idental), San Carlos
(in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in
Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa
Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tabuk,
Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in
Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tandag, Tangub,
Tanjay, Tarlac, Tayabas, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,
Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2007)

Independence:

12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from
the US)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of
declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of
independence from US

Constitution:

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system:

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January
2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20
January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO)
elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held on 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent
of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three
others 23%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24
seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large
by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (as a result of May
2007 election it has 239 seats including 218 members representing
districts and 21 sectoral party-list members representing special
minorities elected on the basis of 1 seat for every 2% of the total
vote but limited to 3 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House
of Representatives from having more than 250 members)
elections: Senate - last held on 14 May 2007 (next to be held in May
2010); House of Representatives - elections last held on 14 May 20