Capital | Muscat |
Area | 309 500 km² |
Population | 2 905 000 people |
Official language | Arabic |
Currency | Philippine peso |
Climate | summer till +43°C winter +25°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing beach vacation |
About country
Composed of 7,107 islands and with a total coastline longer than that of the USA, it’s hardly surprising that many of the Philippines’ most stunning attractions can be found in or around the sea. The warm tropical waters are ideal for snorkeling or diving, with coral gardens teeming with beautiful marine life, while unspoiled stretches of fine white sand will seduce even the most beach-averse.
There’s much more, though. The archipelago’s jungles, mountains, volcanoes and caves are ripe for exploration. But there are also the more subtle pleasures of getting to grips with Filipino culture. This isn’t a country that stages dozens of phony ‘cultural shows’ for tourists; and the festivals (of which there are many) welcome outsiders with open arms but are predominantly aimed at locals. So it’s down to individual visitors to strike up conversations and discover a country where Catholic European traditions are entwined with a vibrant Asian culture.
Sightseeing
This collection of tiny islands is picture postcard territory, with an abundance of dramatic limestone cliffs, crystal-clear lagoons and white sand beaches. Take a trip in a bangka (outrigger boat) and spend the day snorkelling and relaxing on the beach, with a seafood barbecue for lunch.
This quintessential paradise island may have been heavily developed, but it’s still the country’s most popular tourist attraction. As you laze on the beach at sunset drinking a happy hour cocktail after a day diving, kite boarding or just doing nothing, it isn’t difficult to see the appeal.
In Carcar town, two hours south of Cebu City, are some of the country’s best-preserved Castillian houses, gardens and churches. The town is also known for its lechon (roast pig) and chicharon (crispy pork rind), so make a day of it and visit the public market for a meal.
Traditions
The hospitality of the Filipino culture is one of the reasons why tourism in the Philippines is steadily growing.
Foreigners and tourists who have experienced the Philippine culture and being with Filipinos find them very hospitable. This is a common trait that Filipinos are known for to most foreigners who have traveled around the country.The attitude of Filipino people towards foreigners and other people is said to be exceptional. Even the humblest home along the road can serve as a shelter for a stranger who has lost his way. In Filipino culture, serving other people the best of what they have gives them an honor and a promise of true friendship. A typical Filipino house is not completely called a home without any facility ready for guests. It is filled with new and nice-looking items reserved only for them while ordinary ones are for everyday use.
Cuisine
Philippine cuisine consists of the food, preparation methods and eating customs found in the Philippines. The style of cooking and the food associated with it have evolved over several centuries from its Austronesian origins to a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.
Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the elaborate paellas and cocidos created for fiestas. Popular dishes include lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelette), adobo (chicken and/or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), kaldereta (meat in tomato sauce stew), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), puchero (beef in bananas and tomato sauce), afritada (chicken and/or pork simmered in a tomato sauce with vegetables), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), crispy pata (deep-fried pig's leg), hamonado (pork sweetened in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).