population identifies as Roman Catholic
8.The Philippines is regarded the “text capital of the world”. About 350 to 400 million
SMS (Short Message Service) or text messages are sent daily by 35 million cell
phone subscribers in the country, which is more than the total daily text messages
sent in the U.S. and Europe together.
SMS (Short Message Service) or text messages are sent daily by 35 million cell
phone subscribers in the country, which is more than the total daily text messages
sent in the U.S. and Europe together.
9. The karaoke was invented in the Philippines and not Japan. Karaoke means “singing
without accompaniment”. The invention of “Sing-Along-System” was later called
karaoke.
karaoke.
10. The Philippines is the world’s 3rd largest English-speaking nation, next to the
USA and the UK.
USA and the UK.
11. Los Angeles, California were co-founded in 1781 by a Filipino named
Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, along with 43 Latinos from Mexico sent by the
Spanish government.
Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, along with 43 Latinos from Mexico sent by the
Spanish government.
12. Thomas Edison discovered the electric light and the fluorescent lighting was
thought up by Nikola Tesla. The fluorescent lamp we use today was invented
by Agapito Flores, a Cebu man named Benigno Flores of Bantayan Island,
(according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer), a Filipino scientist.
thought up by Nikola Tesla. The fluorescent lamp we use today was invented
by Agapito Flores, a Cebu man named Benigno Flores of Bantayan Island,
(according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer), a Filipino scientist.
13. What’s still most impressive about the Philippines is the friendliness of the people,
thier sense of humor…,” wrote Honolulu journalist John Griffin in a 1998 visit to
Manila.
thier sense of humor…,” wrote Honolulu journalist John Griffin in a 1998 visit to
Manila.
14. Pop singer Bruno Mars, half Filipino and half Puerto Rican, has the nickname
of “little Elvis”.
of “little Elvis”.
15. The world’s biggest pair of shoes was made in 2002; 17.4 ft. long, 7.9 ft. wide
and 6.6 ft. high at a cost of 2 million Pesos-$42,981.50 USD.
and 6.6 ft. high at a cost of 2 million Pesos-$42,981.50 USD.
16. The world’s largest pearl was found there weighing 14 lbs.
17. On the islands of Philippines, there are more than 200 volcanoes, though
only a few are active.
only a few are active.
18. The only place in the world where skunks are found other than America is
Indonesia and the Philippines, where they are called stink badgers.
Indonesia and the Philippines, where they are called stink badgers.
19. The Philippines is home to the world’s longest snake, the Reticulated
Python (Pythonreticulatus), which also happens to be the world’s longest
reptile. It can grow to 28.5 feet (8.7 m) in length.
Python (Pythonreticulatus), which also happens to be the world’s longest
reptile. It can grow to 28.5 feet (8.7 m) in length.
20. The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of nurses.
21. The English words “boonies” and “boondocks” is actually based on the
Filipino/Tagalog word for “mountain,” bundok. The word entered the
North American vernacular in the 1940's, probably brought back by soldiers
stationed in the Philippines during World War II.
Filipino/Tagalog word for “mountain,” bundok. The word entered the
North American vernacular in the 1940's, probably brought back by soldiers
stationed in the Philippines during World War II.
22. Filipinos observe the world’s longest Christmas season. It begins with the
playing of carols in September and officially ends in January with the Feast
of the Three Kings.
playing of carols in September and officially ends in January with the Feast
of the Three Kings.
23. Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines.
24. Manila fell to the Japanese in 1942. General MacArthur retreated to Australia.
The captured U.S. soldiers were forced on the “Bataan Death March” to a
concentration camp in Tarlac.
The captured U.S. soldiers were forced on the “Bataan Death March” to a
concentration camp in Tarlac.
25. U.S. Forces led by General MacArthur returned in 1944 and the Philippine
Commonwealth was reestablished.
Commonwealth was reestablished.
Interesting thoughts. I've known several people from the Phillipines over the years. I particularly like the source of the term "boodicks." :)
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