Conventional Long Form Name of the Philippines: Republic of the Philippines Capital City(ies): Manila Type of Government: Republic of the Philippines Date of Independence: 12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US) National Holiday(s) include date & event/celebration: Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US Chief of State (official public face of government): President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010); Vice President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note - president is both chief of state and head of government Head of Government (actual leader of government): President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010) Description of Executive Branch/Powers: cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016) Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Nga Kinatawan (287 seats - 230 members in one tier representing districts and 57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the total vote but with each party limited to three seats); a party represented in one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally-created, 6-member body that recommends Supreme Court nominees; justices serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Sandiganbayan (special court for corruption cases of government officials); Court of Tax Appeals; regional, metropolitan, and municipal trial courts; sharia courts Suffrage (who is allowed to vote): 18 years of age; universal Name of THEIR Ambassador to the U.S.: Ambassador Jose L. CUISIA Jr. (since 7 April 2011) Location of THEIR embassy in the U.S.: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 Location(s) of THEIR consulate(s) in the U.S. (just the name/s of city/ies is fine): Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam) Name of U.S. Ambassador to THEM: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG (since 21 November 2013) Location of U.S. embassy THERE: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000 Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s) THERE (just the name/s of city/ies is fine): N/A Name of THEIR representative to UN: N/A Description of the Symbolism of flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based 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; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897 note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top Video or audio of their national anthem being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB5r4Q6Q1Fg National Symbol(s): Philippine eagle Descriptions of International Disputes: Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau Quantity of refugees inside country AND country(ies) of origin of refugees: N/A Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: at least 133,000 displaced by conflict and at least 7 million displaced by natural disasters (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; natural disasters including typhoon Bopha (December 2012), the Bohol earthquake (October 2013), and typhoon Haiyan (November 2013)) (2014) Quantity of Stateless Persons: at least 115,772 (2014) Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited
President/Chief of State/Head of Government Benigno Aquino