Efforts to end the 

Hukbalahap Rebellion began during Elpidio Quirino's term,[130] however, it was only

during Ramon Magsaysay's presidency was the movement suppressed.[131] Magsaysay's
successor, Carlos P. Garcia, initiated the Filipino First Policy,[132] which was continued by Diosdado
Macapagal, with celebration of Independence Day moved from July 4 to June 12, the date of Emilio
Aguinaldo's declaration,[133][134] and pursuit of a claim on the eastern part of North Borneo.[135][136]
In 1965, Macapagal lost the presidential election to Ferdinand Marcos. Early in his presidency,
Marcos initiated numerous infrastructure projects [137] but, together with his wife Imelda, was accused
of corruption and embezzling billions of dollars in public funds. [138] Nearing the end of his term,
Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972.[139][140] This period of his rule was characterized
by political repression, censorship, and human rights violations. [141]
On August 21, 1983, Marcos' chief rival, opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated on
the tarmac at Manila International Airport. Marcos called a snap presidential election in 1986.
[142]
 Marcos was proclaimed the winner, but the results were widely regarded as fraudulent. [143] The
resulting protests led to the People Power Revolution,[144] which forced Marcos and his allies to flee
to Hawaii, and Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, was installed as president
The return of democracy and government reforms beginning in 1986 were hampered by national
debt, government corruption, coup attempts,[146][147] a persistent communist insurgency,[148][149] and a
military conflict with Moro separatists.[150] The administration also faced a series of disasters,
including the sinking of the MV Doña Paz in December 1987[151] and the eruption of Mount
Pinatubo in June 1991.[152][153] Aquino was succeeded by Fidel V. Ramos, whose economic
performance, at 3.6% growth rate,[154][155] was overshadowed by the onset of the 1997 Asian financial
crisis.[156][157]
Ramos' successor, Joseph Estrada, was overthrown by the 2001 EDSA Revolution and succeeded
by his vice president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on January 20, 2001.[158] Arroyo's 9-year
administration was marked by economic growth, [159] but was tainted by graft and political scandals.[160]
[161]
 On November 23, 2009, 34 journalists and several civilians were killed in Maguindanao.[162][163]
Economic growth continued during Benigno Aquino III's administration, which pushed for good
governance and transparency.[164][165] In 2015, a clash which took place in Mamasapano,
Maguindanao killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, resulting in
efforts to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law reaching an impasse.[166][167] Former Davao
City mayor Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential election, becoming the first president from
Mindanao.[168][169] Duterte launched an anti-drug campaign[170][171] and an infrastructure plan.[172][173] The
implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law led to the creation of the
autonomous Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.[174][175] In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached
the country[176][177] causing the economy to contract by 9.5% in terms of gross domestic product since
records began in 1947
The Philippines is an archipelago composed of about 7,640 islands,[179][180] covering a total area,
including inland bodies of water, of around 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi),[181][182] with
cadastral survey data suggesting it may be larger. [183] Its 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi) coastline
gives it the world's fifth-longest coastline.[184] The EEZ of the Philippines covers
2,263,816 km2 (874,064 sq mi).[185] It is located between 116° 40', and 126° 34' E longitude and 4° 40'
and 21° 10' N latitude and is bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east,[186][187] the South China Sea to
the west,[188] and the Celebes Sea to the south.[189] The island of Borneo is located a few hundred
kilometers southwest,[190] and Taiwan is located directly to the north. Sulawesi is located to the
southwest and Palau is located to the east of the islands.[191][192]
The highest mountain is Mount Apo. It measures up to 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea level and
is located on the island of Mindanao.[193] Running east of the archipelago, the Philippine
Trench extendes 10,540-metre (34,580 ft) down at the Emden Deep.[194][195][196] The longest river is
the Cagayan River in northern Luzon, measuring about 520 kilometers (320 mi).[197] Manila Bay,
  upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay,[199] the
[198]

largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River.[200] The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, which

runs 8.2 kilometers (5.1 mi) underground through a karst landscape before reaching the ocean, is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site