MANILA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Philippine economy returned to year-on-year growth in the second quarter, exiting a recession with a faster-than-expected expansion, official data showed on Tuesday, as a gradual easing of coronavirus restrictions in May underpinned domestic demand. Gross domestic product rose 11.8% in the June quarter , rebounding from a COVID-induced slump a year earlier, the statistics agency said. The economy resumed growth after contracting for five consecutive quarters. Economists in a Reuters poll had expected the economy to expand 10% in the second quarter after a record 17% contraction in the same period last year and shrinking a revised 3.9% year-on-year in the first three months of 2021. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales, Karen Lema and Enrico Dela Cruz; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.