Philippines civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Philippines with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The 1987 Constitution, Congress, the Senate and the presidency.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the capital of the Philippines?
Manila
Manila is the capital, located within the wider Metro Manila region on the island of Luzon.
What is the national legislature of the Philippines called?
Congress
The Congress of the Philippines has two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
How long is the term of the President of the Philippines?
A single six-year term
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President serves one six-year term and cannot be re-elected.
In which year was the current Philippine Constitution ratified?
1987
The current constitution was ratified by a national vote in February 1987, after the People Power Revolution.
How many members sit in the Philippine Senate?
24
The Senate has 24 senators elected nationwide, with half elected every three years.
History 5 questions
From Magellan and Lapulapu to Rizal, Bonifacio, independence in 1898 and People Power in 1986.
On which date is Philippine Independence Day celebrated?
12 June
Independence Day on 12 June marks the declaration of independence from Spain in 1898. 30 December is Rizal Day.
Who is the national hero who wrote Noli Me Tángere?
José Rizal
José Rizal wrote the novels Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo and was executed by Spanish authorities in 1896.
Who founded the Katipunan, the secret society that launched the 1896 revolution?
Andrés Bonifacio
Andrés Bonifacio founded the Katipunan in 1892. It began the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896.
Which explorer reached the Philippines in 1521 and was killed in the Battle of Mactan?
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan's expedition reached the islands in 1521. He was killed at Mactan by forces led by Lapulapu.
What is the peaceful 1986 uprising that ended the Marcos government called?
The People Power Revolution
The People Power Revolution, centred on EDSA in Metro Manila in February 1986, peacefully ended the Marcos government.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Mount Apo, the peso, the flag and the national language, Filipino.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
What is the currency of the Philippines?
The Philippine peso
The Philippines uses the peso, issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
What are the three main island groups of the Philippines?
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
The country is traditionally divided into three main island groups: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
What is the national language of the Philippines?
Filipino
The 1987 Constitution names Filipino as the national language. Filipino and English are the official languages.
How many rays does the sun on the Philippine flag have?
Eight
The sun's eight rays stand for the first eight provinces that rose up against Spanish rule.
What is the highest mountain in the Philippines?
Mount Apo
Mount Apo in Mindanao is the country's highest peak, at nearly 3,000 metres.
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