Philippines :: Government
Official name: Republic of the Philippines
Nickname: Pearl of the Orient Seas
Capital city: Manila
Year of independence:
• 12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain);
• 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898)
Head of state and government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001)
Type of government: democratic republic
Legislature: bicameral Congress with a House of Representatives and a Senate
National flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red (bottom); a white equilateral triangle (on the hoist side); the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star
red = courage
white equilateral triangle = equality
eight primary rays = first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain
three small yellow stars = three major geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao