- Information
- History
- Culture
- Weather
- When to go
- Good to know
- Visa and Passport
- Food
- Night Life
- Glossary
- Traveler Advice
- Destinations
- Trip Costs
Ad
The Glossary
Philippines Travel Guide
Known as Southeast Asia's "Pearl of the Orient," the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. The northern side of Luzon is the mountainous region of the country and is home to the capital, Manila. In the middle is Visayas, home to the country's best beaches. Capping of the country's diversity is the southern region of Mindanao, where most of the Muslim population resides. Wherever visitors go, they are welcomed by the warm smiles and hospitable nature of Filipinos.
A Cultural Buffet
Filipino culture is similar to neighboring Asian countries but is also dominated by Spanish and American influences. The official language, Filipino, borrows Spanish terms and most locals have Spanish surnames. Many Filipinos are updated with American pop culture and have adopted the system of fast food chains. The adaptation of foreign culture is what makes Filipino culture strangely familiar and unique at the same time.
Filipinos express their hospitality best in holding their festivals and serving their local dishes. Popular foods include adobo, kare kare, lechon, and crispy pata. Within the major cities are authentic Italian, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants comparable to their original.
Indigenous Diversity
Popular Filipino culture may have foreign influences but provincial tribes have retained their historical identities and cultures. The indigenous tribes' traditions have survived the reign of Spanish and American colonization. The most notable of these tribes are the Ifugaos, who were responsible for carving out the Banaue Rice Terraces from the mountains. The Banaue is fed from an ancient irrigation system in the rainforests located above the terraces.
The southern islands of Mindanao are the most distinct of Philippine cultures, having kept the Islam influence from Arab traders in the 13th century. The presence of Muslim culture is cultivated by the Maranao, Tausug, and Banguingui ethnic groups.
Philippines photography
no title by Barak
no title by HolidayLover
no title by Barak
no title by Barak
no title by Barak
no title by Barak
no title by Barak
no title by Barak
Philippines Attractions:
- Airports (1)
- Amusement Park (1)
- Bars (52)
- Beaches (12)
- Casinos (1)
- Churches (11)
- Cinemas (2)
- Clubs (7)
- Historical Spots (9)
- Markets (1)
- Museums (16)
- Operas (1)
- Parks (6)
- Planetariums (1)
- Restaurants (1)
- Shopping Centers (1)
- Sights (27)
- Stadiums (4)
- Theatres (6)
- Universities (1)
- Zoos (3)
Philippines Traveler Advice
| Accommodation (1) | Activities (1) | Female Traveler (2) |
| Food (9) | Health (1) | Itineraries (37) |
| Nightlife (4) | Shopping (6) | Sights (3) |
| Transportation (10) | Visa (1) | Volunteering (1) |
| Warnings (27) | With Kids (1) |
From our blogsphere:
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga By Vic Lactaoen
Hands On Volunteer Vacations By writeonthespot
Traveling back to my 2009 trips By writeonthespot
... Read more
Trek By Zhuchiko
Bohol and Cebu.. sweeter the second time By chinxlexy
Volunteering for typhoon Ketsana victims By Enfant Terrible
Moving to Manila By TravelBug
Destinations
See All- Siargao
- Baguio
- balete pass
- Banaue
- Bohol
- Bolinao
- Boracay
- Cagayan de Oro
- Cagayan Valley
- Calatgan
- Camsur
- caraballo mountain range
- Cebu Island
- cordillera mountain range
- Corregidor
- More destinations
In our Magazine
When Mother Nature wields terror
Some places are made dangerous by the conflicts brought about by humans. But in these towns and cities—most of them heavily populated—it is Mother Nature which is always on the verge of wrath, wrecking havoc of unimaginable proportions.
Slaughter of dolphins comes to cinemas
Ric O’Barry once captured and trained dolphins in amusement parks and made the character Flipper world famous. Now, he is the animals’ unlikely champion, exposing the savage ways they are hunted in a small town in Japan. This time, he wants the dolphins swim free.
The new Bollywood fever
As one of the major film production centers in the world, Bollywood churns out about 1,0000 movies, most of which cater to India’s masses. They precariously enact their lives through the characters, escaping to a world where everything in the end gets resolved in song and dance.
