Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 13° 0' N, 122° 0' E Coastline: 36,289 km km Climate: Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October) Terrain: The Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait Elevation: highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m Natural hazards: Astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis Currency: Philippine peso (PHP) Population: 87,857,473 (July 2005 est.) Languages: Two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense Capital: Manila Divisions: 79 provinces and 116 chartered cities