Mount Mayon is the highest point of the Bicol region and the Albay province.
The sun sets in El Nido in Palawan, bathing the sky in gentle hues of yellow and red.
Traditional Philippine outrigger boats called bangkas refl ect in the calm waters of the sea.
CONTENTS
PART ONE: INTRODUCING THE PHILIPPINES
INTRODUCTION ISLANDS OF AMAZING DIVERSITY
MEET THE FILIPINOS EXUBERANCE, HOSPITALITY AND DEFERENCE
FILIPINO FOOD A NATION-WIDE OBSESSION
ARTISANS AND ARTISTS A RICH TRADITION OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
FEASTS AND FIESTAS LAVISH CELEBRATIONS FILLED WITH SONG, DANCE AND FOOD
WONDERS OF NATURE A SPECTACULAR NATURAL DIVERSITY, NOW UNDER THREAT
PART TWO: EXPLORING THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA THE BUSTLING, RAUCOUS MOTHER CITY
OUTSIDE MANILA SCENIC EXCURSIONS WITHIN A DAY FROM THE CAPITAL
NORTHERN LUZON STUNNING RICE TERRACES AND COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE
SOUTHEASTERN LUZON UNDER THE VOLCANO
MINDORO ISLAND A POPULAR GETAWAY FOR DIVERS AND NATURE BUFFS
BORACAY & THE WESTERN VISAYAS ENDLESS SUN, SEA AND SAND
CEBU & THE EASTERN VISAYAS HISTORIC SECOND CITY OF THE NATION
MINDANAO OFF THE BEATEN TOURIST TRAIL
PALAWAN SPECTACULAR BEACHES, KARST LANDSCAPES AND DIVING
Travel Tips
Acknowledgments and Online Resources
Photo Credits
The cathedral of the colonial city of Vigan was built in earthquake baroque style.
With its crystal clear waters and pristine coral reefs, the Philippines offers exceptional snorkeling and diving opportunities.
INTRODUCTION
ISLANDS OF AMAZING DIVERSITY
Often underrated by travelers, the Philippines is an enticing location offering incredibly diverse landscapes. Home to bubbling volcanoes, jungle-clad peaks and some of the best diving in the world, there’s a great deal on offer to suit all tastes.
Comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is Asia’s second largest archipelago, after Indonesia. The diversity of the country is astonishing: from powdery white sand beaches framed by limestone formations to 2,000-year-old UNESCO-listed rice terraces, there is plenty to keep visitors occupied for months on end. Given the time involved in traveling from island to island, the best way to explore the archipelago is by air.
Most trips to the Philippines start in the chaotic capital of Manila, a major transport hub and gateway to the country’s innumerable islands. There are plenty of sights outside the city, including the gorgeous Lake Taal, a crater lake with Taal Volcano sitting right at its center. To the north of Manila is northern Luzon, home to spectacular mountain scenery and cooler climes than in the lowlands. In Banaue it is possible to trek through awe-inspiring rice terraces, while the UNESCO-listed town of Vigan offers a glimpse of life during Spanish colonial times.
Mount Mayon is one of the country’s most active volcanoes; it has erupted over 40 times.
The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world where it’s possible to swim with whale sharks.
The country’s much-loved mode of transport, jeepneys are decorated with splashes of brightly colored paint.
To the south of the capital is the Bicol region, home to the country’s best known volcano, Mount Mayon, which is said to have the world’s most symmetrical cone. The town of Donsol is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks. Many visitors opt for the spectacular white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of the Visayas, at the heart of the archipelago. Boracay is probably the region’s best-known island, although there are hundreds more, providing a wealth of activities, including snorkeling and diving. The rugged island of Mindoro, just a few hours south of the capital, offers some of the country’s best diving.
A horse-drawn carriage waits for customers outside Manila’s Malate Church.
Resilient Roots
Named after King Philip II of Spain, the Philippines is the only country in Asia that was colonized by the Spanish, and is today a blend of Malay, Chinese, Spanish and American influences. The first humans are thought to have migrated from Borneo to Palawan in southwestern Philippines during the Ice Age; the Aeta, also known as Negritos, are said to have descended from these migrants. Tribal groups in the Cordilleras settled in northern Luzon around 500 BC, while Malay peoples from nearby Indonesia and Malaysia put down roots in the Visayas and southwestern Luzon. Recently discovered Chinese shipwrecks suggest that ties with China were extensive by the 10th century.
During contact with Arab traders, Sufis and missionaries came to the islands to spread Islam. Following the Spaniards’ arrival in 1521 and the subsequent establishment of the Spanish capital at Manila in 1564, friars commenced spreading Catholicism and building churches throughout the country. To this day 83 percent of Filipinos are devout Roman Catholics, and churches are found in even the remotest of villages. Islam continues to be practiced in Mindanao.
Following a number of revolts by intellectuals who sought independence from the Spanish crown, war broke out between the United States and Spain in 1898. Filipinos continued to fight for independence during the Philippine– American War (1899–1902), but the Americans retained control over the islands, and the Philippines became an American colony. As part of the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation, the Americans built schools throughout the archipelago. The country soon had Southeast Asia’s highest literacy rates, and Filipinos learnt to behave, eat and speak like Americans. Together with Tagalog, English is today the official language of the Philippines, making it particularly easy for Westerners to communicate with the locals.
The Philippines eventually gained independence from the United States on July 4th 1946. Since then the country has been through numerous political ups and downs. The country’s most notorious politician is probably Ferdinand Marcos, who was renowned for his lavish spending and is estimated to have plundered US$10 billion from the country. Despite recent economic gains and efforts to reduce poverty, the Philippines remains one of the world’s poorest nations.
A statue of King Philip II of Spain that