Philippines

The capital of the Philippines – Manila – is built on an ancient kingdom that had diplomatic relations with Ming Dynasty (China) until the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century and fortified an existing settlement on the edge of the Pasig River and Manila Bay. This walled city is the …

Southeast Asia is predominantly Muslim and Buddhist, so Christian traditions like Good Friday 2013 are celebrated in varying degrees and shades of religious fervor. The scale of celebration is also influenced by the prevailing political and cultural conditions such that Good Friday can either be a business-as-usual day, or a …

New Years Day is the time when the new calendar year begins according to the Gregorian calendar, and falls on the 1st of January. Festivities on New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Day itself, provide some of the most dazzling sights and sounds in Southeast Asian countries; in some …

Traveling to the Philippines has been made a lot easier. In a bid to boost the travel competitiveness of the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT), along with allied agencies Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs, has simplified the Philippines entry requirements and visas. This means that any …

Do you think you can do 7,000 islands in 100 days, and for only $1,250 all-in? Considering that airfare and accommodations alone can bust budgets, that challenge seems a tall order. But of course, in the Philippines, a US dollar can go 40 (pesos) ways. It hasn’t been done before …

To understand any language, it would help to get a picture of the geography of the country it is spoken in. You must already know by now that the Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands spread over three major island groups – Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao (Northern, Central …

The Christmas holiday celebrations in Southeast Asian countries may be a little different from the festivities that are observed in other parts of the world. The way this festive occasion is observed will depend on the religion/s of a given country – you can expect to see more Christmas celebrations …

There are only two ways to describe the Philippines weather: wet and dry. The location of the Philippines relative to the equator makes it a tropical country, an asset to any destination that is blessed with world-class beaches. The county’s weather pattern is also influenced by the prevailing winds, which …

Every year on November 30th, Filipinos celebrate the birth anniversary of Andrés Bonifacio, the plebeian revolutionary who led the Philippines’ war for independence against Spanish colonial rule. For reasons deeply rooted in history, Andrés Bonifacio’s heroic contribution to the revolution is celebrated on his birthday rather than on the day of …

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for more than 300 years, and a regular pit stop of Chinese traders long before the country was claimed for and named after King Philip of Spain. Albeit short-lived, the Japanese occupation during World War II also left indelible marks in the Filipino psyche. …

All too often, turquoise waters and white sand drive heavy tourist traffic. Throw in affordable accommodation and sumptuous seafood and you have a real winner. Sprinkle it with hidden lagoons, barely explored caves, tranquil bays, verdant islets, vibrant marine life and extreme (under) water adventures, and you can’t believe your …

The number of islands, more than 7,107, that make up the Philippine archipelago will give you an idea of the number of adventures you can have in this country. The Philippines, which is about 94% Christian (Roman Catholic) and five percent Muslim, has three main islands – Luzon, Visayas, and …