Philippines

The Philippines is a little archipelago situated in the Southeast Asian region. One of the oddest things about this little country is that to this day, it remains to be the only predominantly Catholic country in a region populated with Moslem nations.

This is probably due to the rich cultural history of the nation and its people; having gone through three separate occupations and turbulent government uprisings during it's first few years as a sovereignty, the Philippines boasts a mix of cultures ranging from Chinese, Spanish, American, Dutch and Arabic, among others.

The country's people

Filipinos are commonly typecast as a hospitable and friendly group, which is an apt description. Anywhere you go on the collective one thousand and one hundred islands, you are sure to be met with warm, friendly smiles and equally heartwarming people.

The culturally hip thing for your average Pinoy is to party; of course, in the native tongue, that roughly translates to “pista,” but the idea is retained. Take a look at the Philippine calendar, and you'll see a host of festivals ranging from the birthdays of national heroes, the celebration of historical events, to religious holidays filling up the months with festivities that can last anywhere from hours to days (it is a known fact that the Philippines observes one of the longest celebrations of Christmas).

And the people don't skimp on the details. Usually present in these celebrations are staple feast dishes such as lechon (either roast pig or roast cow), dinuguan (pig's blood stew), kaldereta (a kind of tomato-based stew that uses either beef or mutton), and desserts of leche flan (Filipino egg custard), majablanca (sweet corn dessert) and halo-halo (ice, milk and various sweets).

Things to do, places to see

Some regions, such as the capital, offer plenty for the enterprising urbanite. Sprawling commercial complexes such as the Ayala centers in Makati city and in the suburban subdivision of Ayala Alabang offer high-class dining and shopping. Or, if you'd prefer to go a little bit low-scale, you'll find plenty of rummage sale bins in the ukay-ukay markets of Baguio – which also serves as the country's summer capital.

Speaking of summer capitals, the country also offers an amazing plethora of recreational spots, ranging from the beaches of Boracay, Palawan, and Camiguin, to the sky palaces of Banaue, Baguio and Tagaytay. Recently, the southernmost island of Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro has received its share of tourism, thanks to the river that separates Cagayan de Oro from the neighboring area of Bukidnon. This is home to the Cagayan de Oro whitewater rafting circuit, one of the few in the country that serves everybody – from intermediate rafting sportsmen to mere beginners out for a little fun.