The Philippines is a colony.
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 . The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Homonhon , Eastern Samar in 1521 marked the beginning of Hispanic colonization . Aside from the period of Japanese occupation , the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until after World War II , when the Philippines was recognized as an independent nation .