The Philippines is an archipelago.
Luzon ( [ luːˈzɒn ] [ luˈson ] , is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines . Located in the northern region of the archipelago , it is the economic and political center of the nation , being home to the country 's capital city , Manila , as well as Quezon City , the country 's most populous city . The Philippines ( [ ˈfɪlᵻpiːnz ] Pilipinas [ ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs ] ) , officially the Republic of the Philippines ( [ Republika ng Pilipinas , links = no ] ) , is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean . It consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south : Luzon , Visayas , and Mindanao . In prehistoric times , Negritos were some of the archipelago 's earliest inhabitants .