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The Philippines is an archipelago, or string of over 7,100 islands, in southeastern Asia between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao, make up for two-thirds of the total land area. Only about one third of the islands are inhabited.

LUZON

Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. It is ranked 15th largest in the world by land area. Located in the northern region of the archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country’s capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country’s most populous city.

VISAYAS

Visayas is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are also considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea Its inhabitants are predominantly the Visayan peoples.

MINDANAO

Mindanao island, the second largest (after Luzon) in the Philippines, in the southern part of the archipelago, surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Celebes, and Sulu seas. Irregularly shaped, it measures 293 miles (471 km) north to south and 324 miles (521 km) east to west. The island is marked by peninsulas and is heavily indented by the Davao and Moro gulfs in the south and by Iligan Bay in the north. The long, semicircular Zamboanga Peninsula (west) extends southwesterly toward the Sulu Archipelago and Borneo, and the Cotabato and Surigao peninsulas extend south and north, respectively.

“Philippines have different places, stories and islands but they share one passion and heart in one country.
-bsa

“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.”

– Henry Miller

Why you should travel to the Philippines?

Visiting the Philippines is big fun. Perfect beaches. Friendly locals. Beautiful nature.

Don’t miss out on such an amazing country. In my opinion, Philippines is better than all of these countries together. Will tell you why!

#1 | THE PEOPLE

In my experience, from all the Asians I have met, Filipinos are the most kind and friendly people, extremely welcoming and curious, but also respectful. They always seem happy and smiling, and they love to sing and to dance whenever there is an occasion to celebrate.

The hospitality of Filipinos is incomparable to the rest of the world.

#2 | PARADISE BEACHES AND ISLANDS

The queen of all the beaches is probably White Beach in Boracay, constantly rated as one of the Top 10 beaches of the world. I wouldn’t say it’s the best one, but certainly the most famous one.

If you are into white sandy beaches and turquoise crystal-clear waters, you’re in the right country. Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands. It’s not hard to find your dream beach or a pristine island over there and having it all for yourself…

Philippines is one of the largest island groups in the world with 7,107 islands.

#3 | NATURE, FLAURA AND FAUNA

Philippines is home of a diverse range of birds, plants, animals and sea creatures. There are nearly 200 mammal species in the Philippines. The Philippine Tarsier is one of the smallest (and cutest!) species of monkeys in the world.

Philippines has one of the most diverse wildlife in the world.

You will find more than 600 species of birds, over 300 species of reptiles and amphibians and at least 400 coral species. From the giant whale shark to the world’s smallest fish (Pandaca pygmea), everything you can dream of is united in the beautiful islands of the Philippines

#4 | FILIPINO FOOD

Filipinos love their food and there are a lot of things worth trying! It probably describes it best to say, Filipino food is a mix of Malay, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and American cuisine. Check this out:

If you love fresh seafood, from lobster to crabs, tiger prawns, octopus, you will find it all for very low prices. And if that all doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry, you’ll find almost any kind of food, from Thai-Food to Sushi, Indian Food, Pizza and Pasta, Burger, German Bakeries, you will find those places in Manila, Cebu and of course, in Boracay.

#05 | THE COLORFUL JEEPNEY

Another thing you have to do in the Philippines is riding in or on a jeepney! Why? Because it’s fun! It’s cheap and it’s windy, no need of an air conditioner!

But what are these jeepneys and where do they come from? The U.S troops left old military jeeps back in WW2.

The Filipinos opened the back, added two benches, gave them a colorful and unique design, decorative ornaments, flashy paintings, stars, dots and sometimes even extra lights. And just like that, the Philippine jeepney became a cultural sign of the country.

An average jeepney can carry 16 – 20 passengers, two up front next to the driver and 14 – 18 seated in the back facing each other on two benches. Well, that’s the normal case, but often you’ll see an extra body hanging outside or onto the back, or people even occupy the roof.

For some reason, mostly these “outside” passengers are young and male. You will be surprised, how much a jeepney can carry.

To get a sense of the place from the local’s perspective and to see how people interact, Jeepneys are a fantastic way to explore the country. So don’t forget to hop on one whenever you have the chance!