Philippines: A Country Profile

Capital: Manila.
Major Cities: Located on Luzon Island, Metropolitan Manila, including the adjacent Quezon
City and surrounding suburbs, is the largest city in the Philippines, with about 12 million people,
or nearly 14 percent of the total population. Other large cities include Cebu City on Cebu Island
and Davao City on Mindanao Island.
Independence: The Philippines attained independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, and from
the United States on July 4, 1946.
Public Holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday,
movable date in March or April), Good Friday (movable date in March or April), Araw ng
Kagitingan (Day of Valor, commonly called Bataan Day outside of the Philippines, April 9),
Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (last Sunday of August),
Bonifacio Day (celebration of the birthday of Andres Bonifacio, November 30), Eid al Fitr (the
last day of Ramadan, movable date),..