A Tale Of Philippines

(dedicated to my all poet friends from Philippines at poemhunter) Spanish colonization in 1521 trade with Chinese, Japanese the construction of Intramuros a 'Walled City', European buildings, churches after 350 years and 300 rebellions with leaders Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo succeeded in winning their independence the first and only colony of the United States the Philippine-American War fought alongside Americans during World War II famous battle of Bataan and Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance and saved Australia a guerilla war against the Japanese from 1941 to 1945 the Philippines regained its independence in 1946 a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish, and Arab blood a long history of Western colonial rule interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west both in appearance and culture the close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese the bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie to be taken from Malay forefathers the piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century hospitality is a common denominator character one of the few, English-proficient Oriental people the sturdy and frugal llocanos of the north the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains the carefree Visayans from the central islands the colorful tribesmen and religious Moslems of Mindanao more than 111 dialects spoken owing to the subdivisions of these basic regional and cultural groups a true blend of cultures, truly in the Philippines, East meets West the background of the people is Indonesian and Malay Chinese and Spanish elements as well the history of American rule contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian the third-largest English speaking country in the world The Spaniards introduced the Roman Catholic faith succeeded in converting the overwhelming majority of Filipinos a freedom-loving people peaceful, bloodless revolutions against corrupt regimes a fun-loving people throughout the islands fiestas celebrated everyday foreign guests are always welcome to their homes smiling nuances the 12th most populous country the 37th largest economy in the world the most megadiverse countries in the world Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao Davao, Baguio, Cotabato Manila, Quezon, Cebu Cagayan River, Pasig River Mount Apo, Mayon Volcano Mount Pinatubo, Taal Volcano Davao Gulf, Moro Gulf Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay, Subic Bay San Juanico Strait, the islands of Samar and Leyte Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa For God, People, Nature and Country My beloved Philippines