The Republic of the Philippines is a state in Southeast Asia. This country has a rich and interesting history. In addition, today the Philippines is a popular tourist destination. Thousands of travelers from all over the world come here every year. In this publication, we will talk about what the Republic of the Philippines is (subtleties of tourism in the country, popular destinations and attractions, history, photos).
Philippine Islands
The Republic of the Philippines consists of islands. In total there are more than 7000. All Philippine islands are included in the Malay archipelago. The state is washed from three sides by the seas: the Philippine, Celebess and South China.
- Luzon is the largest island on whose territory the Republic of the Philippines is located. The capital (city of Manila) of the state is located in its southern part. In addition, the island of Luzon is the most populated Philippine city - Quezon.
- Mindanao is a popular tourist destination. The island is located in the south of the Philippine state. Its coastline is severely indented. Mindanao abounds with a variety of bays and peninsulas.
- Samar is a large island in the central region of the Philippine archipelago. Most of its population is made up of the Visayas.
- Negros is a mountain island located in the central regions of the Philippines. It is washed by 3 seas: Visayan, Sibuyan and Sulu.
- Palawan is a large island in the west of the Philippine archipelago. On its territory is the province of the same name.
Interesting facts from the history of the Philippines
- The bulk of the indigenous population of the archipelago are Aeta-Australoid tribes. Today, this group of peoples lives in the eastern parts of Luzon - the largest island in the Philippines.
- The first European to enter the land of the archipelago is Fernando Magellan. The great discoverer died in the internecine war in the Philippines in 1521.
- In the Middle Ages, the kingdom of Tondo was formed on the island of Luzon.
- The islands of the Manila archipelago were named by the Philippines in honor of Philip II - King of Spain.
- In the middle of the XVIII century, these territories were subjected to English colonization.
- At the end of the XIX century, the Philippines under the Paris Treaty passed into the possession of the United States.
- Emilio Aguinaldo is an outstanding politician. Headed the Philippine Independence War. The first president of the state.
- During the Second World War, the territory of the archipelago was occupied by Japanese troops. In 1945, the land was liberated by American troops.
- The Philippines received complete independence from the United States only after the end of World War II. At this time, the country was led by Manuel Rojas.
Philippine Republic today
The current political and economic situation of the Republic of the Philippines is unsustainable. On the one hand, agriculture is well developed in the country, the products of which account for the majority of exports. In addition, the state is open to foreign investors. But, on the other hand, the Philippines has poor infrastructure and heavy industry. By its type, the country belongs to the group of agro-industrial.
The political situation in the country is also not stable. The state is periodically shocked by the uprisings of the Trotskyists and Maoists. In addition, there is the problem of Muslim separatism.
Republic of the Philippines: how to get there
The Philippines is considered a lost state among the seas and oceans. The state is located on thousands of islands. It is often very difficult for an ordinary person, especially a child, to explain where the Republic of the Philippines is located. The state is located in the vast Pacific Ocean in the southeastern part of Asia. The Philippines coexists with countries such as Indonesia and Taiwan.
So, how to get to the islands of the Malay archipelago?
The only way to get to the amazing Philippines is by plane. Flights from Kiev, Moscow and Minsk run here. However, the cheapest services are provided by European and Korean airlines.
There are several international airports in the state. The largest of them are located in Manila (capital of the country), Davao, Cebu.
Tourism in the Philippines
Tourism is a fairly developed sector in the economy of the Philippines. Thousands of travelers from all over the world come here every year. Most of them are visitors from Japan, the USA and South Korea.
Consider the popular types of tourism in the Republic of the Philippines.
- Beach vacations are what hundreds of travelers come here every year for. Especially popular are areas such as the island of Boracay (located in the central part of the archipelago) and the coast of La Union (on the island of Luzon).
- Ecotourism. The Republic of the Philippines has many parks and reserves. Today, various tours and programs are held here that are aimed at attracting travelers from all over the world.
- Recreational diving. This type of tourism is especially developed in such bays as Subic Bay and Coron.
- Mountain climbing. The Philippines has created excellent conditions for outdoor activities. The territory of the country is predominantly mountainous, so thousands of tourists come here only to climb the highest points of the islands.
- Kiteboarding
- Parasailing.
Republic of Philippines Attractions
In the country there are many interesting places that are worthy of the attention of tourists. The landscapes and nature of the Philippine islands are striking in their beauty. In addition, there are historical places and monuments that are worth seeing, interesting museums, parks, etc.
Consider the most popular attractions of the Philippines in more detail.
Boracay Island
This island is considered to be the most popular tourist center of the Philippines. The resort infrastructure is well developed here.
White Beach is Boracay's main beach. It is one of the best vacation spots in the world. Warm water, fine white sand, as well as a wide variety of restaurants and nightclubs on the coast are what attract travelers from all over the world. In addition, the island has excellent conditions for kiteboarding and windsurfing.
There are many interesting natural attractions here. Willy Stone is the most recognizable and popular object on the island. It is a volcanic formation of an unusual shape.
Volcano Mayon
This amazing volcano is located on the largest island of the archipelago. Mayon is rightfully considered the most beautiful volcano in the world. Surprisingly, it has a perfectly regular conical shape, which is a rare occurrence in nature. Mayon, together with the surrounding territories, is part of the national reserve. It is important to note that the volcano is still active.
Chocolate Mountains
The Republic of the Philippines, whose natural beauty photo is presented below, is famous for its amazing mountains. This is the edge of the peaks strewn with greenery and in contact with the clouds. Here you can endlessly admire the beauty of the surrounding nature.
However, the most amazing and unique mountains are located on the island of Bohol. They got the name "Chocolate Hills." In spring and autumn, the mountain peaks are covered with greenery. In the summer, during a period of drought, the grass dries and the hills become like chocolate truffles.
Puerto Princess National Park
The national park is located on the island of Palawan, not far from its capital. This place is considered one of the 7 wonders of nature. The main attraction of the park is the underground river Puerto Princess. It flows towards the South China Sea. The uniqueness of this river is that on its way it passes through cave labyrinths.
Every year, hundreds of tourists come to the island of Palawan in order to see with their own eyes this miracle of nature. You can book a river tour at the National Park. In addition, all tourists have a unique opportunity to go on an unusual journey through the jungle of the island. On the way from the city of Puerto Princess to Sabang, you can consider all the features of this area.
National Park on the island of Palawan - an interesting attraction of the Philippines. It is located on the St. Paul ridge. During the tour, each tourist will be able to climb one of the peaks of the Palawan, independently explore the mysterious caves of the Lion Gate and the Daylight Hole, or simply admire the amazing local flora and fauna.
El Nido Nature Reserve
Puerto Princess National Park is not the only attraction in Palawan. In its northwestern part is the El Nido Nature Reserve. This is a unique ecosystem with unusual flora and fauna, as well as amazing geological formations. This reserve is rightfully considered the pearl of the Republic of the Philippines. The reserve includes 45 islands. Most of El Nido's territory is sea spaces.
The reserve is considered unique, as its flora and fauna in its species diversity is close to that of the island of Borneo, and not the rest of the Philippine archipelago.
Tourism in El Nido began to develop relatively recently, however, in its scale today is almost not inferior to the famous Thai island of Phi Phi.
Dean Iwid Village
Dean Ivid is an amazingly beautiful village located on the island of Borokai. Here, tourists can not only relax on the beautiful sandy beach, but also get to know the locals better.
3 things to do in Dean Iwid:
- stroll through the streets of the village;
- talk with the locals;
- try Filipino dishes.
Tarsier Study Center
Another unique and interesting attraction of the Republic of the Philippines is the Center for the Study of Tarsiers. It is located on the island of Bohol, in the central part of the archipelago. Here you can see tarsiers - cute animals with huge eyes. On the island of Bohol, they live in natural conditions. Here the animals do whatever they want. They can even leave the protected area. The administration of the Center for the study of tarsiers controls the number of primates, feeds and treats these cute animals.
Only a small part of its territory is open to visitors to the reserve. However, here you can see these amazing primates and even take pictures with them.
Gulf of manila
The Republic of the Philippines, whose attractions will not leave indifferent any traveler, is famous not only for its beautiful beaches and nature reserves, but also for its harbors. In the area of the west coast of the island of Luzon is the Gulf of Manila. This is one of the most beautiful natural harbors throughout Southeast Asia. At the entrance to the Gulf of Manila is the unusual island of Corregidor.
Today, this harbor is of great economic importance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Volcano Taal
Not far from the capital of the Republic of the Philippines is Taal. It is considered one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world. Today, despite the danger of this place, Taal is a popular tourist attraction. From its top offers a beautiful view of the nearby islands and lakes.
Kawasan Waterfalls
In the dense tropical forest on the island of Cebu, an amazingly beautiful three-stage waterfall Kawasan is located. The water here is crystal clear, in places it takes on an unusual turquoise color. This place is sure to appeal to lovers of exotic and extreme relaxation. Before you see the beautiful Kawasan Falls, tourists will have to wade through the wild jungle. Here everyone can fully enjoy the world of wildlife. The burning sun, humid air, tall ferns and huge palm trees - all this will leave an unforgettable experience.
Other interesting sights of the Philippines
- Philippine Butterfly Farm on Panglao Island. Here you can see the most unique and beautiful breeds of butterflies.
- Magellan's Cross. This monument was placed on the island of Cebu by the Spanish-Portuguese expedition in the first half of the 16th century by order of Fernando Magellan.
- Taoist Temple in Cebu. The building was erected in the middle of the 20th century at the request of the Chinese diaspora in the Philippine Islands. The temple is located on one of the peaks of the capital of the island of Cebu. The building is an amazingly beautiful example of traditional Chinese architecture. A long staircase of 81 steps leads to the temple.
- The Santo Nino Basilica of Affairs is the oldest Catholic shrine on the islands of the Philippine archipelago. It was erected in the 16th century in the city of Cebu.
- Fort San Pedro in Cebu is a former military defensive complex. It was erected at the beginning of the XVI century by order of the Spanish conquistador Legazpi.