Here's why:
* Colonial history: The Philippines was a US colony for almost 50 years, leading to widespread use of English in education, government, and business.
* Education: English is taught in schools from a young age, making it a common language for Filipinos.
* Global communication: English is essential for Filipinos to communicate with the rest of the world for trade, tourism, and other interactions.
While Filipino is the more widely spoken language in everyday life, English is used extensively in formal settings and for communication with foreigners.