Philippines' History
The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands which are divided into three island groups: Luzon (where the capital, Manila, is), Visayas, and Mindanao. Regional development is uneven as Luzon and Metro Manila receive much of the new economic growth, and there is gross social and economic inequality. In a country of 90 million people, over 30 million people live on less than $2 per day.

Metro Manila is the eleventh largest metropolitan area in the world and home to roughly 20% of the country’s population. A place of economic extremes, the area consists of the wealthiest and poorest people in the country. Fishing towns in the northwest part of Metro Manila were once rich fishing grounds, but due to rapid population growth and heavy silting, all marine life has ceased to exist. Most of the shore lands and river banks are slum areas. Residents are migrants from other areas of the Philippines, attracted by the fishing industry. A lack of education and difficult living conditions pose serious social and economical challenges for the residents.

The Philippines need higher sustained growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high population growth and unequal distribution of income. Slums abound with people who have moved from rural areas to find work such as doing laundry, cooking and driving for rich residents. Living conditions are grim. Most people live in makeshift shacks; others live right on the streets. Clean water and sanitation options are few. Risk is high for infectious disease. Most families often cannot afford to adequately care for their children’s health, nutritional and educational needs.

Environmentally, the island country is prone to attacks from typhoons and cyclonic storms, often resulting in landslides. Active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes and tsunamis are not far from the ordinary.

FH In The Philippines
FH Canada works with communities in several areas of Metro Manila to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children through two Child Development Program centres. We also assist the institutions, leaders and families in the communities to establish and maintain a sustainable network for delivering care.

What We Do

• Care for Kids: Children are innocent victims of poverty and often the first to suffer from lack of food, clean water and healthy sanitation. At Food for the Hungry we believe we have a special calling to care for them. FH’s Child Development Program is designed to benefit the entire community: it works together with parents and community leaders to ensure that all children receive hope for their future. Your support of this project allows FH staff to provide access to food, education, medical care and clothing to needy children.

Quick Facts (from UNICEF, CIA, World Info Zone)

• About 23% of the population lives on less than $1 a day and below the poverty line.
  
• The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world (after the USA and the UK).
  
• English and Filipino are the two official languages. There are eight major dialects of Filipino.
• There are over two hundred volcanoes on the islands, though only a small number are active.