Note: This AU started out as an essay I submitted for an essay-writing activity I had in high school where we would create our own fictional country and describe it. Most of this AU is based on what I wrote for that essay.
Republic of Corpus Christi:
(Map from
OpenStreetMap)
Motto:
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam
Anthem:
By Freedom We Stand
Capital:
Antipolo
Largest city:
Infanta
Official languages:
English, Tagalog (optional)
Demonym:
Moronian
Government:
Unitary presidential constitutional republic
President: Fatima Santos
Legislature: Congress
Upper house: Senate
Lower house: House of Representatives
Independence:
1955
Area:
4601.35 km2
Population (2013):
6,850,000
GDP (nominal):
Total $275.8 billion
HDI (2013):
0.902
Currency:
Dollar ($) (CPD)
Time zone:
(UTC+8)
Date format:
mm/dd/yyyy
Drives on the:
right
Calling code:
+632
ISO 3166 code:
CP
Internet TLD:
.cp
Gallery:
(Pictures are of real places in the Philippines used to represent places in Corpus Christi. The church shown, Antipolo Church, is located in Corpus Christi in this AU)
Geography:
Corpus Christi is mainly a mountainous country with some flat plains and valleys. The Sierra Madre mountain range starts at Tanay in Corpus Christi. Part of the western border with the Philippines follows the Marikina River. The westernmost point is Pasig City, bordering the Philippines along the Marikina and Pasig rivers, and the easternmost point is Jomalig Island, in the East Philippine Sea.
History:
The Republic of Corpus Christi was founded in 1955 by a Catholic layperson, Gabriel Canlas, who led a militia group during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. The country got its name since it was founded on the Roman Catholic feast of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi declared its independence from the Philippines after numerous communist rebel attacks against the provinces of Morong and North Tayabas, which were to become the Republic of Corpus Christi, were succesfully repelled by Gabriel Canlas' militia group, which held those places after World War II. After independence, Corpus Christi joined the United Nations and in the 1960's became a founding member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organnization (SEATO). Corpus Christi moved towards industialization and became a major manufactuing center after 1975. Currently, Corpus Christi is one of the most well-developed countries in Southeast Asia, on par with Singapore.
Demograpics:
The people of Corpus Christi are best described as English-speaking Christian Malays. Most of Corpus Christi's heritage can be traced back to the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. This includes the old churches in Antipolo, Baras and Pililia. Most Moronians have Spanish family names, which was a tradition started in Spanish-occupied Philippines. The largest religious groups in Corpus Christi are the Roman Catholic Church, whose followers in Corpus Christi amount to around 44% of the population, and the Anglican Church of Morong, accounting for 40% of the population. 10% belong to other Christian groups, such as other Protestant groups and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The remaining 6% is composed of Jews and others. Since the constitution of Corpus Christi states that “Corpus Christi is a nation of believers of God”, freedom of religion is protected.
Politics:
The political system in Corpus Christi is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, headed by a president elected by popular vote. Corpus Christi has a rigorous training for aspiring politicians, to weed out the 'undesirabes' and only allowing the deserving to be nominated for election. This style of democracy is the hallmark of Corpus Christi's politics, and is the model looked upon by other democratic states in Southeast Asia. This makes Corpus Christi's government a meritrocratic democracy.
Military:
Corpus Christi has a modest, but modern, military, the Corpus Christi Defense Force. The Corpus Christi Defense Force has about 20,000 personnel, 10,000 for the Corpus Christi Ground Defense Force, 5,000 for the Corpus Christi Air Defense Force, and 5,000 for the Corpus Christi Maritime Defense Force. The CCDF's expenditures amount to around 4% of Corpus Christi's annual GDP. Military service is voluntary.