If you d/l the PHP manual, in 'install.apache.html' there seem to be some quite good instructions. You're trying to make mod_php, then load it using /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf.
Alternatively, Mandrake 8 comes with PHP precompiled and ready to run (inc. GD and PgSQL support, if/when you want them). Highly recommended, and if someone has been tempting you to Debian with apt-get, I suggest you have a look for rpm-get. It has plenty of rough edges, but I got it working well enough.
The 'no acceptable cc path found in $PATH' bit sounds quite dire, to me. CC is short for C compiler, which is usually fulfilled by GCC (GNU CC).
Try 'which gcc' and if it comes up blank, use 'find /usr -name gcc' to find it then add appropriate directory to your PATH (IE in /etc/bashrc or .bashrc). If you can't find gcc at all, you're either on a proprietary UNIX (ie AIX) in which case you should 'find' for cc or you need to get it.
Of course, it may mean something completely different by 'cc', but I remember being thrown by 'cc' meaning 'gcc' before.
If you do get PHP working and need questions answered, do mail me.
Alexis -- Alas my .sig, Mozilla ate it.