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 like (the subtleties of tourism in the country, popular destinations and attractions, history, photos).
Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines consists of islands. There are more than 7,000 of them in total. All the Philippine Islands are part of the Malay Archipelago. The state is washed by the seas from three sides: the Philippine, Celebes and South China.
- Luzon is the largest island in which the Republic of the Philippines is located. The capital (the city of Manila) of the state is located in its southern part. In addition, the most populated Philippine city, Quezon, is located on the island of Luzon.
- Mindanao is a popular tourist destination. The island is located in the south of the Philippine state. Its coastline is heavily indented. Mindanao has a variety of bays and peninsulas.
- Samar is a large island incentral region of the Philippine archipelago. The Visayas make up the majority of its population.
- Negros is a mountainous island located in the central regions of the Philippines. Washed by 3 seas: Visayan, Sibuyan and Sulu.
- Palawan is a large island in the west of the Philippine archipelago. The province of the same name is located on its territory.
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 of the Philippines.
- The first European who entered the lands of the archipelago was Fernando Magellan. The great discoverer died in the internecine war in the Philippine Islands in 1521.
- During the Middle Ages, the kingdom of Tondo was formed on the island of Luzon.
- The islands of the Manila archipelago were named the Philippines in honor of Philip II, King of Spain.
- In the middle of the 18th century, these territories were colonized by the British.
- At the end of the 19th century, the Philippines came under the control of the United States under the Treaty of Paris.
- Emilio Aguinaldo is an outstanding politician. Led the Philippine War of Independence. First President of the State.
- During the Second World War, the territory of the archipelago was occupied by Japanese troops. In 1945, the lands were liberated by American troops.
- The Philippines gained full independence from the US only after the end of World War II. At that time, the country was headedManuel Rojas.
Philippine Republic today
The current political and economic situation of the Republic of the Philippines is unstable. On the one hand, agriculture is quite developed in the country, the products of which make up the bulk of exports. In addition, the state is open to foreign investors. But, on the other hand, infrastructure and heavy industry are poorly developed in the Philippine Islands. 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 shaken by Trotskyist and Maoist uprisings. In addition, there is the problem of Muslim separatism.
Republic of the Philippines: how to get there
Philippines are 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 Pacific Ocean in the southeastern part of Asia. The Philippines is neighboring 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 Kyiv, Moscow and Minsk run here. However, European and Korean airlines provide the cheapest services.
There are several international airports on the territory of the state. The largest of them are located in Manila (the capital of the country), Davao, Cebu.
Tourism in the Philippines
Tourism is a fairly developed sector in the Philippine economy. Thousands of travelers from all over the world come here every year. Most of them are from Japan, USA and South Korea.
Let's consider the popular types of tourism in the Republic of the Philippines.
- Beach vacation is what hundreds of travelers come here for every year. Particularly popular are areas such as Boracay Island (located in the central part of the archipelago) and the coast of La Union (on the island of Luzon).
- Ecotourism. On the territory of the Republic of the Philippines there are many parks and reserves. Today, various tours and programs are held here, which are aimed at attracting travelers from all over the world.
- Recreational diving. This type of tourism is especially developed in bays such as Subic Bay and Coron.
- Mountain climbing. The Philippines has excellent conditions for outdoor activities. The territory of the country is predominantly mountainous, so thousands of tourists come here just to climb the highest points of the islands.
- Kiteboarding.
- Parasailing.
Philippines Attractions
On the territory of 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 sites and monuments worth seeing, interesting museums, parks andetc.
Let's take a closer look at the most popular attractions in the Philippines.
Boracay Island
This island is considered to be the most popular tourist destination in the Philippines. The resort infrastructure is well developed here.
White Beach is the main beach of Boracay. It ranks among the top holiday destinations 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's Stone is the most recognizable and popular object on the island. It is an unusually shaped volcanic formation.
Mayon Volcano
This amazing volcano is located on the largest island of the archipelago. Mayon is considered to be 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 areas, is part of the national reserve. It is important to note that the volcano is still active.
Chocolate Mountains
The Republic of the Philippines, a photo of the natural beauties of which 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.
Howeverthe most amazing and unique mountains are located on the island of Bohol. They are called "chocolate hills". In spring and autumn, the tops of the mountains are covered with greenery. In summer, during the drought period, the grass dries up and the hills become like chocolate truffles.
Puerto Princessa 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 Princesa. It flows towards the South China Sea. The uniqueness of this river is that it passes through cave labyrinths on its way.
Every year hundreds of tourists come to the island of Palawan to see this miracle of nature with their own eyes. In the National Park you can book a tour along the river. 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 Princesa to Sabang, you can see all the features of this area.
The National Park on the island of Palawan is the most interesting attraction of the Philippines. It is located on the St. Paul mountain range. During the tour, each tourist will be able to climb one of the peaks of Palawan, independently explore the mysterious caves of the Lion's Gate and the Hole of Daylight, or simply admire the amazing local flora and fauna.
El Nido Nature Reserve
Puerto Princesa National Park is not the only attraction in Palawan. In its northwestern partis the El Nido nature reserve. It 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 protected area includes 45 islands. Much of El Nido is maritime.
The reserve is considered unique, as its flora and fauna are similar in species diversity to those of the island of Borneo, and not to other parts of the Philippine archipelago.
Tourism in El Nido began to develop relatively recently, but today it is almost as big as the famous Thai island of Phi Phi.
Din Ewid Village
Din-Ivid is an amazingly beautiful village located on the island of Borokay. Here, tourists can not only relax on the beautiful sandy beach, but also get to know the locals better.
3 things to do in Din Ivid:
- walk through the streets of the village;
- talk to the locals;
- try Filipino food.
Center for the Study of Tarsiers
Another unique and interesting attraction of the Republic of the Philippines is the Tarsiers Research Center. 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 may even leave the protected area. AdministrationThe 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 for visitors to the reserve. However, here you can see these amazing primates and even take pictures with them.
Manila Bay
The Republic of the Philippines, whose sights will not leave any traveler indifferent, is famous not only for its beautiful beaches and nature reserves, but also for its harbors. Manila Bay is located on the west coast of Luzon. This is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in all of Southeast Asia. At the entrance to Manila Bay is the unusual island of Corregidor.
Today this harbor is of great economic importance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Taal Volcano
Taal is located not far from the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. It is considered one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world. Today, despite the danger of this place, Taal is the most popular tourist attraction. From its top, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the nearby islands and lakes.
Kawasan Waterfalls
In the dense tropical forest on the island of Cebu, there is an amazingly beautiful three-stage Kawasan waterfall. The water here is crystal clear, in some places it acquires an unusual turquoise color. This place is sure to appeal to fans of exotic and extreme recreation. Before seeing the beautiful Kawasan waterfalls, tourists will have to wade through the wildjungle. 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 in the Philippines
- Philippine Butterfly Farm on Panglao Island. Here you can see the most unique and beautiful species of butterflies.
- Cross of Magellan. This monument was placed on the island of Cebu by a Spanish-Portuguese expedition in the first half of the 16th century on the orders 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 Basilica of Santo Nino is the oldest Catholic shrine on the islands of the Philippine archipelago. It was built in the 16th century in the city of Cebu.
- Fort San Pedro in Cebu is a former military defense complex. It was erected at the beginning of the 16th century by order of the Spanish conquistador Legazpi.
