Philippines Travel Guide

You are here: Hotel Reviews Home » Travel Guide » Philippines Travel Guide

Philippines Travel Guide

Asia’s Maverick – Geographically part of Southeast Asia, yet far removed culturally, the Philippines has a marked Latin temperament

Like lovely gems atop Asia’s continental shelf, the Philippines lays where two tectonic plates had collided once upon a time to create its 7,107 islands. Its 70 million inhabitants, represented by 111 linguistic, cultural and racial groups, speak Pilipino, its national I language based on Tagalog, while another 70 languages and dialects I are also spoken. English, an official language, is widely used.

Geographically, the country is a sprawl of half-drowned moun-i tains, part of a great cordillera extending from the south of Japan I to Indonesia. It stretches 1,840 km (1,140 miles) north to south, I spanning 1,100 km (690 miles) at its widest. In land area, it is ; slightly larger than New Zealand.

Given the over three centuries of Spanish rule and 48 years of I American government, it is not surprising if the Filipino seems more j Latin than Asian to the visitor. Nearly everything belonging to the j first settlers has persevered, including language and culture. To this I foundation, add the endowments of the Spanish and Americans.

“Three centuries in a convent followed by 50 years in Hollywood,” i goes an old saying. Threaded through both culture and lineage are I also influences from China, India and Arabia.

The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia j and has always been the odd man out. Even in matters of food, it j seems out of place. Instead of fiery curries or spicy grilled meats, Fil-i ipino food tends to be a sedate mixture of an ascetic atoll diet, com-j bining elements of Chinese imagination and Spanish conservatism, i although there are a few areas where chillies come into their own.

For the past few decades, the country has been the sad butt of i regional jokes, perceived as a country that can’t quite get its act ! together. It presents quite a different picture today, after having j thrown off the debilitating yoke of the Marcos era. In recent years, j especially under the stewardship of former president Fidel Ramos, it ; has undergone a sort of renaissance of self-esteem, and finally seems ; to be making real progress.

Ramos, who for more than six years led with a mixture of military ; discipline and corporate elan, made way in 1998 for his successor, I Joseph Estrada, a former actor. Both Filipinos and others are watch-i ing to see whether the nation’s self-confidence can be sustained.

Despite the many hardships they have endured in their checkered j past, the Filipinos have kept their equanimity, knowing that life is all j about adapting to change. They are a friendly lot, as you’ll discover i when you experience the archipelago’s many attractions, ranging from I unspoilt beaches and serene countryside to exciting nightlife.

Share and Enjoy: