Gabriella 'Philippines' Santos [COMPLETE]

[/color]:[/b] Ma. Gabriella Santos
Nickname/Alias: Philippines, Firipin/Piri-tan (by Japan), Gabriella
Gender: Female
Character Type: Country
Country or Country of Origin: Republika ng Pilipinas (the Republic of the Philippines)
Canon or Original: Original (so far)
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[/color]:[/b] light Brown
Hair: Dark Brown
Height and Weight: 5'04", 142 Lbs.
Other Distinguishing Features:
Brown skin, white flower(sampaguita) adorning on her hair, hair always tied in a ponytail

Overall Appearance:
Unlike most of the female nations, she is small at five-feet-four, and is 142 Lbs (despite the fact that Philippines LOVES to eat, a lot). With brown, fair skin and light-brown eyes, it was no surprise why they are called as the 'Pearl of the Orient' by many. Her hair, which is a dark-brown in color, is mostly tied in a ponytail and mostly seen with two sampaguita(Arabian Jasmine) flowers on the right side of her hair. Despite her appearance looking serene and flawless, she hides battle scars, scratches and bruises from years she was held captive by various nations underneath her attire, though she never seem much bothered about showing them if ever.

Most of her attire consists of a plain and simple blouse and a skirt, though she sometimes wear business/corporal and formal attires when deems to be. Some of her wardrobe also contains clothes with ethnic-like imprints, serving her as a reminder of the rich culture of the country, though as of late she can be also seen wearing casual attires like everybody else.

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Cooking & Eating - always preparing more than she could eat, especially when there's a festival (or a visitor coming over her home.
Folklore - especially about Philippine folklores, they got a lot of those around here.
Siesta - she got that from Spain.
Sports - more as a friendly match.
Making friends - Philippines is a friendly bunch, really.
Fiestas/Festivities - festive country, she is. If there's a festivity, she'll be there.
Drinking out with friends - She must have got that from other countries... or she just like to drink with company, especially when there's also food.
Singing - Most of the time, just to show off
Economy and trade - trading with other nations is a good thing, and she's getting good at it especially at haggling prices
Cartoons, Anime & Manga - thanks to America and Japan (respectively), she probably became one of the nations addicted enticed with it, with many people able to draw and create stories out of it.
Humor - Despite problems, it seems Philippines very much appreciate a humor or two running around, whether it's directed to her or to everyone else.

Dislikes:
Memories of the past invasion - The battle scars tells the story, and she hates looking back in the past for various reasons.
Traffic - Massive headache, it gives her.
Corrupt Officials - The fact that they have those makes Philippines want to curl up and die.
Expensive stuff - They're getting poorer and poorer and the reason she haggles LIEK A BOSSU
Mockery on her (as a country) - give her a break!
Not being acknowledge in the World meetings - She hates it when her addresses are being ignored.
Calamities - Especially natural calamities
Martial Law - Trust me, you don't want to know.
Being invaded (again) - She's not afraid to draw her weapon again, that's for sure.
Animal Cruelty - She cannot tolerate that, Oh, no!
Being in debt - Yes, she's in debt, and keeps borrowing money. She doesn't like, but they have to.

Strengths:
Flexibility and Adaptability - Philippines is an adaptable country, able to adjust to situation that comes in her way. She also seem to know how to improvise things either for survival or for her daily life.
Creative - With their various folklore from around, ethnicity and such, no surprise that she's pretty creative with her hands. Heck, even the stuff she cooks can be a work of art in some way. Some.
Hardworking - If she wants something to work, she works hard for it. In everything, she gives her all into it.
Friendly - Apparently, she's friendly around and doesn't find it hard to befriend anyone.
Survivability - Let's admit it, Philippines has been invaded three times (four if England is counted and five if you count the attempt of Netherlands is included), and she's still standing strong up to this day (though in less than favorable conditions). And with the calamities and such, it's a surprise the female nation still exist up to this day. That strong woman.

Weaknesses:
Lack of discipline/Impatient - She's a laid-back country, so there comes a time that if she stop doing something, she'll stop. Sometimes, Philippines will even become impatient that she would end up using 'short-cuts' in most things.
Emotional - She's overly emotional in things and would sometimes become sentimental about it.
(Blind) Aggressive - When it comes to something she hates, or when fighting, she tends to show her hot-tempered nature and won't back down in a challenge when calls for it. Sure, she's nice and all, but when you manage to tick her nodes a bit, she'll be onto you like France to a pretty woman.
Selfish - For some reason, Philippines sometimes show her selfish side mostly in a competitive state.
Superstitious - Yes, she believes (almost) anything, superficial or not.
Lazy - She blames Spain for that. Really, once she starts to slack, she'll go on and on and on and....

Fears:
Being invaded by another country (again)
Wallowing in so much debt that she cannot pay it anymore
Natural calamities (happens all the time)
War (And seeing the unnecessary bloodshed of her people, especially the 'Bataan March' event)
Running out of food (Le gaspe!)

Secrets:
- Not exactly a secret, but other nations find her amusing because on Holy Week (Late March or early April), her people would flagellate themselves for the sake of God. She finds it funny, though they thought Philippines admires them.
- Avid fan of Balut (fermented duck embryo).
- Her pet Tarsier, Bohol, loves to slam its head on the wall when she's not looking.
- Despite her economy in jeopardy, Philippines is still willing and able to help other nations when they are in need.
- Very good in boxing.
- Had slept with Japan during WWII (though it was forced, to be honest). Back then, she's very hostile with him, but now since they're quite close, she's not trying to bring that one up anytime soon. So you can say that they are 'unofficially' a couple or something... but let's not go there, that's WWII and this is now. (Refers to the 'Comfort Women' back in WWII when Philippines is under Japan)

Any Quirks/Habits:
- Loves to imitate game shows/real-life sitcoms (Like Big Brother, American Idol, etc.) from other countries. Don't ask.
- Also one of those 'who will eat anything even bugs because that's how they roll' nations.
- Just try to make a joke about bombing/terrorism/invading her and she'll definitely pull out her Bolo and smite you with it. Laid back yet paranoid when it comes to those things.
- Very vocational with their religion; she would always go to mass every Sunday.
- Eats three full-square meals a day, and snacks in-between. Surprisingly, she doesn't go fat.
- Owns a dog named 'Bantay'. Unfortunately, he's as lazy as Philippines from time to time. He's getting old.


Overall Personality:
Philippines is a friendly and amiable country, with its rich culture, friendly people and overall pleasing personality. When in need, she won't hesitate to help other nations (even if her economic crisis is still not something to trifle upon), she always welcome foreign people or her fellow nation with open arms (and a food or so, knowing her), and would even go as far as throw in her hospitable nature to her guests, putting them first before her own needs. She is a religious nation who believes strongly in her faith (though, as a superstisious nation, Philippines would sometimes believe in ghosts, monsters and other supernatural beings) yet open-minded to other people and their ideals. Philippines also love to joke around and uplift the dark mood with her light-hearted nature, though she knows when she needs to be serious when deems to be.

She is also a hard-working nation, who would work her way to achieve what she needed to gain, a strong & independent woman (and nation) and a patriotic country who believes in her own pride and her people's pride. Philippines tend to 'take it easy' (in a form of a siesta) who takes things in her own pace, and yet she'll be on the move once you give her a little nudge and motivation here and there.

However, she, too, also have her faults and one of them is her being paranoid about invaders, terrorism or any calamities happening, within her jurisdiction or beyond. Because of it, she would sometimes go to her aggressive mood and even not hesitate to brandish her weapon if the time needs to, which stems to the years when she was invaded by various nations once upon a time. She can also be clingy (especially to America) when she is short on cash and makes excuses when being asked to pay for it, as well as tends to complain a lot whenever her needs are not being given. Apparently, she is also prone on being (too) lazy at the point that she'll do her job in a half-hearted pace on her job and gets easily irritated when probed into it.

Nevertheless, despite her (somewhat) bloody past (on their part, she's the victim), Philippines leave the past behind and always looking forward to the present and future with a smile on her face and a friendly demeanor of hers, ready and willing to interact with other nations (even to those who invaded her once upon a time) and seems to be having a good relationship with most of them. When in need, Philippines is willing to help and is very grateful to those who extend their hands to her needs, making her quite one of the friendlier countries there is.

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• Early History
  
  
  
• Spanish Era (1521-1896)
  
  
  
• Philippine Revolution (1896–1898)
  
  
  
• American Era (1898–1946)
  
  
  
• World War II & Japanese Era (1942–1944)
  
  
  
• Independent Philippines and the Third Republic onwards (1946–PRESENT)
  
  

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She glared at the offending weapon in front of her, grasping the handle tightly within her hands. Normally, whenever she would hold a bladed item, it would be used either for cooking or for cutting down plants and stray grass. She never expected to use this other than mere household tools, gulping at the thought enveloping on her mind.

Philippines was taught well by Spain about Christianity, that killing is a sin. However, what they are doing to her people was much worse, and the sight of seeing her own people being killed opened her eyes to the truth; she needed to become independent. So, to say, this was her first time holding the bladed item as a weapon.

"Ma'am..."

Breaking from her trance, Philippines hardened her expression, knowing that this day will come as she straighten herself, ready for the revolution for their independence. The last death with him pulled the last string and it was about time for them to strike back and retaliate.

"Are you sure about this?"

Philippines pursed her lips, sighed before facing the people with their weapons ready, knowing full well the many sacrifices her people would risk, but if it's for the sake of Philippines' freedom and their freedom, it's worth the risk.

"Right. Tell him we strike at dawn."

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[/color]:[/b] Icchan
Timezone: +8:00

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