The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands located between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, with about 880 islands inhabited. Shaped by centuries of external influence, the country reflects strong American, Spanish, Malay and Chinese ties, with English widely spoken and Roman Catholicism dominant following 300 years of Spanish colonization. Agriculture remains central to the economy, producing staple crops such as rice and maize alongside cash crops including sugar, coconuts, bananas and pineapples, while mining, forestry and fisheries also play significant roles. The Philippines was colonized by Spain in 1565, ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish American War, occupied by Japan during the Second World War, and gained independence on July 4, 1946.