Phil ‧ ip ‧ pines, the /ˈfɪlɪpiːnz $ ˌfɪləˈpiːnz/ BrE AmE
a country made up of over 7000 islands off the southeast coast of Asia. Population: 92,681,453 (2008). Capital: Manila. The Philippines were a ↑ colony of the US from 1898 until they became fully independent in 1948. US influence is still strong, and until 1991 there were important US military bases there. Since the 1970s Muslim ↑ rebel s (=people who are fighting the people in authority) have been fighting a war for independence in the southern Philippines. People from the Philippines are called Filipinos.