The Philippines

Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia is "The Pearl of the Orient", the Republic of the Philippines, the second largest archipelago in the world with over 7,107 islands (some of these beautiful islands are actually being sold through this website!). The Filipino populace is composed of over 100 ethno-cultural groups and a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Spanish and American influences. Western and oriental influences blend harmoniously; a testament to the Filipino's cosmopolitan outlook that makes them at home almost any place in the world. Conversely, they make the Philippines a home to other peoples of the world.

The Philippines is a tropical country with wet and dry seasons. A country with fascinating landscapes, active volcanoes, splendid beaches, tropical forests with more than 3500 species of plants and animals, super friendly people, is a country worth visiting. Better yet, make it your home as others already did.

You'll find a multitude of natural wonders in the Philippines -- beautiful beaches, dramatic waterfalls, picturesque mountains, ancient rice terraces, hills that resemble chocolate drops, playful dolphins, colourful corals, and reefs teeming with aquatic life among others. But you'll seldom experience those wonders in solitude. That's an experience few Filipinos would relish. The real natural wonder of the Philippines is its outgoing people, who consider loners as losers and prefer to have companions nearly everywhere they go.

The majority of the 86 million Filipinos are Christian, with significant numbers of Muslims and indigenous people. It's also the world's third largest English-speaking nation, and some ethnic groups can actually speak English better than Tagalog, the country's national language.

The country is divided into three geographical island groupings - Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Metro Manila is the seat of government and the premier international gateway. Embracing the capital of Manila and several cities and municipalities, it's the heart of the country's social, economic, and cultural life.

Luzon is the largest island, with 55% of the country's population residing. It is home to the Cordillera, Caraballo, and Sierra Madre mountain ranges, volcanoes such as the perfectly cone-shaped Mayon and the world's smallest volcano Taal, and the country's largest lake, Laguna de Bay.

The Visayan islands are characterized by natural and cultural diversity. The beaches of Boracay are regarded as some of the world's best and are a top tourist destination. Cebu is the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines where the Spanish colonizers led by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 first landed. Bohol has one of the world's most intriguing geological formations, named the "Chocolate Hills" due to its brown appearance during dry seasons.

Mindanao, the second largest island, is the seat of Muslim culture and homeland of colorful ethnic tribes. The coves and islands of General Luna abound with white sand beaches, rich marine life and surfing waves. Davao, considered as one of Asia's best cities, is geographically the largest city in the world. Situated beside Davao is the country's highest peak, Mount Apo. Zamboanga, known as the City of Flowers, is famous for its colorful boats called vintas along with the Sulu archipelago is fabled for its seafaring communities.

Discover (and rediscover) the Philippines! Come home to paradise...