APH - Republika ng Pilipinas

.: Character Biography :.

Official Name: Republika ng Pilippinas (Republic of The Philippines)
Human Name: Luzviminda dela Cruz [ルスバイミンーダ・デラ・クルース]
Formerly Known As: Country of Ma-i ; Las Islas Filipinas [Ophir Carriedo]
Nicknames: Piri ; Minda ; Lucy ; Mishima (exclusively used by Japan)
Age: Physically appears between 18 to 20 years old. 67 years old from her declaration of independence, but is actually closer to being around 1113 years old based on earliest existing documents discovered (the Laguna Copperplate Inscription) and 492 years old since being “discovered” by Spain
Date of Birth: Originally the 4^th of July, later became the 12^th of June after being granted independence from American rule
Height: 5’01”
Weight: “Wala kananag pakialam doon!”
Hair Color: Raven
Eye Color: Golden Brown
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Panromantic – She is more likely to be physically attracted to males, and romantically attracted to females
Occupation: The representation of the Philippines. She manifest the general admiration and faulty “colonial mentality” of the people, often choosing to ignore any wrong doings that have been done to her in the past in favor of fostering a sense of harmony and co-habitation – Even at the price of appearing like a doormat to any country with greater economic or military might than her own. She often does a lot of housekeeping and babysitting for other countries, because the economy of her own home is somewhat lacking and her natural inclinations towards such things make her an excellent candidate for such occupations. She shares the responsibility of embodying her country with her twin brother Lazaro dela Cruz, the representation of the Philippines and the manifestation of the peoples’ disillusion and bitter regret over the treatment they had to endure under the multitude of foreign rule – In short, the complete opposite of Minda’s outlook on the world.
Family: Most notably, her twin brother. She considers China as her father figure and ideal role model due to both the influence he had on her during her developing years, and the fact that he was one of her earliest and most consistent trading partners. Their current relations are quite strained, to the point that she does not activel consider him as a parental figure anymore. It isn’t a well known fact, but Brunei was once her husband, though this is something she never brings up with anybody for personal reasons. Because of her prolonged exposure to Spain during her colonization, she often views him as an older brother (but never as a father figure, she cannot and has never viewed Spain as such, despite when he might believe), though the extent of her feelings for him are often complicated at best – Her fellow (former) colony Mexico is viewed as a sibling as well. America and Japan are considered as her older brothers because of their involvement with her throughout history (most notably WWII), while India is a distant relative of sorts, mostly due to their history of trade. Vietnam is her older sister; and Manchuria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand are considered as slightly more distant siblings. She views South (and North) Korea, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and East Timor as her cousins.
Physical Description: Somewhat vertically challenged; with a bust alluding to her country’s coconut industry; and childbearing hips. She’s not at all skinny, but is more of a curvaceous built, with a proper stomach and none of that thigh gap business foreign girls are so fond of. She has tanned, olive skin with large, round eyes. She looks more Spanish than Asian due to the influence of Spain during her earlier days, and has long wavy black hair that reaches past her hips.
Skills: She is a very hard worker and an excellent housekeeper and cook. Because she is an island nation, she is also a very good swimmer, and has yet to meet a tree she can’t climb (as both fishing and agriculture are important aspects of her country’s economy). While not specifically a skill, she is surprisingly adept at adapting to foreign things.
Likes: One would say she likes food, but the more accurate thing to say would be she loves food. She’s an unabashed fan of all things Korean and Japanese, favoring the music and soap operas Korea has to offer as well as the seafood cuisine and animé culture of Japan. She’s also a fan of online video games and karaoke, and loves eating food from all over the world.
Dislikes: She’s a very patient person, but there is such a thing as being pushed too far – Though with her, you’d have to push and push pretty damn far to reach her limit. She doesn’t take to being discriminated against or talked down to very well either, and being a bit of a cry baby means she just keeps it to herself and cries about it when she reaches the privacy of her home.
Goals: She’s really looking forward to the day she can stop worrying about her country’s economy…
Item(s) of Choice: She is never seen without the eight petal flower she wears on the right side of her head – It was a present from someone very important to her back in the day, and she values it quite a bit.
Positive Traits: Hardworking, hospitable, loyal, and respectful. Though her hospitality is often mistaken for being a pushover – Which she actually is, but only because she wishes to avoid unnecessary conflict. She’s incredibly affectionate, prone to invading peoples’ personal space – However, it should be noted that she only treats people she’s already familiar with in such a manner, as she tends to be rather shy around persons she’s only just met. Like England, Romania, and Norway, she can both see and communicate with magical creatures.
Negative Traits: Stubborn as hell when she wants to be, especially in her youth. Fatalistic. Possesses doormat tendencies, occasionally indolent, and too emotionally invested at times. Prone to bouts of laziness when at home, and a glutton when the occasion presents itself (though this is more an effect of previous instances of death by starvation when food was much scarcer than it is today).
Preferred Clothing: When she isn’t wearing (a simplified version of) her country’s national dress, she is often clad in a traditional, western-style maid uniform. On the rare occasion she wears her military ensemble, she keeps her hair tucked under her hat and pairs the traditional military jacket with a knee length pencil skirt and knee-high boots.
Hobbies: Housekeeping and cooking, definitely. Listening to Korean and Japanese music, watching emotionally traumatizing soap operas and playing lots of online video games (complete with enthusiastic swearing), going out with friends and hitting karaoke bars, and spending quiet time with the people she loves most.
Interests: Snow and the winter season – The very mention of snow is enough to cause her to go into an almost fangirl-like frenzy. She has an enthusiastic interest in America and Canada, mostly because of the propagated misconception that everything is better in America (and Canada). When she was younger, was very interested in Japanese culture, but nowadays seems more focus on getting to know her neighbor Korea better. She has worked for a number of Middle Eastern and European countries in the past, and continues to do so because of an economic need to do so.
Attracted To: She has a weakness for beautiful eyes, and is attracted to things like fair skin and light colored hair. She tends to find glasses and above average height aesthetically pleasing as well, and tends to gravitate towards anyone who can (has) take(n) care of her, and anyone who can make her laugh.

.: A Rough Estimate of Minda’s Age During Key Events in Philippine History :.

Classical States (900 A.D. - 1521) // 6 - 8 //

• 900 A.D - 6 years old. The year inscribed in the earliest existing document discovered in the Philippines and the end of Philippine “prehistory”. It is around this time that Philippines’ people meet and participate in trade with the likes of China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Greece.
• 1500 - 8 years old. Philippines marries the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam - However since she is only a child at the time, she spends most of her days living the sheltered life of a princessa.

Spanish Settlement And Rule (1565 - 1898) // 10 - 13 //

• 1565 - 10 years old. The Philippines becomes a colony of Spain. Spain brings the knowledge of Western things such as education, the Gregorian calendar, the concept of law, and most importantly, the Roman Catholic fate. Spain also introduces her to foods such as maize, pineapple, and chocolate. Her relations with Mexico are a result of them being colonies of Spain.
• 1647 to 1648 - 10 - 12 years old. The Dutch attempt to seize the Philippines from Spain’s control. They are unsuccessful, and after sustaining heavy casualties, withdraw and no further attempts are made.
• 1762 to 1764 - 12 - 13 years old. Philippines becomes part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain’s colony, however Spain manages to repel further advancement. England formally renounces their control at the end of theSeven Years’ War.
• 1872 - 13 years old. Revolutionary sentiments begin to brew among Philippines’ people at the unjust execution of three Filipino priests (Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, known collectively as Gomburza).

The Philippine Revolution (1896 - 1898) // 15 //

• 1896 - The death of national hero Jose Rizal.
• 1896 to 1898 - 15 years old. The Philippine Revolution against Spain takes place during this time. Incidentally, puberty hits her full in the face at this time as well.
• 1898 - The Spanish - American War explodes, with America seeking aid from Philippines and her people. Due to the failed attempts at staging their own revolution, she agrees. It is at this time that Germany attempt to take control of the Philippines, however America is successful in thwarting their designs.

American Rule (1898–1946) // 16 - 18 //

• 1899 - 16 years old. Hostilities between America and Philippines begin to brew when two American privates on patrol killed three Filipino soldiers in a Manila suburb.
• 1902 - 18 years old. Philippines discovers the existence of the “Treaty of Paris” and the American - Philippines War comes into full force.

Japanese Occupation (1942 - 1945) // 19 //

• 1942 to 1944 - 19 years old. The Japanese seize control and occupy the Philippines.

The Independence of The Philippines (1946 - Present) // 20 //

• 1946 - 20 years old. The year of Philippine Independence.

.: (Current) International Relations :.

• ASEAN: She considers them as her family, though the years she spent apart from them often places a bit of an awkward strain on her relations with them. As of the moment, they seem to be trying to negotiate with China over a (great) number of things…
• Brunei: Herformer husband, the two have a pleasant relationship to this day.
• Canada: The two get along rather well – A number of her people seem to take to moving to his country, and she enjoys his trademark maple syrup and winter sports almost as much as he does. She tends to have a soft spot for him because of the way other nations ignore or forget about him, and finds it easier to get along with him than it is with America.
• China: China was responsible for teaching her a lot of things in her youth, and she still regards him as her most respectable 爸爸 (coupled with the fact that while his bosses forbade him to do so, he did want to assist her while she was under Spain’s rule, and that she was / is one of his more favored trading partners) – However, as of late tension has been rising between her people and his, mostly over territory and other politically related things…
• France: She’s a fan of his nation’s fashions, and considers him as a generally pleasant (if not occasionally odd) person. She’s not put off in the least with his codling nature – If anything, she’s happy to finally meet someone who is as openly affectionate as she is.
• Germany: Despite his attempts to take her as his colony during the war between Spain and America, she considers him without any dislike or ill will. His beer is one of her favorites, and she often comes to him with questions about things she doesn’t understand (often with embarrassingly hilarious results). He helps her out financially quite a bit, and is always offering her various jobs.
• Greece: They’ve engaged in trading in the past, and she sometimes visits him just to see all the stray cats that seem to conglomerate about him.
• India: They sometimes work on joint projects in areas such as agriculture and “green” technology. She considers him as a distant relative.
• Japan: While one might be tempted to say that he is her favorite sibling, their relationship is actually a little more complicated than that, and while he often feels a bit of guilt at what transpired between them during the war (while most war atrocities were actually committed by members of the Imperial Japanese Army without his direct knowledge at the time), she’s long forgiven him for it and continues to love him (and his culture) very much. They are good trade partners, and he often takes care of her when she leaves her house to come and visit him.
• Netherlands: She’s a bit intimidated by him, and tends to feel nervous around him because of his attempt to take her from under Spain’s rule. She thinks his country is very beautiful though, and would like to get along with him better.
• Prussia: As one of Spain’s best friends and Germany’s brother, she considers him as a very awesome Westerner, and doesn’t want him to disappear. She doesn’t really understand the idea of not being a nation anymore, but she listens to his problems without complaining – Though she prefers not to talk about their less than friendly past (*In reference to headcanon and drabbles taking place during Spain’s colonization during the Seven Years’ War).
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: She’s worked for both England and Scotland on occasion, as both housekeeper and nurse – Though lately they’ve been trying to convince her to stop taxing them so much for their food and beverages. A great amount of her military’s equipment comes from them (though granted they are of the antique variety), and they have several policies and agreements down on paper. England seems to think she attracts cursed spirits, but likes the fact that she not only eats his cooking, but actually enjoys it. He did at one time try to take her from Spain, but she doesn’t really like to talk about that so much.
• United States of America: She still relies on him for a lot of things, such as military assistance and financial aid, though she has been trying to stop doing so as of late – She doesn’t want to burden him, or be indebted to him, and still looks up to him for his strength and courage after all these years. Lately though, their relations are becoming too troublesome to compartment neatly into one category.
• Russia: She’s incredibly interested in his winter season and snow, and several of her people seem to find a great deal of employment in his country under childcare services. They do get along relatively well, given his interest in her warm, southern climate, and her interest in foreigners and the fact that he is big brother China’s neighbor. They share a birthday (date of independence), something she likes to make a fuss over.
• South Korea: She’s especially fond of this particular (younger) relative, and her dotting nature compliments his excitable childishness rather well. She visits him as often as she can, being a fan of his television programs and his country’s music, and a large number of his youth have migrated to study in her country as of late.
• Spain: Her former (and longest) colonizer. Her feelings for him are as complicated as they get, with her feelings often bordering between sibling affection to bitter resentment for what he put her through and melancholic longing for his affection. She still gets uncomfortable when talking about the time he effectively abandoned her to America over the Treaty of Paris.
• Vietnam: A “communist ally”. She seems to have a bit of a crush on the older Asian nation… 

.+. Assorted Trivia on This Personification of The Philippines .+.
.: History :.

• Philippines is one of the youngest (and smallest) countries located in Southeast Asia.
• Though she is best known as Spain’s younger sister, it was actually China who first made contact with her, raising her and teaching her things such as speech (her modern day common tongue is full of words directly appropriated from both Chinese and Spanish), metallurgy, and mining. China also assisted her economy by consistently trading with her.
• A vast majority of her formative years were spent under the rule of Spain, often undergoing harsh treatment from his superiors and often rebelling against him. It’s during this time that she becomes fully aware of her status as a country, and does most of her growing up. She and mexico are quick and close friends, but they're quickly separated when both their attempted rebellions are quelled.
• After several hundred years under the rule of Spain, she is eventually liberated by America, who promptly went about teaching her the American Way ™, having her learn the English language and contributing to her country’s health and welfare sectors. It’s during this time she develops a great appreciation for all things American, because ‘it's cool! ♥' – Unfortunately, she also becomes economically dependent on America, and will often offer to work at his house in exchange for American goods.
• Sometime after this WWII breaks out, and she is taken under the control of Japan. Her time under him is a mixed endeavor, as she instantly takes to him (if the prevalence of Japanese things such as anime and electronics is anything to go by), though she and her country are treated harshly by his superiors, and members of the invading Imperial Japanese Army. She spends several years of her life under Japan’s rule (effectively hitting a nation’s equivalent of puberty under his care), before once again being liberated by America (and the rest of the Allied Forces) and finally granted her independence.

.: Personality :.

• Philippines is naturally curious, almost childlike in her inquiries into things that most Western countries might find invasive, though there’s (almost) never any malice on her side of the questions.
• She tends to be rather sensitive about her race and her country, and being a bit of a cry baby, usually worries that other countries think lowly of her behind her back.
• She has a tendency to become easily jealous, particularly when it comes to those who hold a great deal of her affections, but she tries her best to hide such negative feelings as much as possible.
• She places value on things like hospitality, loyalty, and close family ties – She will gladly take a bullet for someone who she considers a friend, and is the kind of person who will forgive you for treating her harshly if you prove that you’ve changed (i.e: she doesn’t hold grudges).
• Philippines tends to have moments of incredible shyness, most often when she is dealing with countries she has never met or interacted with before, but quickly warms up to people – It isn’t unusual for her to become quickly attached to anyone she meets, and values things like friendship and interpersonal relationships very much, being incredibly loyal to anyone who does anything nice for her.

.: Trivia :.

• Her birthday, June 12^th, is the official day of Independence for the Philippines.
• Her human name, Luzviminda, is the combined form of the Philippines’ three regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. However, she often goes by the nickname “Minda”, as most foreign countries have difficulty pronouncing its whole form.
• Before puberty hit her, it was assumed that she was a boy - Therefore, some of the nations that met her during her youth do not recognize her as much as they could have.
• The reason Philippines is always working for other countries reflects the popularity of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) her country produces in hopes of helping the economy.
• Philippines’ bust size reflects the country’s coconut industry, which she is very proud of.
• Her almost fangirlish interest in Korean culture is a reflection of the recent popularity of Korean entertainment in her country – Which up until recently, was focused on Japan.
• Even as a small child (and up to the present day), Philippines has always been able to see the multitude of non human and supernatural things that were in abundance in pre-Colonial Philippines. Even after Spain arrived and taught her all about Christianity, she never lost the ability to do so (I believe the term we locals use to describe this is “having a third eye”), a trait and ability she shares with other members of the so called ‘Magic Club’. She also occasionally dabbles in the local black magic known as “pangkukulam”, though her attempts at being threatening usually end up failing hilariously.
• She is tormented by a pair of storm spirit siblings known as Amihan andHabagat, who often take turns visiting her for months at a time every year. They are one of the reasons it took Spain close to a hundred years to finally take her for himself, and one of the reasons England seems to think she attracts cursed spirits.

[Forever a Work in Progress!]