The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands scattered gracefully in the westernmost rim of the Pacific Ocean close to the equator. It’s thanks to this geographical location that the country is gifted with warm tropical weather and stretches of pristine white sand beaches with emerald green waters as clear as a crystal! It’s no surprise that the Philippines boasts beaches that have been consistently named as one of the best in the world by many major travel publications. It’s an idyllic tropical destination for island-hopping getaways and beach adventures In addition to this, The Philippines is also home to world-renowned natural wonders like underground rivers, rolling rice terraces, diving spots with rich marine biodiversity. In the big cities you will find towering skyscrapers, historical streets, buzzing nightlife, delicious cuisines, the biggest malls in Asia and the popular grafitti-splashed jeepneys. Aside from all of these impressive sceneries, The Philippines is perhaps most well known for the hospitality of the locals. Here, everybody is welcome to be part of the fun.

Before the Philippines became the modern country it is today, it was simply a collection of islands inhabited by indigenous tribes that is believed to have come from Borneo then later inhabited by Malays and Indonesian settlers. During Europe’s ‘Age of Discovery’ the island of Philippines was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, a Portuguese explorer working for the Spanish Crown. Despite the indigenous resistance, the Spanish successfully colonised the country under the rule of King Philipp II, also naming the country after him. The Spanish colonisation lasted for 300 years with numerous failed uprisings. The Philippines was then granted to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American war. The Philippines battle for independence was delayed by the World War II and the invasion of Japan but eventually, the country became self-governing in 1935. The rest of the islands were liberated by U.S. forces in 1944-45, and the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed in 1946, with a government patterned on that of the United States. In 1965 Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. He declared martial law in 1972, which lasted until 1981. After 20 years of rule, Marcos was driven from power in 1986. Corazon Aquino became president and instituted a period of democratic rule in the country.

The three major geographical areas in the Philippines are the large island of Luzon in the north, which includes the capital city, Manila; the large island of Mindanao in the south; and the group of islands lying between them, known as the Visayas. The island geography of the Philippines includes about 21,000 miles of natural coastline. Much of the coastal area is rugged and irregular, punctuated by numerous natural harbours and picturesque coves. The country is generally mountainous, with several peaks reaching almost 10,000 feet. In addition, the Philippines has extensive fertile plains along the coast and in the centre of the country. There are numerous volcanoes in the country, and some are frequently active. The Philippines is a country rich with unique tropical rain forests and coral reefs. It has been referred to as the Galapagos Islands multiplied by 10! Only about one third of the islands are inhabited.

The Philippines has a tropical climate, but it is marginally less hot and humid than many tropical countries for most of the year. The climate varies between the dry and the very wet season, each lasting about six months. The dry summer season runs from about late April to early June is hot and humid and with little rainfall. The typhoon season runs from June to September. January to May is the best time to visit the country. March is hot and dry, June to October is rainy and November to February is cool. Average Temperature is 78°F/25°C to 90°F/32°C; average humidity is 77%.

Predominantly a Christian nation in comparison to all of Asia, the strong presence of Catholicism stemmed from the colonisation of the Spanish. A big majority of the population follows Roman Catholicism, and the rest are from various Christian and Protestant sects. Islam religion is more concentrated in the Southern Islands. The rest of the other religions follow non-western indigenous beliefs and practices.

The Filipino culture is an exuberant blend of diversity and homogeneity. The country’s traditional customs reflect their faith, their oneness with others, their affinity with nature, and their celebration of life. It is a culture where East meets West, with a distinct Asian background but with strong Western traditions. Modern Filipino culture developed through influences from the Spanish and American conquistadors. The national language is Tagalog with English as a secondary language spoken by majority of the population. There are 150 dialects spoken throughout the region. Filipinos are predominantly of Malay descent, frequently with Chinese and sometimes American or Spanish ancestry. Because of their strong ties to the Spanish culture, Filipinos are emotional, passionate about life, food and music in a way that seems more Latin than Asian.