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The
Girls' Brigade International Council
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Philippines
| General Information |
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| Area |
299,000 Sq.Km ( 116,610 Sq.Mi.) |
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| Population |
78.4 million |
| Currency |
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| Capital |
Manila |
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| Government |
Republic |
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| President |
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
GMT + 9hrs |
| Languages |
Pilipino is the national language, although there are some 80 dialects in total. English remains the language of commerce and politics. |
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| Religions |
The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia (over 90%). Other religious groups include Muslims, Philippine Independence Church, Buddhists and a small number of animists. |
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| Major Industries |
Electronic and electrical products, clothing |
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Geography |
| The Philippines consists of 7107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, only 2000 of which are inhabited. Luzon and Mindanao are by far the largest, and comprise roughly 66 per cent of the country's area. Only about 1000 islands are larger than one sq km (0.4 sq mi) and 2500 aren't even named. The Philippines' nearest neighbours are Taiwan in the north, Eastern Malaysia and Brunei to the south-west and Indonesia to the south. There are 37 volcanoes in the archipelago and the highest peak is Mt Apo (2954m/9689ft) in Mindanao. About half the country is under cultivation and about a third remains forested. |
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| Climate |
| Although the Philippines are hot and humid all year round, the weather across the archipelago can roughly be divided into the dry season (January to June) and the wet season (July to December). The average annual temperature is 25°C (77°F), with Manila reaching 40°C (104°F) in May |
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| Wildlife |
| There are more than a 1000 species of birds and animals, notably wild dwarf buffalo, mouse deer, crocodiles and pythons. There are over 10,000 species of tree, shrub and fern, the most common of which are palms and bamboos. |
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| Cuisine |
| Filipino cuisine has Chinese, Malay and Spanish influences. Standard dishes, always served with rice, include meat and vegetables cooked with vinegar and garlic, grilled grouper, meat stews and a huge variety of soups - rice, noodle, beef, chicken, liver, kneecap, offal and sour vegetable. Side dishes include strips of unripened papaya, fermented fish or shrimp paste and bite-sized pieces of crispy pig skin. Barbecued sticks of meat or seafood are popular evening snacks. Halo-halo is a dessert made from crushed ice mixed with sweets and fruits and smothered in evaporated milk. |
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The Girls' Brigade |
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Structure : |
SCHOOL or CHURCH |
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COMPANY |
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CHAPLAIN |
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CAPTAIN |
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LIEUTENANTS |
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NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS |
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| Age Groups : |
Alpha |
Grades 1-3 (approx. 7-9 years old) |
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Bravo |
Grades 4-6 (approx. 10-12 years old) |
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Charlie |
High School 1-4 (approx. 13-16 years old) |
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Uniform : |
Alpha |
Alpha and Bravo companies wear a lilac blue dress with buttons at the front, white socks and black shoes. |
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Bravo |
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Charlie |
Charlie companies wear navy blue culottes with an aqua blue blouse, white socks and black shoes. |
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Badge Work : All badge work is based on the four-sided programme - physical, mental, social and spiritual. |
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| National President : Mrs Grace Valdez |
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