a country made up of over 7000 islands off the southeastcoast of Asia. Population: 105,720,644 (2014). 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 militarybases there. Since the 1970s Muslimrebels (=people who are fighting the people in authority) have been fighting a war for independence in the southern Philippines. The most powerfulstorm to hit land (Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda) struck the Philippines in 2013, severely damaging areas of the country. People from the Philippines are called Filipinos.