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| Location The Philippines is an archipelago of islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Manila is the largest city and national capital in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Luzon. The Philippines includes 7,641 islands in three geographical divisions: Luzon in the north, Visayas in the center and Mindanao in the south. Officially known as the Republic of the Philippines. Also abbreviated PI. Borders the South China Sea to the west, Philippine Sea to the east, Celebes Sea to the south and Sulu Sea to the southwest. Today, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan (Formosa) to the north, Japan to the northeast, Vietnam and China to the west, Palau to the east plus Malaysia and Indonesia to the south. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 Japanese aircraft attacked Luzon and later in the month the Japanese Army landed on northern Luzon defeating U.S. Army and Filipino defenders. After being evacuated, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur vowed "I shall return". After the surrender of U.S. and Filipino forces, the Japanese occupied the Philippines. During the Japanese occupation, Filipino guerrillas opposed the occupation. On May 6, 1943 a Japanese state visit was made by Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo made an official state visit to the Philippines, landing at Nichols Field at Manila and during a speech, pledged to establish a Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic. On October 14, 1943 the Japanese established the Republic of the Philippines (Second Philippine Republic) as a puppet state under President José P. Laurel. By late 1944, Allied forces had advanced to within range of the Philippines allowing aircraft to attack targets ahead of the liberation. On October 20, 1944 the Americans landed on eastern Leyte starting the liberation of the Philippines. The Japanese responded and between October 23-26, 1944 was a series of battles associated with the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On December 15, 1944 the Americans landed on Mindoro. On January 9, 1945 the Americans landed at Lingayen Gulf starting the liberation of Luzon. The remaining Japanese forces a protracted defense to delay and tie up the American forces that continued to liberate occupied locations until the official surrender of Japan. During the Pacific War, nearly every location in the Philippines was impacted by World War II either directly or indirectly. On July 4, 1946 the Republic of the Philippines gained full independence from the United States. Philippines Islands Luzon largest and most populous island in the Philippines includes the capital city of Manila. Batanes Island Group (Batanes Islands) located to the north of Luzon. Leyte located in the Visayas Islands in the central Philippines. Samar located in the eastern Visayas Islands in the central Philippines. Cebu located in the eastern Visayas Islands in the central Philippines. Panay located in the western Visayas Islands in the central Philippines. Guimaras in the Western Islands in the central Philippines. Negros in the Visayas Islands, fourth largest island in the Philippines. Mindoro located to the southwest of Luzon and to the northeast of Palawan. Tablas located in Mimaropa Regionto the southeast of Mindoro Island. Palawan located in Mimaropa Region in Palawan Province. Lubang located in the Lubang Island Group (Lubang Islands) to the southwest of Luzon. Masbate located in the Bicol Region to the southeast of Luzon. Catanduanes located in the Bicol Region to the southeast of Luzon. Bohol located in the Central Visayas. Mindanao located in the south of the Philippines. Dinagat located in the south of the Philippines. Philippines Regions Region V (Bicol Region) includes Camarines Sur Province, Albay Province and Sorsogon Province. Region VI (Western Visayas) includes Panay and Negros Occidental. Region VII (Central Visayas) includes Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) located in the eastern Visayas includes Leyte, Samar and Biliran. Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is located in the central western Mindanao and Sulu Islands. Mimaropa Region (Southwestern Tagalog Region, Region IV-B) located in the southwest of the Philippines. Philippines Bodies of Water Philippine Sea located to the east of the Philippines site of the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Surigao Strait located in the southern Philippines between the Mindanao Sea (Bohol Sea) and the Leyte Gulf. Leyte Gulf located in the southern Philippines bordering Leyte and Samar. Visayan Sea located in the Visayas in the central Philippines. Sibuyan Sea located in the Visayas in the central Philippines. Surigao Strait located in the Visayas in the central Philippines. Mindoro Strait located to the west of Mindoro Island in the Philippines. Jintotolo Channel (Jintotolo Strait) connects the Sibuyan Sea with the Visayan Sea between Panay and Masbate. Sulu Sea located to the southwest of the Philippines bordering Palawan, Panay, Negros and Mindanao. Philippines Provinces Batanes Province located Batanes Island Group (Batanes Islands). Palawan Province encompasses Palawan Island and adjacent islands. Region V (Bicol Region) Albay Province located at the southeastern of Luzon bordering Albay Gulf. Camarines Norte Province located at the southeastern of Luzon. Camarines Sur Province located at the southeastern of Luzon. Sorsogon Province located in the southern Philippines. Catanduanes Province encompasses Catanduanes Island. Masbate Province offshore island province. Region VI (Western Visayas) Iloilo Province southern portion of Panay Island including Ilo Ilo (Iloilo City). Antique Province located on the eastern portion of Panay Island. Guimaras Province encompasses Guimaras Island. Negros Occidental Province northwest portion of Negros Island. Region VII (Central Visayas) Negros Oriental Province southeastern portion of Negros Island. Iloilo Province southern portion of Panay Island including Ilo Ilo (Iloilo City). Bohol Province encompasses Bohol Island in the Central Visayas. Contribute
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