The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia known for its stunning beaches and rich natural resources that attract tourists from around the world. Older textbooks state that the Philippines has 7,107 islands, but in 2017, it was discovered that the country actually has 7,641 islands. This fact certainly confirms that the Philippines is a must-visit destination for those seeking an island adventure.
Curious to know the current time in the Philippines? Check it out below.
Conquered by Spain for 333 years, it’s no wonder that the country was named in honor of Philip II of Spain by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, an explorer in the 1500s. If you visit some places in the Philippines today, you’ll notice that a few of them are still named in Spanish. Additionally, many Filipino words are derived from Spanish. One notable example is:
”¿Cómo estás?” in Spanish translates to “Kamusta” in Filipino, which means “How are you?”
Geographically, the Philippines has been a challenging country to manage due to its separation by bodies of water. To simplify identification, the islands have been classified into three major groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
credits to Wikipedia
Luzon is where the capital of the Philippines, Manila, is situated. It is also the most populated group of islands and home to most international airports. The Visayas is the smallest island group but boasts many beautiful tourist spots. Mindanao, on the other hand, is a region rich in culture, where most ethnic minorities reside. However, some parts of Mindanao are considered unsafe for tourists and even for Filipinos due to incidents of kidnapping and terrorism.
Getting to Know Filipinos
The people of the Philippines are called “Filipino” for males and “Filipina” for females. The slang terms for these are “Pinoy” for males and “Pinay” for females.
Filipinos are known to be hospitable. They are friendly to foreigners, although precautions must be considered since some Pinoys can be deceitful, especially in the city — Metro Manila. Deceitfulness can also occur in tourist spots, except in one place — Coron. Coron, which is being taken care of by the Tagbanua tribe, has centralized tourism aimed at preserving the natural beauty of the area.
The Philippines has 120 to 175 languages, but eight of these are most commonly used: Bicolano, Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Waray, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, and Tagalog. The official languages of the Philippines are Tagalog and English. If you visit most tourist spots, the locals can understand and speak English, so the language barrier shouldn’t be a concern if you’re a foreigner who speaks English.
For every 100 Filipinos, 94 are considered basically literate.
It’s hard to resist buying something while traveling. To know how much the Philippine Peso is in your currency, you can convert it here.
Despite this, it was recently discovered in 2019 that the Philippines ranked 79th in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA is an organization responsible for benchmarking the effectiveness of a country’s curriculum or educational programs based on the performance of 15-year-old students.
Filipino students are more exposed to narrative content than informational content. Informational content includes understanding argumentative essays, graphs, data, and news article analysis, among others. The Department of Education is planning to address this concerning study to improve students’ competency.
Philippines Known For
Aside from being famous for Boracay, the Chocolate Hills, and the Underground River, here are other unique things you can only find or experience in the Philippines:
Jeepney
The jeepney is an affordable mode of public transportation in the Philippines, inspired by US military vehicles from World War II. Today, jeepneys are known for their colorful exteriors and extended bodies designed to accommodate more passengers.
credits to owner
Religious Festivals
Highly influenced by Spanish colonization, the majority of Filipinos practice Catholicism. As such, religious festivals, known as fiestas, are widely celebrated. One of the most popular is the Feast of the Black Nazarene, held every January 9, where over 10 million devotees join the procession, hoping to touch the holy figure believed to bring miracles.
Apart from this, many municipalities, especially in provincial areas, continue to observe fiestas. During these events, a procession featuring a saint’s figure takes place, followed by a feast in individual homes with abundant food. Strangers visiting these homes are warmly welcomed.
Long Celebration of Christmas
Christmas in the Philippines doesn’t start in December — Filipinos begin hearing Christmas songs as early as September. The ‘Ber months’ are synonymous with the Christmas season, and some stores start decorating with Christmas ornaments around this time.
December is a particularly busy month for Filipinos. They attend Simbang Gabi, meaning “night mass.” Loyal devotees attend nine consecutive masses starting from December 16 to December 24. It’s believed that completing all nine masses can make your wish come true. On the night of December 24, families gather for the traditional Noche Buena feast.
Basketball is the Most Popular Sport
Mini basketball courts are a common sight on the streets, where kids and teenagers often play — a clear sign of Filipinos’ love for basketball. Besides closely following the NBA, Filipinos also have their own professional league called the PBA. University competitions in the Philippines also heavily focus on this sport.
Karaoke is a Favorite Hobby
Filipinos love to sing! During celebrations, karaoke is a popular way for Pinoys to bond. Interestingly, the Karaoke Sing-Along System was patented by Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario in 1975.
Seasons in the Philippines
The Philippines has two seasons – rainy and dry. Here is the weather you can expect for the following months.
- January – dry and cool
- February – dry and cool
- March – dry and warm
- April – dry and warm
- May – dry and warm
- June – rainy and warm
- July – rainy and warm
- August – rainy and warm
- September – rainy/dry and warm/cool
- October – dry and warm
- November – rainy and cool
- December – dry and cool
If you want to enjoy the beach, March to May is the best time to book, as these are considered the “summer months” in the Philippines — although the country technically doesn’t have a summer season. However, before May ends, you may already start to experience the rainy season.
Booking in September can be quite tricky because the weather is often unstable, whereas October is generally sunnier with less rainfall.
Here are the top recommendations to visit during those months:
Luzon
- Puerto Galera
- La Union
- Coron
- El Nido
Visayas
- Boracay
- Moalboal
- Canyoneering Cave
- Panglao Island
Mindanao
- Samal
- Siargao
Meanwhile, during the dry yet cooler season, it would be best to visit places that are elevated to experience much cooler weather.
Luzon
- Tagaytay
- Baguio
- Batanes
Visayas
- Sea of Clouds
- Chocolate Hills
- Osmena Peak
Mindanao
- Eden Nature Park
- Mount Apo
Airline Companies of the Philippines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines is the oldest airline in Asia. It is often known to be more expensive than Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. However, its aircraft tend to be more spacious compared to Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. The flight attendants’ uniforms are also notably more formal than those of Cebu Pacific.
Cebu Pacific
Cebu Pacific and AirAsia are both budget airlines with generally cheaper fares. Philippine Airlines’ state-of-the-art upgrades may contribute to Cebu Pacific offering lower ticket prices.
Cebu Pacific uses smaller planes for trips to Coron, specifically the A320 aircraft.
Air Asia
AirAsia is another budget airline option, ideal if the flight you’re aiming for is fully booked on other carriers.
The punctuality of these airlines is not always reliable, so it’s best to plan accordingly. Additionally, please avoid making bomb jokes to prevent your flight from being canceled.
In case of canceled flights, the airline is responsible for providing free transportation, a free ticket, and free accommodation as part of their accountability.
What to Bring When Travelling to the Philippines
- Slippers or sandals for casual walks
- Rubber shoes for trekking
- Water shoes for snorkeling or canyoneering
- Shirts, shorts, and swimsuits for comfort in the heat
- Sunscreen and deodorant to stay fresh
- Tampons, since Filipinos commonly use napkins
- Pants and closed shoes for bars in Metro Manila, especially for men, as some establishments have a dress code that prohibits shorts and slippers
- The Philippines uses a 220-volt plug, so bringing a 220-volt plug adapter is a must, although some hotels may provide 110-volt plugs.
- A pocket WiFi and power bank for connectivity
- A GoPro for your water adventures
- A drone for capturing breathtaking aerial views
