Explore The Philippines an archipelago in South-East Asia of more than seven thousand islands located between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea at the very eastern edge of Asia.

Many wonderful beaches are just part of one of the world’s longest coastlines and it takes about 20 years to spend a day on every island. Since Spanish colonial times, the country has been Asia’s largest Catholic country. Over a hundred ethnic groups, a mixture of foreign influences and a fusion of culture and arts have enhanced the uniqueness of the Filipino identity and the wonder that is the Philippines.

History

Several thousand years ago, the first settlers in the Philippines crossed shallow seas and land bridges from mainland Asia to arrive in this group of islands. These were the Negritos or Aetas related to Melanesians, Australian Aborigines and Papuans. Direct descendants of these people can still be found, especially in Negros Oriental.

Climate

The climate is tropical, with March to May being the hottest months. The rainy season starts in June and extends through October with strong typhoons possible. The coolest months are from November to February, with mid-January to end of February considered the best for cooler and dryer weather.

Culture

The culture of the Philippines is very diverse. There is the native Melanesian and Austronesian culture, which is most evident in language, ethnicity, native architecture, food and dances. There is also some influence from Japan, China, India, Arabia, and Borneo. On top of that there is a heavy colonial Hispanic influence from Mexico and Spain, such as in religion, food, dance, language, festivals, architecture and ethnicity. Later influence from the US can also be seen in the culture.

Philippine laws and court decisions, with extremely rare exceptions, are written solely in US English.

Cities

With seven thousand islands, the Philippines have many cities. Listed below are the nine most important cities for visitors, some of which are provincial capitals and centers of commerce and finance, as well as culture and history.

• Manila – the national capital is one of the most densely populated cities in the world – with all of that implies in terms of pollution, crime, urban poverty and traffic jams – with few parks. However, the smiling, stoical and resourceful people themselves are its saving grace, rather than the relatively few surviving monuments, historical landmarks and sights widely scattered around the city and its surrounding metropolitan area of Metro Manila!
• Iloilo City – is a tourist hub where the best restaurants, museums, hotels, shopping districts, and heritage sites in the city await. It is most known for the annual Dinagyang Festival. Apart from its own collection of tourist attractions, Iloilo serves as a gateway to Western Visayas region and a favored stopover for tourists heading to the beaches of Boracay and the nearby Guimaras , Antique, Capiz, Aklan,Bacolod , and Negros Occidental.
• Baguio – the country’s summer capital because of its cool weather, it boasts well-maintained parks and scenic areas, as well as being the home of the “Igorot”, the indigenous peoples of the Cordilleras.
• Cebu – It is the first city founded by the West in the Philippines and is a major center for commerce, industry, culture and tourism.
• Cagayan de Oro – known as the “City of Golden Friendship”, it is popular for whitewater rafting and is the gateway to Northern Mindanao.
• Davao – one of the largest cities in the world in terms of land area, it is known for its durian and for being the home of Mount Apo, the Philippines’ tallest mountain.
• Tagbilaran – known as the site of the Sandugo (blood compact) between Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna representing the people of Bohol.
• Vigan – the capital of Ilocos Sur and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its well-preserved city center is the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the Philippines. Declared as one of the new 7 wonders (cities)
• Zamboanga- known as “La Ciudad Latina de Asia” (Asia’s Latin City), it is the melting pot between the Philippines’ Christian and Muslim cultures, boasting old mosques, grand churches and historic colonial structures.

Other destinations

• Banaue, home to the 2000 year old Rice terraces. People are fascinated at how the Igorots have made this, hence the Filipinos calling it as the 8th wonder of the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Batangas, home to the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines boasting of world class dive sites and famous for its beaches. It’s accessibility by land about 2 hours from the Manila airport makes it a popular destination. It is home to Taal Volcano and the Taal heritage town.
• Boracay is 10km island featuring white sands.
• Camarines Sur has beautiful coral reefs, and shorelines of Black and white sands. Visit the Camarines Sur Watersport complex and go water skiing.
• Coron is the place for wreck diving in the Philippines. Several Japanese ships were sunk here during World War II. Other dive attractions include nice reefs, good macro life, and a very unique geothermal lake dive. Island hopping is another popular activity here.
• El Nido is a coastal settlement and major tourist destination on the Philippines island of Palawan. El Nido comprises 45 islands and islets; limestone cliffs are also found here, which form a Karst backdrop similar to those found in Ha Long Bay, Krabi and Guilin. El Nido is a popular destination for locals during the long holidays of Holy Week but, until recently, has been relatively unknown to foreign tourists. Beaches, clear waters (away from the main town), jungle, steep limestone cliffs and stunning inlets make for beautiful seascapes.
• Donsol is the Whale Shark Capital of the world, dive and see whale sharks.
• Malapascua Island just like other islands in the Philippines, the island features a beautiful white sand shoreline and coral gardens.
• Palawan offers beautiful beaches that are often inhabited and waters which have coral reefs that are home to a large variety of fishes, not only coral reefs but also animals such as dugongs and manta rays. Not only white beaches and tranquil water but see the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Park, a cave with beautiful rock formations as well as an underground river.
• Puerto Galera, a favorite getaway for people during Holy Week because of its white sand shorelines and it’s amazing flora.
• Sabang is a municipality in Puerto Galera, dive its beautiful waters and be amazed at the fauna that you will see.
• Sagada is a small town in the mountain province of Luzon in the Philippines, famed for its cool and refreshing climate, beautiful caves, hanging coffins, and serene mountains.
• Tagaytay, tired of the old scene of the noisy metropolis of Manila? or missing the cool weather? Head to Tagaytay, it provides a view of Taal Volcano, the weather is cool and often a getaway for Filipinos tired of warm tropical weather during the Holy Week.

Driving

International driving licenses are valid in the Philippines for up to 30 days after arrival, after which an International Driver’s Permit or a Philippine driving license is required. Vehicular traffic in the Philippines moves on the right, and the vast majority of road signs are in English. Most signs conform to design guidelines used in the United States but all units used are metric. Filipinos mainly use manual transmission in their cars; however, if you’re visiting the Philippines, and you’re used to driving an automatic transmission, automatic transmission is available for rental cars, though, it’s typically more expensive.

Talk

The Philippines has two official languages: English and Filipino