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Philippines

A compact chain of 7,107 islands; divided into three main groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; scattered across the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines' fragmented layout gives it a wealth of natural wonders and pristine beaches. Although the Philippines is known as Asia’s beach capital, with a coastline twice the length of that of the United States, it’s the Filipino people who are the strongest attraction of the islands, often described as the "friendliest people in Asia." Their famous hospitality is showered on friends and strangers alike, especially during "fiestas" or religious town feasts. Festivals abound, visitors will surely find one being celebrated in some island at any time of the year.

With a population of over 90 million, the Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world and has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. As a result of its long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with visits of merchants and traders, the Philippines evolved as a people of a unique blend of east and west. Although there are more than 87 dialects, Filipino is the official national language (based on the Tagalog dialect of Southern Luzon), along with English which is understood and spoken by 90% of the population. Having the second most number of islands in the world, there are over a hundred ethnic tribes, many of which live in the age-old traditions of their ancestors.

Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese and the Japanese. Spain's colonization brought about the construction of Intramuros in 1571, a "Walled City" comprised of European buildings and churches, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. Four out of more than a hundred Catholic Churches in the country are World Heritage Sites. The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia.

In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only colony of the United States that enabled Filipinos to benefit from widespread American education. Independence was fought for and granted to the Philippines in 1946. Many Filipinos fought alongside Americans in World War II. The American Cemetery in Manila is the largest outside the US, where lie the remains of 17,206 American soldiers killed in WWII, their tombs marked by seemingly endless concentric circles of Italian marble headstones. Names of 36,279 missing soldiers are embedded in majestic pillars encircling the monument. For Americans, this is one of the most moving sites in the entire Pacific.

The Philippines is also located at the center of the world's marine biodiversity. The unparalleled variety of rare corals, marine life and fishes provides a superlative experience for scuba divers.

This Southeast Asian country welcomes visitors with wide open arms and takes pride in its immense offerings of rare scenery, fine foods, unique products and a rich cultural heritage and history. Seldom can one find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their visitors.

Historical Places and UNESCO
World Heritage Sites

Banaue Rice Terraces, also referred to as the Ifugao Rice Terraces - the most extensive anywhere in the world – were carved into the mountains by the Ifugao Tribe over 2,000 years ago. When placed end-to-end, these rice terraces can reach halfway across the globe. The terraces are located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level and cover about 4,000 square miles of the mountain ranges of the Cordilleras. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system, an ingenious complex of bamboo pipes and canals, drawing water from streams in mountain rainforests. Often dubbed “8th Wonder of the World, this monumental feat was built for survival (rice is the Philippines’ staple food) with bare hands, stone, and rudimentary pieces of metal, are awe-inspiring.

Chocolate Hills
Some 1,268 geological formations that look like giant mole hills are a natural phenomenon found nowhere else in the world. Rising from 98 to 165 feet, spanning the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, northwest of Tagbilaran City, the capital of the province of Bohol, these hills are the weathered formations of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay. They are covered in green grass, which turns to brown during the dry season, making them look like chocolate mounds. An American discovered them during dry season and referred to them then as “chocolate drop hills”.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean
River National Park
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. The St. Paul Underground River, a World Heritage Site, is the world’s longest. Only 3.5 of its 5 miles are navigable by native outrigger boats. Motor boats are disallowed so as not to disturb the bat life inside its caves. This unique river, which flows directly into the sea, resembles the cavernous interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral; thus, its name. A highlight of each visit is a ride through the underground river, which runs through a dome of stalactites complemented by stalagmites running the entire length of the cave. The park is a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation, containing a whole ecosystem --- from mountain to the sea; and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia. The park is a popular destination for bird watching and is known for regular sightings of numerous threatened bird species. It is also home to the Palawan flying fox, Oriental small-clawed otter, stinkbadger, binturong, flying squirrel, mountain tree squirrel and porcupine.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 82,000 acres including the north and south reefs. It is a marvelous marine wilderness and a special ecosystem much appreciated for its beauty as well as its scientific value. The atoll reef boasts a high density of marine species, with 80% covered by 46 coral genres and 376 fish species. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two-coral islands. Tubbataha’s north islet is a nesting site for sea birds of all kinds and endangered hawksbill sea turtles; a diver’s paradise with gorgonian seafans, soft corals, and gigantic sea sponges serving as home to turkey fish, anemone crab, banded seasnakes, nudibranchs, starfish, catsharks, surgeon fish, batfish, butterfly fish, and the rare, unusual looking fox-faced rabbit fish. Marine turtles, including the critically endangered hawksbill and green turtle, nest on some of the beaches.

Historic Town of Vigan
The 16th century town of Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East Asia. Its architecture reflects the fusion of cultural elements from the Philippines, China, and Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that has no parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Seemingly impervious to time, spared from rebellion and the ravages of war, Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has remained unchanged and its many preserved historic sites – more than 180 edifices – make it look like “a piece of Spain.” With its grand cathedral, massive mansions with red-tile roofs and spacious balconies, narrow cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, and friendly faces peering out of large windows, Vigan is a place where “time stood still.”

San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila
Built in 1587, San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines, the only one that remains as the original evidence of the 16th century Spanish architecture. It has defied several earthquakes and the heavy shelling of both Japanese and American forces in 1945 and now stands as a reminder of the grandeur of the past. As the best-preserved example of an urban ecclesiastical complex in the Philippines, the compound serves not only as a historical document of the Spanish colonial heritage but also as a repository of the most important works of art and literature of the period.

10 Things to do

Stroll through Manila Bay and experience the most dramatic sunsets in the world.

Relive history at the walled city of Intramuros

Try Philippine massage at any of the ubiquitous spas. A haircut, manicure, pedicure, massage, beauty treatment could be had at very little cost.

Canoe through Lake Taal and marvel at Taal Volcano– the world’s smallest, active volcano. It is a volcano within a lake, within an island within a volcano. You can also go on horseback to the crater or visit Taal Town’s Basilica of St. Martin de Tours, the biggest in Asia. Many artistic crafts are also found in Taal

Browse the Filipino flea-markets where “bargaining” shoppers can buy items with big discounts, depending on charm and good bargaining skills

Get fit and learn jungle survival techniques in Subic Bay’s tropical rainforest. The man who used to train American soldiers for Vietnam still lives there.

Dive in the waters of the Philippines and marvel at the highest density of coral species and marine life in the world. If not a diver, obtain training and a PADI certificate in the Philippines at a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

Bask in the warm tropical sun and get the perfect tan that will be the envy of your friends back home. Top Philippine beach locations include Boracay Island, Aklan (consistently named among the world’s top ten beaches); El Nido, Palawan; Camiguin Island; Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Puerto Galera, Mindoro; Nasugbu and Lian in Batangas; and Ternate in Cavite

Watch a traditional game of Sipa, played with a small wicker ball, at the Rizal Court in Manila

Enjoy the nightlife and experience electrifying Filipino bars, discos, and nightclubs that provide non-stop entertainment

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to make a trip to the Philippines is from October to May when typhoons do not usually occur. January, May, and December are good months if colorful celebrations and fiestas are on your list of interests. If your itinerary includes visits to the rice terraces in North Luzon, the best time to go is in March and April as the weather is pleasantly warm. Apart from that, warm summer months (March to May) are also ideal for island hopping.

ANNUAL EVENTS

ATI-ATIHAN
Kalibo, Aklan in the island of Panay
Third weekend of January on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany.

This is the greatest, most colorful and fun festival in the Philippines featuring native dance competition pitched to rhythmic and mesmerizing drumbeats that run nonstop for several days. Competitors rehearse for weeks, dress in colorful costumes, and paint their bodies with black ash to resemble the native “Ati”, the indigenous natives before the arrival of the Malay in the 10th century and the Spanish in the 16th century. The name “ati-atihan” means make-believe “atis”. In the 13th century, the “atis” sold part of the lowlands to light-skinned settlers from Borneo, and moved to the mountains. Poor crop yields constrained the Atis to come down to the lowlands to ask for help. The kindness was celebrated through dance that was later joined by the while-skinned lowlanders who painted themselves black to celebrate this friendship. After the arrival of the Spaniards, the reason for the festival evolved to rejoice the gift of the Santo Niño by Magellan to the native Queen of Cebu in 1521. The dancing on the rhythms of the drums makes “Ati-atihan” similar to the “Carnival” in Rio in Brazil. Should hotel rooms run out in Kalibo during “ati-atihan”, Boracay Island (just an hour away by land and boat) has all kinds of hotels and resorts ranging from 5-star to pension-type accommodation.

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
Lucban, Quezon Province
May 15

The Pahiyas Festival is an annual celebration held in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, in thanksgiving for abundant harvests. “Payas” or “Pahiyas” literally means decorating the wall with "Kiping" and agricultural harvest. Farmers show their bountiful produce such as chayote, radish, pepper and grains of rice. There are miniature dummies or mannequins dressed up to depict farmers, locally known as "anok", as well as displays of fruits, vegetables and longganisa (local sausage) strung together in the most original fashion. Kiping is made from ground rice flour, shaped using "cabal" leaves and colored in radiant red, fuschia, yellow, green and other bright shades, strung together to form all sorts of shapes, from chandelier called "arangya" to huge flowers. Each household tries to outdo each other in friendly competition and are awarded for their creativity. Residents engaging in other forms of livelihood display their products, too, in thanksgiving. For example handicraft manufacturers deck out their house with colorful buri/buntal hats, bags, placemats; while butchers display a head of roasted suckling pig (lechon) peeking from the window. It is from the belief that houses along the procession route will be especially favored and blessed in the coming year that the lavish decoration of the home began. After all, one must welcome the saint's blessings with rapture and gratitude. Visitors are able to purchase the best products of Quezon Province at the Tiyangge Sa Lucban, an agro-industrial fair showcasing Lucban's products concurrently held with Pahiyas.

FLORES DE MAYO
May 1 - May 31

Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held annually in May and considered to be the “Queen of Filipino Festivals”. A week-long street pageant is held in every town from the Barrios to the metropolis honoring beautiful Philippine maidens and their handsome escorts under hand-carried bamboo arcs decorated with fragrant native flowers. This grand procession features different celebrities and beauty queens wearing gowns by top fashion designers of the country.

MASSKARA FESTIVAL
Bacolod City
October 1-20, weekend nearest October 19

MassKara is a festival that gives the people of Negros, locals and foreign visitors alike, a chance to enjoy beer drinking, dining, street dancing and merry making. Not to be missed are the pig-catching and pole-climbing competitions. MassKara was created from two words: Mass meaning crowds and cara which is Spanish for face. The smiling face is the symbol of the festival. The mask was designed to show the happy spirit of the Negrenses despite trying times (periodic economic downturns in the sugar industry). It was a sign of resiliency and zest for life.

PANAGBENGA
Baguio City
February 1 – first Sunday in March

Panagbenga (Kankanaey term of Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning “season of blooming”) is a month-long annual flower that showcases many floral floats and the native dances of the Philippines. Held in Bagiuo, the summer capital of the Philippines, it was started as a tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the. The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers not unlike those used in. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flowery costumes, inspired by the Bendian, an dance of celebration that came from the.

PENAFRANCIA
Naga City, Camarines Sur
Second Friday to Third Saturday of September

Dating back to 1885 and considered the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines, this annual 9-day celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, gathers over 6 million devotees from around the world. The miraculous image of our Lady of Peñafrancia (a replica of the statue of the Virgin in Penafrancia, Spain), is enshrined in her Sanctuary in the Basilica Minore, Barrio Balatas, just outside Naga City. The procession, locally called “translacion” is the transferring of the Virgin and of the Divino Rostro from the Basilica to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena and Holy Masses over 9 days of celebration that also include cultural shows, civic and military parades, sports competitions, agro-industrial trade fair, and the coronation of Miss Bicolandia beauties, culminating in a fluvial parade of epic proportions surrounded by a sea of lit candles held by devotees bringing the Virgin back to the Basilica.

SINULOG
Cebu City
Weeklong festival starting from the second Saturday of January

Characterized by its peculiar two-steps-forward-and-one-step-backward shuffle, the Sinulog is a century-old tradition observed in the Philippines’ second city. The prayer-dance is synchronized to the beat of drums and shouts of "Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!" Among its highlights is the fluvial parade with the Santo Niño (Child God). The Grand Procession and Parade caps the week-long festivities.

MORIONES
Marinduque Island, Philippines
Holy Monday to Easter Sunday

This weeklong celebration reenacts the story of Longinus (Roman centurion blind in one eye) in pantomime. Morion means "mask" or "visor," a part of the medieval Roman armor which covers the face. Moriones, on the other hand, refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. (Legend has it that Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ. The blood that spurted forth touched his blind eye and fully restored his sight. This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions). The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded. The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly-colored tunics. The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic stage. Various towns also hold the unique tradition of the pabasa or the recitation of Christ's passion in verse. The Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) is also reenacted and flagellants, known as antipos, inflict suffering upon themselves as a form of atonement. After three o'clock on Good Friday afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, whereby old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand in wake of the dead Christ.

ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA FESTIVAL
Zamboanga City
Twelve days between October 1-31

The picturesque city of Zamboanga celebrates its Zamboanga Hermosa Festival with 12 days and nights of events and celebrations. Held in honor of Our Lady of the Pilar, the festival is also popularly known as the 'Fiesta Pilar' and is a big celebration across the region. The event includes live music, cultural performances, street parades, and fireworks displays. The regatta that features numerous boats with brightly-colored sails (vintas) filling the harbor is truly a sight to behold.

SIARGAO INTERNATIONAL SURFING CUP
General Luna, Siargao, Surigao del Norte
Last week in September

This annual competition features phenomenal surfing in gigantic waves. The most popular and very powerful wave-off “Cloud Nine” located in General Luna has been hailed as one of the world’s five toughest breaks and has been frequently compared to the famous surf of Hawaii and Australia. It was featured in “Surf Magazine” as one of the ten best waves in the world. East of Siargao Islands lies the Philippine Deep that rises from over 34,000 feet to a belt of reefs. This Oceanic trench is the reason for the excellent surf in Siargao; because it is so deep and the continental shelf narrow, the waves break with juice straight out of deep water and focus the wave energy straight at the beach. This area is set to become Asia’s next hot surfing destination and is truly one of the worlds’ last great frontiers for surf exploration. This International Cup is accredited as a 2-star surfing competition by the Association of Surfing Professionals - Australia / Asia Region (ASP-AA).

PINYAHAN SA DAET
Daet, Camarines Norte
Third week of June

Pineapple Festival held in Daet, where locals love the sweet, succulent pineapple to the extent that they created a festival in its honor. The Festival features cultural dances, art exhibits, trade fair and sports events. Nearby are the Paracale Gold Mines.

SIGNATURE FOODS

		Chicken and Pork Adobo
		Lechon (Roast Pig)
		Crispy Pata
		Kare-Kare
		Inihaw (Barbeque)
		Pinakbet
		Lumpia
		Sisig
		Pansit Palabok
		Halo-Halo
		Leche Plan

Click Here to Visit Philippines Culinary Page

TOP BUYS

	Provides clearly displayed prices
	Displays clear information
	Pearls and hand-made jewelry
	Embroidered blouses and dresses
	Fashion accessories made from indigenous materials
	Hand-woven cotton blankets, bedspreads, coverlets
	Paintings, other art and antiques
	Handicrafts
	Wood Carvings
	Stylish Clothes
	Footwear
	Dried Mangoes

KEY WORDS

	Mabuhay – (literal translation: “Long live!”) – Best used to say “hello”, “all the best” is said to instill goodwill
	Magandang umaga - Good morning
	Magandang hapon - Good afternoon
	Magandang gabi - Good evening
	Ako ay si – My name is…
	Kumusta ka? - How are you?
	Maraming Salamat - Thank you very much
	Walang pong anuman - You are welcome
	Oo - Yes
	Hindi - No
	Anong oras na? - What time is it?
	Anong pangalan mo? - What is your name?
	It is customary to add “po” when speaking to elders, a respectable person or strangers; i.e.: “Opo” instead of “oo (yes) and “Hindi po” instead of “hindi” (no).

FUN FILIPINO FACT

The Basilica of San Sebastian in Manila is the only steel church in Asia and was the second building to be made out of steel, next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

FAQ

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	Big Mac	$1.75
	Dinner for two	$30.00
	Cab ride from airport to town	$8.00
	Local subway/train ride	$0.50
	Souvenir tee shirt	$5.00
	30-minute massage at a local spa	$10.00
	A bus tour around the city	$30.00
	Souvenir gift	$5.00

Manila Weather Forecast, Philippines

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