The Philippines: What To Know Before You Go
This country is full of wonders and surprises, so if you’re looking for a location for your next holiday, the Philippines should be on your list!
Pic: Unsplash / Eibner Saliba
The Philippines might be a small country, but it holds many places you’ll want to visit. Here’s what you need to know before you go!
How big are the Philippines?
The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, but a recent study shows that 534 more have been discovered. That means it is now understood to have 7,641 in total. That means that it has the seventh highest number of islands in the world after Canada, Indonesia, Australia, Sweden, Finland and Norway. The three major islands that you should know about are called Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The largest of these is Luzon, which is the fifteenth largest island in the world.
Where are the Philippines?
The Philippines are located in Southeast Asia. It is a tropical country, near the equator, and has a lot of natural and rich resources. There are also many beaches you can visit with spectacular views. One of the mains points of interests of the Philippines is Boracay, a series of beaches located in the Visayas. It is one of the most popular places people go to for a summer vacation.
The darker realities
Although there are places in the Philippines that are rich, there are also places that are suffering in the poverty line. A portion lives below the poverty line. There are also places in the Philippines that are suffering from extreme pollution due to cars and other forms of transport. Rubbish is being left out on the streets and water contamination is also leading to sickness.
What are the people like?
Despite the darker aspects I’ve touched on above, the Philippines is a spectacular place and it has some of the friendly communities in the world. The hospitality of the locals makes you feel welcome. People are very polite to their elders and very generous to others. Their helpfulness and kindness are what makes the country Philippines so special.