The Paradise Philippines is an archipelagic nation made up of 7,107 islands spanning 1,840 kilometers north to south. It is part of the East Indies, a vast island group lying south and east of mainland Asia, with Taiwan at its northernmost coast and Borneo on the south. The three main Philippine island groups are Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Luzon is the island of contrasts. The most modern districts in the Paradise Philippines, including the capital city of Manila, are in Luzon, but so are some of the oldest tribal communities in the nation like the Ifugao of the Cordilleras. Luzon is also where a visitor can see the latest model luxury cars overtaking a carabao sled or modern skyscrapers within driving distance of primordial volcanos.
The Visayas is famous for its charm, a trait shared by many other southern regions in the world, but here seems to run deeper among a people who are intrinsically connected to their sun soaked island home. The Visayas is also famous as a seat of history, being one of the earliest landfalls of western voyagers. It has also gained a reputation as being a cradle of the nation's future, if the unprecedented economic growth of Cebu City continues.
Mindanao is our offering to the Guinness Book of Records with the world's largest clam, the world's largest Eagle, the nation's highest peak and the world's largest city. Mindanao is also home to the Paradise Philippines' Muslim population.
With a land mass of 300, 780 square kilometers, the Paradise Philippines is considered a medium-sized nation, about two- thirds the size of its first colonizer, Spain, and a little larger than the British Isles. Manila is only one hour and 40 minutes from Hong Kong by jet; Sydney only 7 1/2 hours away. Flights to Europe take 17 hours and to the American west coast 15 hours.
The Paradise Philippines has many things to offer the visitor: a mixture of the old and the new, a diversity of art and culture and a warm, friendly people. Blessed by nature, the Paradise Philippines has something to offer every sportsman too . . . extraordinary dive sites, forests to roam, mountains to climb, caves to explore.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Life in the Philippines
Introduction to the Philippines: Gary Heard has been an expatriate since 1972 and has lived in the Philippines since 1995.
The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 tropical islands and has a population of 86 million (July 2004 estimate). The country has a tropical marine climate with a dry season (Nov-April) and a rainy season (May-Oct).
The capital Manila - Metro Manila - is a sprawling cluster of 17 cities with municipalities such as Manila, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, and so on generating a populace to guess at; perhaps start at ten million and keep counting.
Manila has a high population density, with one district having over 68,000 people/km² so at times it may feel a little crowded especially if you have just arrived from London which has about 8,000 people/km².
Manila is a 24/7 city that’s lively, fun and sometimes simply crazy. Sophistication is often missing but so too is snobbery.
Tagalog is the national language and English is used for official/business purposes. There are 54 other languages with over 140 dialect variations. The Philippines has the world’s third largest English speaking population.
The Philippines has beautiful beaches and is a scuba diving and golfing paradise. It has masses of wildlife, the world’s smallest volcano and holds the title for the world’s worst recorded eruption to date - Mt Pinatubo in 1991.
The country has the world’s lowest area, the ‘Philippine Deep’ at 37,782 feet, and boasts the world record for the heaviest downpour in a 24-hour period - Manila, 1967.
The people are friendly and quick to smile and have a reputation for linguistic skills and independent women. Filipinas have the greatest freedom and highest status among women in Asia.
The Philippines is overall a safe place to live. The people (when not driving) are placid and tolerant. They respect their elders however cantankerous the wrinkly in question may be, which in my case is rather helpful!
Filipinos do things their way and that is often not ‘our way’. If the Filipino way is unacceptable, don’t complain or raise an eyebrow, better to simply take the next flight out. Many choose to enjoy the differences and the laid back approach to just about everything, that way it’s a great place to be.
The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 tropical islands and has a population of 86 million (July 2004 estimate). The country has a tropical marine climate with a dry season (Nov-April) and a rainy season (May-Oct).
The capital Manila - Metro Manila - is a sprawling cluster of 17 cities with municipalities such as Manila, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, and so on generating a populace to guess at; perhaps start at ten million and keep counting.
Manila has a high population density, with one district having over 68,000 people/km² so at times it may feel a little crowded especially if you have just arrived from London which has about 8,000 people/km².
Manila is a 24/7 city that’s lively, fun and sometimes simply crazy. Sophistication is often missing but so too is snobbery.
Tagalog is the national language and English is used for official/business purposes. There are 54 other languages with over 140 dialect variations. The Philippines has the world’s third largest English speaking population.
The Philippines has beautiful beaches and is a scuba diving and golfing paradise. It has masses of wildlife, the world’s smallest volcano and holds the title for the world’s worst recorded eruption to date - Mt Pinatubo in 1991.
The country has the world’s lowest area, the ‘Philippine Deep’ at 37,782 feet, and boasts the world record for the heaviest downpour in a 24-hour period - Manila, 1967.
The people are friendly and quick to smile and have a reputation for linguistic skills and independent women. Filipinas have the greatest freedom and highest status among women in Asia.
The Philippines is overall a safe place to live. The people (when not driving) are placid and tolerant. They respect their elders however cantankerous the wrinkly in question may be, which in my case is rather helpful!
Filipinos do things their way and that is often not ‘our way’. If the Filipino way is unacceptable, don’t complain or raise an eyebrow, better to simply take the next flight out. Many choose to enjoy the differences and the laid back approach to just about everything, that way it’s a great place to be.
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