Saturday, May 26, 2012

About Philippines

- Back in 1960's when The Beatles toured the Philippines, they unintentionally snubbed the nation's first lady, Imelda Marcos, who had expected the group to attend a breakfast reception at the Presidential Palace.


- The world's shortest and lightest freshwater fish is the dwarf pygmy goby (Pandaka Pygmaea), a colorless and nearly transparent species found in the streams and lakes of Luzon. Males have an average length of 8.7 mm. and weigh 4-5 mg.




- The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding, regularly swims to the Philippine waters. 



-   The Philippine flag is the only flag in the world which is hoisted upside-down when the country is in war.



- The karaoke was invented in the Philippines and not Japan. Karaoke means “singing without accompaniment” in Japanese. It was invented by Roberto del Rosario. The invention of “Sing-Along-System” was later called karaoke.


 - The Philippines became the first Asian country to win FIVE major international beauty pageant crowns - two for Miss Universe, in 1969 and 1973, and three for Miss International, in 1965, 1970, and 1979. 


- 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.





- Makati is the financial center of the Philippines.With a population of 510383, Makati is the 16th largest city in the country and ranked as the 44th most densely populated city in the world.


- The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate and is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: the hot dry season or summer from March to May; the rainy season from June to October; and the cool dry season from November to February.


- More than 90% of the population are Christians and Between 5 and 10% of the population are Muslim.