PHILIPPINES IS AN ARCHIPELAGO LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

MADE UP OF 7,641 ISLANDS.

IT IS CATEGORIZED UNDER THREE MAIN GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH : LUZON, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO.

THE COUNTRY WAS DISCOVERED BY THE PORTUGUESE NAVIGATOR FERDINAND MAGELLAN IN 1521 WHILE IN SPANISH SERVICE. HE NAMED THE ARCHIPELAGO, PHILIPPINES AFTER KING PHILIP II (1527-1589) OF SPAIN. SPAIN RULED THE PHILIPPINES FOR THREE CENTURIES.

SPANISH RULE HOWEVER, ENDED IN 1898 WITH SPAIN’S DEFEAT IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. THE US GOVERNMENT FORMALLY ACQUIRED THE PHILIPPINES FROM SPAIN WITH THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PARIS ON DECEMBER 10, 1898. SPAIN SOLD THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO TO THE UNITED STATES FOR $20 MILLION. THE PHILIPPINES THEN BECAME A TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND AMERICAN COLONIZATION LASTED 48 YEARS.

DURING THE U.S. COLONIAL PERIOD, THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION WAS INTRODUCED IN THE PHILIPPINES. ALL IN ALL, IT HAS THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ASIA WITH A FAR-REACHING IMPACT AND INFLUENCE ON THE LIFE AND CULTURE OF FILIPINOS

IN 1935, THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES WAS ESTABLISHED WITH U.S. APPROVAL, AND MANUEL QUEZON WAS ELECTED THE COUNTRY’S FIRST PRESIDENT.

THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FORMALLY ACHIEVED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM THE U.S. ON JULY, 4, 1946.

TO DATE, THE PHILIPPINES IS WELL KNOWN FOR AN ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND VERY HOSPITABLE PEOPLE. THE FILIPINOS ARE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE. THEY ARE KNOWN TO ALWAYS TURN ADVERSITY INTO OPPORTUNITY! THEY ALSO MAKE WAVES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE WITH THEIR TALENTS IN SINGING AND PERFORMING ARTS AND DESIGN INDUSTRIES.

YOU CAN THANK THE SPANISH FOR THE EUROPEAN INFLUENCE TAGIBLE IN EVERYTHING FROM LOCAL WORDS TO STREET NAMES AND RESTAURANT MENUS. LATER THE AMERICANS IMPOSED THEIR OWN VALUES. YOU CAN THANK THEM FOR THE FASTFOOD CHAINS, LOVE OF POP MUSIC AND MOST OF ALL THE RAINBOW -COLORED JEEPNEYS THAT EVOLVED FROM MILITARY JEEPS LEFT BEHIND FROM WW II.

STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION AND DISCOVER A COUNTRY WHERE EAST MEETS WEST AND WHERE TRADITIONAL CULTURE MEETS THE MODERN WORLD WITH JOIE DE VIVRE ONLY FOUND IN THIS COUNTRY!

ESSENTIALS

CURRENCY : Philippine Peso (PHP)

CAPITAL : Manila

LANGUAGE : English is the official language but the national language is Tagalog

POPULATION : 109.5 Million (2020)

CLIMATE : The tropical climate is characterized by a wet season that lasts from June to November and by a dry season lasting from December to May. The wettest months are July, August, and September, when thunderstorms are especially common.

**The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands, making it one of the largest archipelagos in the world.**

TRANSPORTATION : The cargo port where you’ll disembark is within walking distance to some attractions in town. If you want to travel by car, it’s best to take a taxi rather than rent a car yourself. Make sure meters are used, as some drivers will set an exorbitant and arbitrary rate.

Within the area of Metropolitan Manila, transportation options is provided principally by the colorful jeepneys.

**Known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, jeepneys have become a widespread symbol of Philippine culture and art.**

A light-rail train system, known as the LRT, operates throughout the city. When you book a shore excursion, your transportation will come included.

Traffic congestion is serious, especially at the bridges during the morning and evening rush hours. Railroad services operated by the Philippine National Railways also connect the city with northern and southeastern Luzon. An elevated rail line, linking Caloocan City and the city of Baclaran (to the south of Pasay City) called the Light Rail Transit, had lines extending throughout much of the metropolitan area.