Southeast Asia · AsiaPhilippines
Discover the Philippines - a tropical archipelago of 7,641 islands with pristine beaches, vibrant fiestas, and some of the warmest people you will ever meet.
Where Is the Philippines?
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia. Its capital is Manila.
- Capital Manila
- Population 117M
- Area 342,353 km²
The Philippines is 7,641 islands scattered across the western Pacific like a handful of emeralds tossed into turquoise water. Only about 2,000 of them are inhabited, and many remain pristine enough to make you wonder if you are the first person to set foot on them. The beaches here are absurd - Palawan has been voted the best island in the world so many times it should be retired from competition. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the underground river of Puerto Princesa, the rice terraces of the Cordilleras carved 2,000 years ago - the natural beauty is relentless.
But the real magic of the Philippines is the people. Filipinos are famous worldwide for their warmth, resilience, and joy. This is a country that throws the longest Christmas season on Earth - decorations go up in September. Fiestas happen constantly, karaoke is a national obsession, and strangers will invite you into their homes for a meal without a second thought. Over 100 million people speak more than 170 languages across these islands, yet English is widely spoken, making it one of the most accessible countries in Asia for visitors.
The history is a wild ride - 333 years of Spanish colonization, 48 years of American rule, a brutal Japanese occupation, a dictatorship, a people power revolution, and now a young, tech-savvy democracy that exports nurses, engineers, and seafarers to every corner of the globe. The Filipino diaspora is 10 million strong, and their remittances are a lifeline to the economy back home. It is a country that has been knocked down repeatedly and gets back up every single time, usually with a smile.
At a glance
Largest cities in Philippines
Manila
Cebu City
Davao City
Quezon City
Baguio
Famous people from Philippines
Jose Rizal
LiteratureNational hero whose novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inspired the Philippine revolution against Spain and are required reading to this day
Manny Pacquiao
SportOnly boxer in history to win world titles in eight different weight divisions, a national icon who united the country every time he fought
Lea Salonga
MusicTony Award-winning Broadway star who was the singing voice of both Princess Jasmine and Mulan in the Disney animated films
Corazon Aquino
PoliticsFirst female president of the Philippines who led the peaceful People Power Revolution of 1986, restoring democracy after years of dictatorship
Carlos P. Romulo
DiplomacyFirst Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and one of the signatories of the UN Charter
Traditional cuisine of Philippines
- Adobo
- The national dish - meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper, with as many family recipes as there are Filipino families
- Lechon
- Whole roasted pig with impossibly crispy skin and tender meat, the centerpiece of every Filipino celebration and fiesta
- Sinigang
- Sour tamarind-based soup with pork or shrimp and vegetables, a comforting everyday dish that balances sour, savory, and fresh flavors
- Lumpia
- Filipino spring rolls filled with ground pork and vegetables, wrapped in thin crepe-like wrappers and fried until golden and crispy
- Halo-Halo
- Shaved ice dessert layered with sweet beans, jellies, fruit, ube ice cream, and evaporated milk - the ultimate tropical refreshment
Nature and landmarks in Philippines
- PalawanIsland
- Repeatedly voted the best island in the world, with the Puerto Princesa Underground River, El Nido's limestone cliffs, and crystal-clear lagoons
- Chocolate HillsLandmark
- Over 1,200 symmetrical cone-shaped hills in Bohol that turn chocolate brown in the dry season, one of the most unique geological formations on Earth
- Banaue Rice TerracesLandmark
- 2,000-year-old terraces carved into the Cordillera Mountains by Ifugao ancestors, often called the Eighth Wonder of the World
- Tubbataha ReefCoast
- UNESCO-listed coral reef in the Sulu Sea with pristine marine biodiversity, one of the best dive sites on the planet
- Mount ApoMountain
- Highest peak in the Philippines at 2,954 meters, an active stratovolcano in Mindanao sacred to indigenous peoples and home to the Philippine Eagle
Sports in Philippines
- Boxing
- Manny Pacquiao made the Philippines a global boxing powerhouse, and the country has produced multiple world champions across weight classes
- Basketball
- The most popular sport in the country by far, with courts on every street corner and the PBA being the second-oldest professional league in the world
- Arnis
- The national martial art of the Philippines, a stick and blade fighting system recognized by the Philippine government as the national sport
Did you know?
The Philippines has 7,641 islands, but only about 2,000 are inhabited and fewer than 500 are larger than one square kilometer
Filipinos start celebrating Christmas on September 1st, giving the country the longest Christmas season in the world
The Philippine Eagle is the world's largest eagle by length and wingspan, and killing one carries a 12-year prison sentence
Jeepneys - colorfully decorated former US military jeeps - are the most iconic form of public transportation in the Philippines
The Philippines is the world's largest exporter of coconut products and one of the largest producers of bananas and pineapples
Karaoke is so popular in the Philippines that My Way by Frank Sinatra has been linked to multiple bar fights, known as the My Way Killings
The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan is one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world at 8.2 kilometers
Read more about Philippines
Can you find Philippines on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Philippines and its neighbours without a second thought.
