| The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. |
| |
| Philippines |
| |
| |
| Republic in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising over seven thousand islands. Its capital and largest city is Manila. | 1 |
| ‡ The Spanish held control of the islands until 1898, when they were transferred to the United States after the Spanish-American War. | 2 |
| ‡ Named for Philip II, king of Spain during the sixteenth century. | 3 |
| ‡ Occupied by the Japanese during World War II, the islands were liberated by Allied troops under General Douglas MacArthur. | 4 |
| ‡ Although Philippine independence had long been an important political issue, the country did not gain full independence until 1946. | 5 |
| ‡ The country was under the virtual dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos from 1965 until 1986, when he was forced into exile in the United States. | 6 |
| ‡ It continues to be plagued by allegations of corruption in high places and by a Muslim insurgency. | 7 |
| |
| | | The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
