how beautiful philippines is essay

Philippines Travel: The Beauty of the Country and its Wonderful People

• February 27, 2023
• Last updated: February 27, 2023
• Asia , Destinations , Philippines

Home » Travel Blog » Philippines Travel: The Beauty of the Country and its Wonderful People

Our trip to the Philippines started terribly. We got food poisoning from an Indian restaurant in Phuket where we arrived from Koh Lanta  to take our flight to Manila. Actually, we kind of ‘missed’ the flight. The traffic was fine that day, the guesthouse we lived was close (20 minutes of walking) and we arrived to the airport six hours before the departure.

What we overlooked, however, was that the departure time was 00.25 on the 1st of April, which meant we should have arrived at the airport the evening of the 31st. But we arrived on the 1st in the afternoon, when the plane was already long gone. April Fools Day was indeed foolish.

But it all turned out fine in the end; we caught a flight the following day, arrived safely to Manila at 4 am, spent ten hours at the airport, tasted a lot of Filipino food and took another plane to Caticlan and a local bus to Pandan in Antique, one of the four provinces of the Panay Island.

We loved the small town of Pandan and its barangays (a Filipino term for a village, district or ward) so much that we decided to do a tour of other small towns and villages so that we could stay in contact with locals and avoid crowds on the beaches that were filling up quickly due to the Easter holidays.

A vast number of Filipinos were travelling to see their relatives in different parts of the country or to spend their vacation on the beach, which coincided with very high rates for flights.

We spent the majority of our time with locals and we were incredibly touched by their stories, their humble yet bright personalities and vivacious energy. Now, we would like to thank them for some lessons that have influenced us.

To do that, we are dedicating this post to all of the dear people of the Philippines whom we met on the road. Many of you do not have the internet, a computer, and some of you have little to no electricity, but the world is small and we do believe these words will find you one day.

Traveling to the Philippines with a family? Then make sure you get the right visa. For more information, please check out Philippines eTA for Children Requirements . 

Philippines Travel: The Beauty of Wonderful People

Your smiles are charming.

We did nothing but smile on the streets, in the hotels, at the markets and in the bistros everyday. The elderly, children, vendors, and fishermen; all of you smiled after the first surprised look crossed your faces.

You welcome foreigners warmly

“Where are you from?” and your other curious questions started many conversations. After we responded, you proudly said, “Welcome to the Philippines!”

You love singing

A luggage porter at the airport sings, a shop assistant sings (at 4 am!), a guy selling tickets for a local bus sings, staff members in hotels sing. Not to mention that karaoke in small villages is as common as a bakery shop. There is even karaoke in the jungle!

Join some of the local tours in the Philippines:

• Oslob Whale Shark Swimming and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
• From Bohol & Panglao Island: Full-Day Bohol Tour
• Boracay: Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling

You are big basketball lovers

No matter how small or destroyed a town or village is after a typhoon, there is always a court for outdoor basketball. Over 30°C and hot sun? No problem. You still manage to start a game with some friends.

Heading to Thailand? Check out our comprehensive travel guide Thailand Independently

Your politeness is impressive

“Yes, ma’am”, “Yes, sir” was something we were getting used to for a while. And despite us requesting that you call us by our first names, you kept on with your high standards of politeness.

Heading to South-East Asia? Read more of our articles.

• Why You Should Visit the Philippines as a Digital Nomad
• Things to do in Tibiao: Ecotourism in the Philippines
• Ecotourism in Southeast Asia: Tips on Destinations and Activities
• 15 Things to Do and Best Hotels in Koh Lanta, Thailand
• Things To Do in Kota Kinabalu: a City of Seafood, Beaches and Durian
• Free Things to Do in Singapore: Tips From A Frequent Visitor
• How to Visit Halong Bay from Hanoi, Vietnam
• Where to Stay in Singapore: The Ultimate Guide

Your wild nature is a magnificent experience

Lush, wild forests, saturated, green rice fields like those in Banaue , waterfalls and rivers, all in unspoiled beauty. There is much more to admire than just your beaches, especially your hills and hidden gems of small islands that offer spectacular views of the landscape, villages, rivers and unpaved roads, where only a local can manage to ride a motorbike!

Read more about Philippines in this guide of Boracay .

How helpful you are

Where to eat, what to see, how to get somewhere: you suggested tips and insider info without us even asking you.

Your faith in God is profound

It was a big visual change for us, to come to the Catholic Philippines from Buddhist Thailand. Buddhist string bracelets were replaced by crosses on necks, temples and altars became churches, chapels and statues of Jesus and Holy Mary.
The churches we visited in Panay and Manila were full and many young and children attended the masses, compared to some predominantly Catholic European countries.

You are impressively family-oriented

You used to work and live abroad and you’ve come back because of your aging parents or a family you have a strong bond with. No matter how good the job was you had, you prefer to take care of your loved ones until they get better.
Many of you also come back to retire in your homeland or plan to do so in the future.

It was not easy to explain to you that we left our homelands to travel around the world using only phone contact with our families.

Your women are so pretty

Those of you in the countryside and small provinces simply shine with their pure, feminine beauty with no artificial, cosmetic additions. In the cities this changes, but we consider this an inevitable side effect of commercial pressures in all large, global cities.

Join some of the tours to do in the Philippines:

• Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour
• El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
• Manila: Old & New 4-Hour City Tour

You love sweet, salty and fat

We had heard so many contrasting opinions about your cuisine and honestly, the food we tasted was very nice. We especially enjoyed the homemade meal we tried at our Couchsurfing host in Manila, but very often the amount of sugar or salt in your dishes was too much for us.

You are great storytellers

Once you see there is someone who is ready to listen to you, you tell your story and you are not at all shy when talking about your private life.

You speak English even in small neighbourhoods

Sometimes it was a simple “good afternoon” that you loudly declared with a smile on your face, other times you started to chat about different countries and our travels. Whether it was kids running on the shore, ladies at the markets or a solitary man living alone in a forest, all of you were happy to share your time with us and made a great effort to have a conversation.

You guys can play with anything!

We might have been staring at you too much when you were playing with your flip-flops or with bottle lids. No need for expensive toys here!

You do your best to preserve hidden islands

In some areas, you follow strict ‘carrying capacity’ rules in order to preserve the natural treasures of waterfalls and forests. You restrict the number of tourists who can enter areas during a certain period of time and we think that’s an amazing approach! But we feel you must become more active in keeping trash out of your forest and rivers.

Oh, your jeepney!

What makes them so special is the way you paint them and how you pass the money to a driver via other passengers!

You always keep a positive spirit

When we saw your destroyed schools, huts and boats from typhoon Yolanda that hit you in November 2013, we had only one thought: the God you believe in so much could allow this to happen only to a people who have tremendous power to cope with tragedy.

You remember exactly what you were doing that day, where you ran to hide and how long the hell lasted in your barangay.

Now, almost six months later, when you’re still waiting for your shelter to be repaired or build from the scratch, you smile! You smile and you help those who have less than you.
“Bahala na,” you say. You really live the moment, not caring about tomorrow or the past.

Even if this might prevent you from planning for the future, you live your life fully, with love, open hearts and a willingness to help those who need it.

The things we learned about other cultures so far have been precious for us. But the things you have taught us are crucial for our self-development, too.

People of the Philippines, you have helped us to realize that humanity is something that connects this world. We must remember that we are all the same, no matter which corner of the earth we were born in.

Pack & travel:

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Ivana Greslikova

• Published: February 27, 2023

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192 thoughts on “philippines travel: the beauty of the country and its wonderful people”.

amazing pics!!! your zest for travel is contagious 🙂

Thanks, Rommel.Glad our adventures inspire you 🙂 Cheers!

I missed the chance to meet you guys:( Hopefully on your next visit:)

Hi Melo, either in the Philippines or other country, it would be nice 🙂

Thank you very much. Beautiful photos and even more beautiful experience that you shared. I know you have a lot of stories to tell about the Philippines and our people. I’ve lived in Manila for a long time but settled in Iloilo City since 1998. Ive travelled the world but I hope to travel to every corner of my country in my lifetime. Thank you again for sharing a positive post about my country.

Thanks for reading, Paul! Wishing you to explore as much of your homeland as possible!

AMAZING PHOTOS!!! Too bad I missed you guys in the Philippines! Hope you had a great time! Fantastic post, will share it right now!

Hi Sab, many thanks! The world is small, so hopefully we will cross our paths one day 🙂 Enjoy Chiang Mai, it’s a great place for digital nomads… We stayed there for three months and had a fantastic time! Cheers!

There’s some incredible pictures in here that you both should be incredibly proud of, not only for their great composure, but more for the fantastic scenes that you’ve captured.

Hi Dale, thank you very much! We are happy we can share these moments with you and other people. We are very grateful we could witness the lives of Filipinos’ that gave us really a lot! Safe travels, guys!

Hi Ivana. It’s great that you have been to Pandan .My hometown is Sebaste 15 km away from the place . It’s amazing that you have contributed nice experience of our town. I have recently come back from Kalibo capital of Aklan.I built my house there and in the near future I am going home for good because I’m now retired,I love my country and for sure I like to live in the Phil. where can offer me many things.

Awww.. I feel so proud being a Filipino after reading this and looking at the pictures. You captured the essence of who we are as a country, and I was left in awe and sentimental about it! Thank you for this feature! 🙂

Sarah, thank you. We’ve been sincerely honoured that we could visit your country and to know your beautiful culture of warm hearts!

I’m so glad that I had the chance to meet u guys! Love this post and your pictures. I can subscribe every single word.

Filipino people are truly amazing.

I will definitely share this 🙂

Safe travels and I hope we will meet again!

Ciao, Clelia! Thank you, it was a pleasure to meet you and glad that we met in Pandan which turned out for us a wonderful place to start our tour in the Philippines! See you in Italy or in Asia again 🙂

very good blog! I recently been in the Philippines myself and I totally agree with your look on the country and it’s amazing people! it’s more fun in the Philippines 🙂

Hello, Mandy, glad you had similar experience! Thanks for your kind words, too 🙂

wow…. thanks for letting the world know how beautiful my country is <3

Salamat, Grasya!

Thanks for the wonderful pictures….I feel so proud and lucky to see my province ( Antique ) featured in your blog.

Salamat, Shela 🙂 We are pleased to get know your province, too!

You said the most beautiful words about distinct Filipino traits (as well some nooks and corners in the Philippines) that we Filipinos often fail to recognize and appreciate. Salamat. Thank you for reminding to take stock of our many blessings. It’s a blessing too welcome visitors in our country, but getting a heartwarming feedback on these visits is a bonus! God bless you on your future travels guys!

Thank you a lot! We loved these unknown ‘corners’ and remote islands we visited a lot. There’s is a lot to explore and the nature was just breathtaking! Hopefully more Filipinos will travel to these places, too.

We almost went to the Philippines after Japan, but we ended up in South Korea instead. There is so much to love of this country looking through your photos and the jeepney looks so funky, one day perhaps we’ll finally make it there 🙂

Aww, you guys will LOVE jeepneys! They are real pieces of art! I sincerely wish that you’ll make it there one day. Not only because of this incredible transport, but also for the nature and people that are truly spectacular 🙂

Yes, yes, 1000x yes! There are so many things to love about the Philippines and your post pretty much nails them all. The singing! The smiles! The sunsets! The only thing we didn’t really care for in the Philippines was the food, but I think that was really the only blemish on an otherwise wonderful country. (And we were still relatively new travelers, so maybe there were better options to be had and we just didn’t find them.) So glad you enjoyed your time in one of our favorite countries!

Hi Steph, we followed your adventures in the Philippines too and we can easily understand now why you do so!!

Aww.. This made me smile. Thank you. I brought a Chinese friend back home in the Philippines (Roxas City, Capiz) this Easter. She loves my countrymen too. She wants to go back and probably marry a Filipino fisherman. Haha..

If she met the same generous and funny guys as we did, then we are not surprised by your friend’s decision 🙂

Gorgeous photos! You definitely portray the Philippines as a beautiful place filled with smiling people. I’d love to visit someday.

Thank you, Anna. If you have a chance in the future, we can only recommend the Philippines!

Some of the friendliest, most giving people I’ve ever met were of Filipino descent (in Australia and the US). I can only imagine it’s a very friendly country by what I’ve seen of its expats. Whether they have a lot or little, Filipinos share and smile. They also introduced me to a whole new style of asian cooking.

That’s so nice to hear about your experience, Michael. I am sure you will love the country if you visit it one day 🙂

Our flight home from Phuket was just after midnight too. We caught our flight, but I kept worrying about going on the wrong day! Glad you had such a wonderful time in the Philippines. My husband’s family is from the Philippines, so I hope we will go some day. I am so not surprised there is karaoke in the jungle!!

Lucky you with the flight 🙂 I am sure your husband can bring you to many places where you can encounter a great hospitality of locals or be charmed by the landscape there!

Wow! I love how you’ve defined our country, culture and our ways. You’re such an amazing writter. I have this habit of skipping through words while reading blogs, but how you made me read your article, word for word, is really something! Salute!

Also, I would like to say Maraming Salamat… For loving and promoting Filipinos to the world. Who knows, maybe someday, the favor you and your colleagues are doing for us (including all other Asian nations), may be the start of a better treatment, respect and equality to Asians around the world.

Again, maraming salamat kaibigan… More power at mabuhay ka!

Daryl, thank you, your words are really kind. Me and Gianni, my partner, co-traveller and photographer of this website, do appreciate them. We will do our best to spread the word about not only Asian countries, but about all other places we visit, so people can be inspired to get know new cultures by their own and share their knowledge and experience, too. Salamat!

Thank you for yourkind words about our people. Little angel smiles coz she see s another angel. Take care.

Thank you, Pabs. We’ve been very grateful that we could get know your people a little bit. Kind greetings to you!

Pure joy to read this kind of blog …while reading I keep telling myself yes we are likes to sing … yes we do sing a lot food is extreme .. salty, sweet and fat- but our seafood is great right?

Thank you for your beautiful post.. hope this blog reach the hearts of other travelers around the world

Hi Czha, thanks for commenting. Right, your seafood was really good 🙂 Gianni was in 7th heaven when we were in Roxas and sampling all the specialities 🙂

Your beautiful words & photos brought tears to my eyes. It made me miss my country, my barangay & most especially my family since I live & work here in the UK. Salamat for sharing the Philippines to the world & good fortune in all your future travels 🙂

Ivy, thank you. Now you have made out eyes wet… Your country is just beautiful and I wish you could see your family and beloved ones as often as you want!

🙁 miss my home…

I’m so sorry to hear that so many people who are commenting here feel homesick, including you, Dennis. We have seen that the conditions for finding a good job are really challenging in the Philippines… On the flip side, you can spread your culture throughout the world and motivate other people to pay a visit to your homeland! All the best for you!

Thank you so much Ivana and Gianni , for being true and kind to others, but most especially for showcasing us Filipinos to the whole world! Hopefully someday, people around the world recognizes the true essence of “being human”, to love without conditions, to give without expecting in return, and to respect each other, no matter what country or place you came from. Again, maraming salamat, God bless you guys and may Almighty God always keep you safe on your travels!

Dondon, thank you for these kind words. We are confident people who will travel one day to the Philippines and those who’ve already been there can only spread a positive word about your country. At least this has been our experience and we are very grateful for that.

Thanks for discovering the true colors of the Philippines. Soon I will be happy to share to you perhaps giving you the tour information of the Eastern Visayas where Typhoon Haiyan first made its landfall way back. The most hidden of scenic spots wherein many of these were not yet captured by cameras….. be the first to show to the world this part of the country. I wish you to be back here in our Philippines which shows you the true colors of life…..

Hello, Yasee, from what we saw in the Panay island we have understood the place was affected a lot and some scenes and stories in small barangays made us very sad for a while. I believe that a positive attitude of locals together with some help of NGOs and individual support will bring back all necessary things that your people need.

thank you so much for your beautiful write-ups about my country, it made me so proud to be a filipina…..your photos were so enchanting…maraming salamat po uli!

Many thanks, Edwina! The Philippines are simply photogenic 🙂

upon looking those picture u make my tears pour down i really miss my contry my hometown thank you so much that u appreciate the beauty of our country hope in your future travel you can visit my province CEBU where a lot of tourist spot and adventures there salamat at mabuhay !

Hi Rose, I’m really sorry you feel homesick, hopefully you can enjoy your time back home soon. Thanks, we want to visit Cebu, too, since we have heard a lot about it! Take care and wish you to be surrounded by nice people so you do not miss your homeland too much!

Hello, thank you so much for your great appreciation and wonderful blog of experiences about my country, the Philippines. Your thoughts and nice words to our culture reminds us our love ones whom we left behind at home, with their smiles and joys in your very nice photos we can see. We are grateful indeed that you are not just a visitors to us and to our country but you try to live within us in your short journey to the Philippines by sharing your life experienced.

Daghan kaau salamat! Mabuhay and God bless!

Salamat, Gilbert! The love and family bond you are all showing to us is so beautiful! We really loved our time in Antique while staying with locals and by doing this we got a great chance to know your culture better. Take care!

my grand parents are from antique and ilo ilo,. and yes! i also had so much chances visiting our province, thanks for the positive feedbacks, i feel honored to come from such hidden paradise in the philippines, Godbless your journey 🙂

Thanks a lot, Jovs!

madamo gid nga salamat halin sa amon tagipusuon diri sa iloilo..in english more thanks to you from the buttom of our heart from here in iloilo….thanks for appreciating our city,culture,and our people

Hello, Jejun, many warm thanks!

While reading, tears kept flowing from my eyes without me knowing it. I am very emotional about your post on my beloved country. Hoping you will not forget us from now on, wherever your feet got you. Thanks a lot for the every very kind word you wrote. I was raised in small town of Tibiao in Antique. Madamo guid nga salamat!

Hi Danny! We have been keeping the Philippines in our hearts and minds till now, and the friendships we have made there are very precious for us, too. Tibiao!! Our favourite place 🙂 You can check our last post about our eco-adventures there. Take care!

Fantastic! I love the way you right story on what you experienced on your wonderful journey. I’m so glad on how you appreciate my fellow Filipino people. You are so lucky for witnessing our unique culture and been in some beautiful places of our dear country. That is one of my dream to visit those places  when I go back home for good. Right now am still working in a foreign land.

Many thanks kaibigan, Mabuhay!

More power and good luck to your next interesting trip.

Once again, Salamat! 🙂

Hi Marites, Antique welcomes everyone who wishes to explore it 🙂 Good luck with your job abroad and happy returns home!

This blog is so beautiful. Thank you for your beautiful comments about the Philippines. I appreciate your concern for our country. That some people do not care, politicians corrupt, illegal deforestations. We still have a long journey but I am sure it is people’s collective effort that will make the difference.

Francis, we all wish you only the best!

“Maraming salamat po!” 🙂

I am deeply moved with your story about our country. It makes one proud being a Filipino and for an article written as extensive and beautiful as this it makes one Filipino to start loving, exploring and sharing the beauty of her own country.

Yes, to share and spread the voice about the Philippines is one of the best way how we all can show the love for the country! All the best, Kath 🙂

Maraming salamat for the kind words!i am so proud to b a filipino!i just came back from a week of palawan trip 5hrs ago when i saw and read your blog…the words that i dont know how to express about my own experience,you write them all down!and you inspire me to continue to travel,discover and experience all the different islands of my country!more power to your team and may u inspire more people to visit philippines!have a safe travel! 🙂

Hi Mers! Great to hear about your experience in Palawan! We are very happy to read that the post made your feet itchy 🙂 Take care and take a chance to travel whenever you can 😉

thank you so much for appreciating my country Philippines, yes I am a Filipino and proud to be an Ilonggo (ILOILO CITY), hope you could visit again…More power and God Bless you both in your upcoming journeys… Its more fun in the PHILIPPINES…

Many thanks, Jane 🙂 We will go back one day!

Maraming salamat po

Salamat, Paul!

such compliments do make us more proud of who we are as Filipinos thou we are facing poverty but we Filipinos still have all the reason to be thank full to Gods blessings in our land

You are doing great, Dawn, despite all the troubles you are facing there!

I have experienced travel through your eyes. Thank you for bringing me to wonderful places of my country. I am one of those filipinos who seldom travel or never ridden a plane. I can only count the few scenic places i’ve seen with my one hand. Your travels have not only seen beautiful places but witnessed the beautiful souls. God be with you and be safe. A very soul-enriching travel indeed.

Hi Ritchelle, I don’t know which part of the Philippines you come from, but wish you to travel whenever you have a chance! Yes, you are right, the people we have met are gorgeous and we are very honoured to get know better some of them.

Thanks for the kind words you have said about our country especially about the Panay Islands. You and your buddy is not only very kind but also very beautifu….God bless you.

Salamat, Reynaldo 🙂

Tears can’t stop falling from my eyes while reading this. My heart rejoiced with gladness that somebody could see the beauty that’s within Filipinos despite the negative impressions we keep on receiving. Thank you for finding time to know the heart of the Philippines, its PEOPLE. You have truly defined the Philippines. The pics are lovely. Thank you much.

Awww, Anne, it’s touching for us to read your comment, too. We are spreading the voice about the Philippines as much as we can, through this blog, but also while traveling and meeting other travellers who have never been there. Thank again for kind words and all the best for you!

I was very touch!!! On how you can put your experienced as I was feeling and actually experiencing it! The essence of your actual experience and writing it, made simple things significant to me. Thank you for opening my eyes!!!I have a beautiful country…Maraming Salamat po! Mabuhay .

Thank you very much for the feedback, Maria! Your country is charming for many people, may they be locals or foreigners 🙂

thank you for the nice write ups and blogs and pics shared about my country, the Philippines…. hope everyone can see the positive beauty of the place and not just the negative ones… mabuhay at maraming salamat!!!!

Salamat, Faith! We would like that more people go to explore your country and know your people. The land of the Philippines has a lot to offer!

Thank you for visiting our country and for visiting my hometown Roxas City, Capiz:) I’m just so proud that I was raised and have lived their! So missing fresh seafoods, the beautiful smiles, typical bbq by the beach, the beautiful beaches and sunset and of course my family back home:( I’m so glad that people coming from other countries appreciate and love my fellow filipinos and my country too! More power to you!

Thanks, Berna In Roxas we had a few awesome seafood feasts and we liked a lot the Olotayan island we visited one morning. Sadly, it was much destroyed by the typhoon last November. But the people there are just amazing! Take care.

One of the best blogs ive ever read! My tears just fall down while reading this and makes me wanna go home and explore my country. Thank you Ivana and Gianni!

Daisy, thank you very much, we are very pleased and happy to inspire also the Filipino expats to travel in their own country. I sincerely wish that you could go and travel through your country!

Thank you for visiting our place … im from iloilo ..its so amazing you guys experiencing our good hopitality as a filipino …. i wonder may be you miss to eat our very own la paz batchoy and pork litson …and some time visit our dinagyang festival im sure you will love it… thanks indeed of your post .

Hi Caesar, Oh, litson was Gianni’s favourite dish! We had a chance to eat it in different provinces and he loved it 🙂

Reading your blog made me homesick – in a good way. Not many travellers explore Iloilo City & I’m glad you guys did. I’m Filipino-Canadian but will always be an Ilongga by heart. I feel your sincerity & kindness through your words. Thank you for appreciating my home country. Safe travels!

Thanks for commenting, Gigi! I hope you have a chance to visit the Philippines and spend some time in Iloilo, too. Take care, wherever in the world you are 🙂

We, Filipinos are very emotional. So, when I was reading your post I felt like crying. We’re glad you came to our country and saw not only with your eyes and hearts. I shared your post with friends who shared them, too. May you continue traveling together and bless more people in your journeys. Thank you soooo much.

Thank you many times, Jodie! For your warm words and for helping us spreading the voice about the Philippines, too.

Hi! Maam Ivana, this story brings tears into my eyes. How I miss my homeland. How I miss living in a very rural life. Working abroad esp. In Middle East when you see nothing but desert and feel nothing but the heat of the sun, made me realize that even my country is not an oil- rich country or as rich as this country, we are still blessed of having beautiful and natural resources, kind hearted and not abusive people and above all else a God- fearing country. your experience and story brings me back to my childhood days when only an empty can, a flip flop, a piece of stick, and a friends can make you Happy for the day. I hope one day you can explore more in mindanao… Thank you! Mabuhay po kayo!

Argy, thank you for the feedback. Happy to hear the article has brought you good memories, but sad to hear you are living less joyful life now. Wish all will be fine around you and that one day you live the life in a country, where you will feel happy!

Next time you come to the Philippines I’ll invite you to my island in Negros Oriental…your story is very beautiful I can’t help myself but feeling imotional. The last time I went home was in 2011 after 10 years that I didn’t able to see my family. I’m planning of going back hopefully I’ll be there before New Years.. Anyways shoot me an email:) I would love to hear from you all..much ❤️❤️❤️

Hi Gayle, Good luck and hopefully you get back home for NY or even earlier to spend some nice time with your family! If you are interested, you can subscribe to our newsletter so you can receive more updates about our travels and projects 🙂

Thank you for the very kind words. I am one of those Filipinos out of the Philippines and this blog entry has made me miss more the simple way of life back home. Yes, no matter how many years we’ve been away, we always look forward to that one day when we go back home and never have to leave. Our family is one of the primary reasons why we leave, and the main reason why we want to go back. Again, thank you for visiting our country and it is nice knowing you and your group had a good time there!

Hi Zandro, All the best for you, your family back home and all beloved ones around you!

Am so glad you enjoyed the Philippines. Most Filipinos are respectful and humble and very welcoming, especially to foreigners and returning Filipinos(balikbayans). I have Filipino friends, though , who don’t think the way you appreciate the Philippines. And I feel sad. Please come back and see more of the Philippines! Cheers!!

Hi Charlie, thanks for commenting! I guess those who do not see the beauty in their homeland anywhere in the world are not satisfied for any reason. May it be a bad or no job, system, neighbourhood, relation etc. So we wish all those who do not feel comfortable in the Philippines to look at it in more positive way and feel more at ease at home soon.

We like people who like us. So when you said you enjoyed your travel to the Philippines and your encounters with the Pinoys (nickname for Filipinos), it is also because you treated the people you met with appreciation and respect. I am sure that the people you talked to will remember you with fondness too, in way they mirrored your kindness and friendliness.

Thank you for the kind words about my country 🙂

Safe travels to you….

Hello Love Joy, we are confident also in the opposite: our hosts and new friends were so friendly that we couldn’t be different to them 🙂 Many thanks!

Ur post about our country is something to be proud of, i couldnt help but 2 share it on my fb’s a/c ….thank u so much….

Many thanks for spreading the word, Juday!

What a great post: this really makes me want to visit the Philippines. Wonderful pictures and sounds like the people are wonderful!!

Thank you for the pictures and stories you shared about my province. Aside from Boracay, we have a lot to show to the world how beautiful Panay is- people, place and food. I am from Iloilo. “Salamat gid sa pagbisita. Halong!” -thank you so much for the visit. Take care!

Definitely, Ruby! There are so many places worth of visit 🙂 We did not make it to Boracay this time, but enjoyed the Philippines a lot, though 🙂

Salamat Ivana and Gianni for sharing this very nice photos and your kind worlds to my dear country. I work in a cruise ship and visited a lot of nice places around the world but there is really no place like home. Hope to see you both in the Philippines on your next visit. God bless you both and thank you again for this very nice blog.

Thanks, Kiko. Many happy voyages to you, too!

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing the world your experience of the Philippines. 🙂

Thank you very much for the feedback, Leo!

Thank you for your kind words. your blog about my country make us all proud to be Pinoys. truly that its more fun in the Philippines and there’s no place like Philippines. Thank you Ivana and Gianni! =)

Salamat, Jhara!

Our pocket is empty but our heart is full..this is the reason why is it that i am so proud to be a filipino. And thank u for letting the world knows what kind of personalities does the filipino have your kind words in every sentence is really appreciated..bearhugz♥

Well said, Von, hearts of Filipinos are absolutely gorgeous!

thank you for visiting philippines…awesome pics…next time you might extend your vacation in the philippines just imagine 7,107 islands… and you just only visited 2 islands hhmmm you missed the 7,105 islands..take care and god bless…

Thanks, Bro Grimes, we are slow travellers and take all easy 🙂 But we want to go back for sure 🙂

I guess all is been said in here.. I just want to thank you & Gianni for choosing my beloved country one of ur destination.. It’s an honored to to have you foreign visitors in my homeland.. Wish u both all the best. DAGHAN SALAMAT.

Many thanks, Ramil! We appreciated your comment!

Great read! Can’t help but to get a bit emotional while reading it, been away from home for a year now. It’s also my dream to travel and see the beauty of my country, thank you for giving me another reason to do so. Will explore when I get back. God bless you and Maraming Salamat!

Salamat, Charles! I wish you to travel across the Philippines as much as possible 🙂 Take care!

I would like to thank both of you for showing the good part in us. Thank you for taking some time to talked to us and appreciate in your most sincerest way. From our heart “Maraming Salamat Po!

Thanks for your feedback, Jun Seyan!

Salamat Ivana. Godbless

Thanks, Patrick!

Hello Ivana,

One can only read between your lines. It is with sincerity and honesty you describe the places, the people you came across. Many of us Filipinos were touched by your kind words. You expressed your appreciation to our beautiful country that we as Filipinos sometimes never have the time to fully enjoy, because we are so busy trying to make a living to better the lives of our parents and family.

Thank you for taking the time to write positively about our people who inspite of hardship are honest, giving and kind.

May the LORD guide you and Gianni in your travel as you spread wonderderful words about other culture.

Frank Massachusetts

Hi Frank, many thanks for these kind words and your blessing!

Thank you very much for taking time to visit my beloved homeland Philippines especially to the city of love ILOILO CITY♥♥♥

Thank you Mel, your comment is much appreciated!

Thank you so much for this wonderful article on your blog. I am an American that so much loves the Philippines it almost hurts! I have made many trips to the Philippines and you describe this amazing country and people so well. The Philippines is a beautiful country as far as landscape…but what makes the Philippines so good for me is the people. I have NEVER met people so warm, so gracious, so welcoming, and so so so positive as filipinos.

I wish more people in the world could visit the Philippines as you did…not just the nice resorts but down in the streets in the nitty gritty. What an amazing place and people. For those of you reading my post…if you haven’t been to the Philippines…Go! For filipinos that, for some reason, don’t realize how good your country is…open your eyes. Sure there is a lot of poverty…but you and the rest of the filipino people make your country amazing. I am proud to say I truly love the Philippines.

Hi Todd, wow, so kind words from you! I’m sure soon this country will be welcoming more and more travellers. I can see already now that more and more people choose Philippines as their vacation destination. And that’s wonderful!

Thanks, Ivana for the article. I came from a small town in Aklan-Buruanga, you passed thru it on the way to Libertad and Pandan. I live here in cold Chicago. You truly love the Philippines. Someday I will come home and spend the rest of my life there!

Hi Winston, thanks, I am very glad you’ve liked reading the post. Wishing you beautiful time in Chicago and may your dream to stay in your homeland in the future come true. All the best for you and your beloved ones !

Thank you for the kind words about my motherland. I’ve lived in the US ever since I was 9 (almost 22 now), but my Filipino pride stays true and strong. I love reading about travelers’ experience in the Philippines; it always gives me the biggest smile! It makes me proud to be from a country that treats everyone so well, even though, as you pointed out, we’ve had our share of tragedies. I don’t know the next time I get to visit the Philippines, as I am currently in college, and in the process of trying to get into Pharmacy school. However, seeing entries like these makes me feel at ease. I may be thousands of miles away, but I’ll always be a Filipina.

Thank you, Erv and wish you lot of success at your college and hopefully you’ll get a chance to see the Philippines one day again!

Thanks Ivana…you are one of the reason why we, the Filipino people continues to smile…without highfalutin words you were able to describe and praise the quality of our natural essence – in simple terms about a simple people…mabuhay ka Ivana, you are welcome to come back a million times…

Many warm thanks, Victor, we felt great among Filipinos and it’s a country which we definitely wish to explore more 🙂

This is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for bringing such a wonderful group of photos and people into my life through this post!

Thanks a lot Chanel!

Incredible photos! We travelled to Palawan last year and just thought it was so beautiful. I’d love to travel some more of the Philippines, I’m sure you could spend months and months island hopping there!

Wow, I bet you had a great time in Palawan, Charlie. We had to skip it last year, as we arrived just for Easter and flight tickets cost a fortune at that time 😀 Yeah, you’re right, you can do an epic islands hopping in the Philippines. I wonder if there is a person who did all of those 7107 islands. That could be a life challenge, right?

Thank you for this blog! I got inspired about the stories that you’ve shared. I love my country Philippines and I’ll love it forever! Cebu is a nice island to!

Thanks for your comment, Rodjie, we hope we’ll have a chance to travel to this part of Philippines, too.

Loved reading this. Currently living in the Philippines. Really well written and stunning photos ! Shared 🙂

Thanks Tom, you’re too kind. Which part of the Philippines are you living in?

Well-written travel blog about our beautiful country. I admire you for seeing beauty in every situation! Life should be lived like that. Best regards.

You didn’t miss a thing in your article and great photos! The Philippines has so much to offer, really. Try visiting Boracay, with its stunning white sand beach and thriving night life! See you soon again!

Hi Leo, thanks, you’re too kind. We were actually very close to Boracay, in a barangay called Pandan, where we stayed for for some time instead of visiting the white beaches. We’re also not big party lions and we prefer to stay with locals in calmer areas 🙂 Cheers!

We love the Philippines and will be back! Our adventures took us kayaking from remote island to Island for 8 days. Exploring The Chocolate Hills on a motorbike then We completed our PADI Advanced Open Water in Puerto Galera, Philippines! Also staying with a old Leper Colony on Culion Island. Finding a Piece of Africa on Calauit Island. To Helping build a school with Hike + Bike= Build A School on Busuanga. All so much in one country and more to come! Nice people and great adventures.

Looks like you spent there at least half year, David 🙂 So many things done! I’m curious about the BUild A School project, do you have a post on your blog about this? Would love to read more!

I love the Philippines! Great article and beautiful pics.

Thank you, Fabio!

Wonderful colors!

Found your blog via the Two Monkeys Travel Group. You captured the charm of the Philippines beautifully! Thanks for this post. 🙂 Filipinos are indeed God-fearing, family-oriented, hospitable, and warm. Hope you can visit our country again soon!

Thanks a lot for stopping by, Patricia! We do hope to come back, too 🙂

I agree, the people in the Philippines make it my favorite country in the world, and are why I live there

Thanks for reading, Dante! It’s nice to hear you have such positive experience with the Philippines.

I have lived here for 2 years (from the USA) and it is just a great place to live. Of course there are some small things you must get used to, but overall I love it.

Wow, two years must be long enough to get the country under your skin 🙂 Hope you’re having a great time there!

I just came across this post about my native people yesterday. Thank you for seeing the good in them despite the flaws. Thank you for the heart-filled tribute you have generously given. Your tenderness and love for people show themselves through your posts, and I admire your willingness to see and show the world that which is good in others. Honor well-said; a post well-read! Thanks!

Thank you a lot for commenting, Omar. We do appreciate your kind words. Honestly, our time in the Philippines was special thanks to local people and their warm nature towards foreigners. Thanks again!

Very touching blog about my country and my people. You did not only captured amazing pictures during your stay in the philippines___you have captured my peoples hearts, too! Your experience about riding the jeepney made me laughed so hard…the passing of the money by the people all the way to the driver! The same amazement i had probably during my first jeepney ride long time ago, when i was just a little girl. So glad you had a wonderful time during your stay. Wish you and all your companion a happy and safe journeys in the future. God speed!

Thank you for sharing this very wonderful story. Thank you! Thank you! 🙂

Shared and Tweeted! Reading this made me teary-eyed… could be PMS but, I just had the feels. Thank you for seeing my country and my people beyond our faults and flaws. We have a lot to offer as a nation, unfortunately ..what makes us unique as a country has also been our downfall and gets the better of us in more ways than we can help ourselves. I hope you find yourselves back in our shores to tell the world more about my Pinoys. Big ups to your article and your beautiful pics <3

I agree….even tho im not fr your beautiful country..this hits my heart too..Super Apir!

wonderfully written blog and beautiful pics of the beloved Philippines..Thank you for sharing this Ivana

More than a year after you dropped by our islands, and people are still loving your blog about our country, including myself. You are so perceptive, appreciative and sensitive, qualities that enabled you to relay your sentiments very well. I assure you that the responses that you received are reflections of the beautiful qualities my countrymen see in you. Thank you for the warmth that you share about a country of very warm people.

What an admirable way to travel and experience a new place . You’ve opened my eyes to the beauty of a place I still call home and I can’t wait to re-visit places I’ve been to with a deeper appreciation of the people who make me proud of who I am. Thanks much and keep loving what you do.

By the way it was a Filipino, Roberto del Rosario, who invented the karaoke machine! One of the origins of the yoyo stems from the Philippines …in a local dialect yoyo means ‘come back’ …and that is what I advise you to do with the Philippines – its endless tropical magic is supported by a people friendly beyond compare! I write a blog on my site about the country and have been living here 19 years and am still exploring so many new beautiful places and islands. If you travel to every islad in the country for 48 hours each it will take you 40 years just to see the Philippines….hang on I’d better get out there again …..bye – go well, stay well. and enjoy life’s journey!

Hi Bruce, thanks so much for reading and commenting! Well, no surprise karaoke was invented by a Filipino 🙂 Wow, 19 years in the Philippines! So, theoretically, you should have already travelled to cca 3,500 islands according to your calculation. We definitely want to go back and explore other islands, so we might get in touch with you for some tips in the future. Thanks again for stopping by and best of luck in your adventures in the Philippines and everywhere you go!

I soon married a Filipino woman. She is very honorable and dignified . She having Noble family And Farmer And Personality . I was fascinated by she . Philippines . A great country and thousands Beautiful island And kind people And hot Blooded . hospitable . Intimate . The good women and Accountability in life . Have Feeling And Lover Their husbands . Philippines People Looking for quietness and comfort . And Hard work and great effort They do For a decent life . ….. I am inviting all people of the world. For dating. With the great nation of the Philippines And See the beauty of the islands Philippines . .. Thank you

Nice post about our country… We maybe not the strong economically but in faith we are STRONG.. Will share this 😀

Reading your stories game my eyes a sting and i was just able to hold on the tear that was to fall. You hit it on the nail guys. Reading your story somehow made me feel proud that I am A Filipino! Im nor here in ireland working far from my family back home. I guess reading your stories made me miss home more…Thanks for a very touching work!

Thank you for this post! You are an amazing person. Please continue travelling and writing good things about the best places you visit 🙂

Thanks a lot for the feedback and kind words, Jacy!

What I nice article about my home country! Thank you for this post. Should you visit Philippines again, try to vist the northern part of Philippines as well.

Thanks for reading, Jhes, we’ll definitely explore more once we’re back there 🙂

Hi Ivana, thank you for your interest in our country, it’s really nice to see foreigners visiting & writing about my beloved country. next time visit Batanes or Cebu or both ha ha… like you, me & my fiance loves to travel, (just got back from cebu) he he. planning to visit sagada this June & davao on September. and if my pocket permits Hinatuan Enchanted in surigao del sur ph

Teary eyes when about to finish reading. Thank you for the kind words and great article, glad you came and keep safe for all your travels.. Reading this in 2016

Awww, thanks for reading, Mariss and for your touching words… We will be back!

I am a Filipino and I’m really glad that a foreign people like you appreciate the beauty of Philippines even those of tragic or bad things for us…u saw what we can’t see in our country.. Thank you for your wonderful words about my country..

Nice photo of a jeepney ?

wow! incredible scenery beautiful and I feel happy to be on this website.

I really like your post about the “The Beauty of the Philippines and its Wonderful People” Very interesting article with wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing very informative blog.

i was moved y the way you described narrative your experience in the Philippines.thanks for sharing your experiences and memories you have and continue having in the future.may god bless you and keep you safe in stay.

WOW this post made my day. I am a Filipina and an avid traveler as well and I came across your blog while researching for future trips. And when I found out you visited my country, I was curious about how you find it so I clicked on it. Then I found this post and it MADE ME CRY. Thank you so much for this post. It really touched me. I have been to so many wonderful countries already and your post made me realize that I in fact live in a very beautiful country.

Thank you for expressing to the world who we truly are as Filipinos. I am from Iloilo though I reside in Canada now. We have a place there so next time you visit, you have a home with my family. We are connected on Twitter (@aesta1).

Hi guys 🙂 thanks for posting nice words and pictures of the real Philippines. I love this country so much.

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13 Reasons Why You Should Travel to The Philippines Now

1. Summer Weather in the Philippines Almost All-Year

2. friendly and warm filipinos, 3. budget-friendly destination, 4. philippine beaches and islands, 5. natural wonders unique to the philippines, 6. colorful and fun philippine festivals, 7. delicious filipino cuisine, 8. incredible diving and snorkeling spots, 9. exciting outdoor adventures, 10. encounter wild and rare animals, 11. unique philippine transportation: jeepney, 12. preserved history of the philippines, 13. fun nightlife with filipinos.

Before deciding where to spend your next vacation, be sure to read our top 13 reasons why visit the Philippines. Learn about what makes the Philippines unique and what makes visitors return and explore more of this tropical getaway.

The Philippines  is an archipelago found in Southeast Asia comprised of more than 7,000 islands dotting the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the  geographical features of the Philippines , the country is gifted with stretches of  pristine white sand beaches surrounded by crystal-clear waters.

In fact, several Philippine islands and beaches, like Boracay , Palawan , and Siargao , have been consistently named as the best in the world by major travel publications.

But there’s more to the Philippines than just being an idyllic tropical destination for island-hopping getaways  and  beach adventures .  

• Explore the widest selections of Philippine tours  and best Philippines tour packages for your trip 
• See destinations for solo travel in the Philippines
• Read our article on the best golf courses in the Philippines

The Philippines is also home to world-renowned natural wonders like an underground river and rice terraces, incredible diving spots rich in biodiversity, colorful public transportation in the Philippines , unique cuisine , vibrant festivals that showcase its colorful culture, and friendly locals regarded as some of the happiest in the world.

The country's official tourism slogan is “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” because whatever type of travel adventure you’re looking for, you’re bound to discover a fun experience in the Philippines. Read on to find out why visit the Philippines and why it deserves to be on top of your travel bucket list:

See our popular Best Philippines Itinerary Tour Packages

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If you want to escape winter, a trip to the Philippines is a must. As a tropical country, the Philippines only has two seasons: dry and rainy seasons.

• Check out our  2-week Philippine itinerary packages

The dry season covers November to May, while the rainy season is usually from June until October. It’s still sunny and warm during the rainy months, except when there's a typhoon warning in the area. You can still enjoy outdoor and indoor rainy season activities in the Philippines like surfing, waterfalls tours, river adventures, food tours and more, with cancellations only necessary when there’s a typhoon.

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The warmest months are during the Philippines' summer season, covering March, April, and May. January and February are ideal months for travel as the sun shines on, but the weather is cooler overall. Island and beach destinations in the Philippines, such as Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu , are best enjoyed during the dry season. 

Aside from the Philippines' picturesque spots, the Filipinos' warmth and hospitality is a reason itself for you to visit the country. In fact, the Philippines often rank as the  friendliest country in Asia . The moment your plane lands here, you will be greeted with the genuine and loving smiles of Pinoys. 

• Find unique cultural experiences that you can try in the Philippines

Filipinos are very proud of the beauty of their country and their culture. That’s why when they meet travelers who are visiting the country, the locals will go out of their way to help you experience this. Filipinos acting like tour guides come naturally, from teaching you local words to pointing out the best places to visit or delicacies to try.

Communicating with locals is not a problem. English is one of the Philippines' official languages, and most Filipinos speak and understand it.

• 10 days Philippines itinerary tour packages
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Filipinos are very hospitable too. The concept of the "extended family" is an important aspect of their culture. If you have Filipino friends who invite you to their home, they will treat you like you’re a part of their family. Don't be surprised if they regularly prepare a feast of home-cooked Filipino food for you.

This reason alone will make you feel like the Philippines is your home away from home. Check out this video by the country’s Department of Tourism that showcases the warmth of the Filipino:

See our popular Cebu Vacation Packages

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Cost is one of the major considerations of a traveler. Good thing, traveling in the Philippines is very affordable. For example, there are plenty of day tours that just cost around PHP1000 (USD20).

You will find that there’s a lot of cheap accommodation options for you in the Philippines as well: from dorm-type hostels to bed and breakfast homestays that are both perfect for budget-conscious travelers. For those looking for a better value, resorts also come in a whole spectrum of pricing. Oftentimes,  package deals can be found if you know where to look. You will also have plenty of option when planning a Philippines staycation .

• Check our article on the best private resorts near Manila
• Browse our list of the best pet friendly resorts near Manila
• See our picks of the top affordable resorts near Manila

Food in the Philippines is cheap too. For roughly around PHP100-150(USD2-3), you will find yourself a decent breakfast place that offers classic Filipino food with coffee. The same goes for your lunch and dinner.

See our popular Food Tours

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Even alcohol is cheap, so you can have a fun nightlife while traveling without breaking the bank. Local transportation doesn’t cost much as well, and you might find them a lot cheaper if you’re traveling with a group so that you can divide the costs.

Services, such as spa treatments, haircuts, massages, and fine dining are also relatively cheaper in the Philippines, even those from the top wellness resorts in the Philippines .  Make sure to pack these into your itinerary when visiting.

If you’re lucky, you might have some money left after your trip that you can use to buy unique locally-made souvenirs in the Philippines.

The Philippines consistently tops the best beaches and islands lists in the world by international publications. With over 7,000 islands and white sand beaches that stretch from coast to coast, you can’t deny the fact that the Philippines is gifted with the magic of nature’s wonder. It's no surprise many couples choose to have their honeymoon in the Philippines  for vacation packages for couples  and enjoy island hopping in the Philippines .

• Browse our list of the best beaches in the Philippines

You will not run out of islands to visit in the Philippines. The majority of these best islands in the Philippines are untouched by modernities, offering travelers their much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of life. There are also many beach resorts in the Philippines that will give you the best ocean and sunset views. 

See our popular Philippines Tour Packages

Relaxing 4-day beachfront mithi resort bohol package from manila.

The Philippines is home to the most beautiful islands globally, including Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao. Boracay, one of the best tourist spots in Visayas  and also one of the best places to visit in the Philippines , is home to the White Beach, a long stretch of powdery white sand where you can enjoy water activities including Boracay helmet diving aside from enjoying the sunset views that you can visit by booking Manila to Boracay packages . You will also have plenty of options for 5-star hotels in the Philippines .

• Check Boracay White Beach activities  and Boracay tours for your vacation
• Find hotels and resorts in Boracay

Two towns in Palawan are always included in travelers' must-visit list: El Nido and Coron, both home to pristine islands with majestic towering limestone rock formations that you can visit with El Nido island hopping packages  or El Nido tours  and El Nido tour package and Coron island-hopping trips  included in Coron tour packages .

See our popular Island Hopping Tours

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On the other hand, Siargao, a must-visit Mindanao tourist spot , is fast becoming a hub for surfers and beach lovers and features untouched islands that you can visit by joining a Siargao island-hopping adventure  and booking Siargao tour packages . Aside from surfing in Siargao , it is also a popular destination for workation  or to book  extended stay in hotels .

• Check out our list for the best honeymoon resorts in the Philippines
• Find hotels and resorts in El Nido  and Coron resorts

If you're staying in the Philippine capital of Manila, beaches are around 2 hours away when you go to the beach resorts in Batangas . There are also countless beach resorts near Manila . You can rent a car in Manila for a hassle-free vacation.

The Philippines is blessed with unique natural wonders and these are some of the best places to visit in the Philippines . Be in awe when you do the Puerto Princesa Underground River tour , which will take you to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

It’s the longest navigable underground river globally and is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The Puerto Princesa Underground River features an underground river cave system with impressive stalactites and stalagmites formations and one of the best caves in the Philippines .

• Check other Palawan experiences  aside from the Underground River
• Find resorts and hotels in Puerto Princesa

The Philippines is also home to the Chocolate Hills in Bohol , thousands of hills that look like giant chocolate Kisses (like the chocolate brand). Chocolate Hills in Bohol  actually resulted from coral deposits through rain and erosion. Check out our Bohol hotel and tour package for an all inclusive trip.

• Check out our list of the best farm stay resorts in the Philippines  to experience agritourism in the Philippines

If you want to see the mounds in their brown color, it is best to go on  Chocolate Hills tours  during the dry season of November to May. They turn green during the rainy season of June to October. 

See our popular Bohol Vacation Packages

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• Find other  Bohol activities  that you can add to your itinerary
• Discover hotels and resorts in Bohol

If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to live back when modernization hasn’t taken place in the Philippines yet, a trip to the Cordilleras in North Luzon will give you an idea. You will see the Rice Terraces of the Ifugao, an indigenous group of people living in the Cordillera mountains.

This spectacular mountain landscape with terrace after terrace of man-made rice fields dates back to pre-colonial Philippines and is considered a repository of Philippine culture, tradition, and craftsmanship and is one of the must-visit Luzon tourist spots .

• Explore North Luzon with activities in Benguet

The waterfalls in the Philippines are also an enchanting sight. You can explore some of the Philippines' best waterfalls by joining tours to Kawasan Falls in Cebu, Pagsanjan Falls in Pangasinan, and Bomod-ok Falls in Sagada.

• Find more waterfall excursions for your trip.

Other natural wonders in the Philippines include the Taal Volcano in Batangas, the smallest active volcano globally, and Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City of Albay province , which has the world’s most perfect cone. 

• Plan your trip with this detailed travel guide to the Philippines with a sample itinerary, the best time to go, how to get around, and top things to do.

Filipinos sure know how to throw a street party, and they do it in colors and full costumes. Festivals in the Philippines are some of the most joyous, fun, and loud in Asia. Make sure to have your camera ready to snap the wildest smiles and happy faces.

Festivals (or fiestas ) in the Philippines are either religious, historical, or cultural. Religious festivals honor Roman Catholic figures, historical festivals celebrate significant events, while cultural festivals celebrate a bountiful harvest or promote products. 

One of the religious festivals includes Ati-Atihan Festival celebrated in Kalibo, Aklan, every January in honor of the Santo Niño (Child Jesus). Watch performers with extravagant costumes and celebrate with the locals as they anticipate the parade and go crazy over food stalls and a lot of street dancing.

• Check Aklan tours that you can add to your Ati-Atihan Festival itinerary

Yet another much-awaited festival every January is the  Sinulog Festival in Cebu , also in honor of the Santo Niño, which attracts millions of festival-goers.

The annual Grand Street Parade features street performers doing the Sinulog Festival Dance while clad in colorful costumes. You'll be treated to a fireworks display and get to join street parties that will make you feel like you’re a part of one big community.

• Find Cebu trips and experiences  that you can add to your Sinulog Festival itinerary
• Discover hotels in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu , Mandaue , Cordova , and Talisay

Filipinos’ love for merrymaking is also evident in the Panagbenga Festival, the pride of Baguio City . If you love flowers or gardening, this one is a must-see. Check out our Baguio hotel promo package for the best deal.

See our popular Baguio Vacation Packages

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Panagbenga Festival is an annual flower festival celebrated every February featuring life-sized floats that come in all shapes and sizes, all made with real flowers!

• Check out tours in Baguio  and read up on Baguio tourist spots for your Panagbenga Festival trip.
• Discover hotels in Baguio City

If there’s one thing to describe the Philippines that will set it apart from neighboring Asian countries , it’s being the melting pot of different cultures having been colonized by Spain, the US, and even Japan.

Not only that, the Philippines has deep ties to the Malays and the Chinese. This rich history and diverse cultural influence is evident in Filipino cuisine , which is unique to its neighbors.

• Find Filipino food trips for your vacation in the Philippines

Despite having food that has either taken its roots from another culture or has been recreated to fit the Filipino taste, the Philippines has still successfully carved its own space in the gastronomic scene.

Some most notable Filipino foods include adobo, chicken or pork meat cooked in soy sauce and vinegar, and lechon or roasted whole pig, which the late Anthony Bourdain swore by as the best pig he has ever tried.

There's also balut (duck embryo), a Filipino street food perfect for those who like trying exotic dishes, and halo-halo, a famous summer staple with crushed ice, milk, and sweetened fruits.

Your trip to the Philippines won’t be complete without feasting on fresh (but really affordable!) seafood. If you can’t get enough fresh crabs, shrimps, and other tasty seafood dishes, do a food tour in Roxas City in Capiz, the Philippines' Seafood Capital.

Want to taste the sweetest mangoes? Add a Guimaras Island day exploration  to your itinerary. 

Island-hopping in the Philippines usually includes lunch in one of the islands, served boodle-fight style with freshly-cooked seafood and tasty tropical fruits.

For another culinary destination, join Pampanga trips , the Philippines' Culinary Capital, which is just a few hours away from  Manila . 

• Discover hotels in Pampanga

See our popular Manila Vacation Packages

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Diving spots in the Philippines offer an underwater experience like no other. In 2006, a team of marine conservationists declared the Philippines as the geographic center of marine biodiversity in the world. You will find that the Philippines is more than just its beaches and islands; it’s also a paradise for underwater life.

Palawan is home to Tubbataha Reef diving , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , which boasts more than half of all known corals. Here you will find yourself swimming with turtles, black and white-tip reef sharks, and manta rays, among others, and admiring the beautiful corals under the water.

• Check diving tours in the Philippines . including learn to dive and fun dive  for certified drivers
• Read our guide on diving in Coron

Cebu prides itself on diving spots that are at par with the world’s best. You can visit Cebu's  Moalboal sardine run , where you can do the sardine run experience  and swim with millions of sardines.

See our popular Philippine Scuba Diving Packages & Courses

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Another renowned diving spot in Cebu is diving in Malapascua , where thresher sharks are more commonly seen. Other species you’re sure to see in Cebu diving spots are lionfish, batfish, tunas, and many more when you book a Cebu tour package .

Also located in Visayas is the diving spot called Apo Island Dumaguete  where you can swim with giant sea turtles.

Another worth checking out is the diving package in Anilao , Batangas, only hours away from Manila. Diving in Anilao is perfect for travelers who have limited time to explore diving spots in other islands or provinces and are looking for scuba diving holidays for beginners . Another spot near Manila is diving in Puerto Galera  located in Mindoro. Puerto Galera diving spots are known for incredible marine life because of its location in the heart of the Coral Triangle.

The Philippines has a wide range of picturesque mountains and trails for hiking adventures  that you can choose from, and they all come in different sizes. So whether you’re a beginner or a pro,  hiking in the Philippines will be a great adventure for you. One thing is sure, you will be rewarded with beautiful sceneries, may it be a sea of clouds, picturesque landscapes, or even majestic waterfalls.

• Read our article on travel insurance in the Philippines

Some of the must-try hiking tours include the Mount Pulag hike in North Luzon, Mount Pinatubo day hike in Tarlac with 4x4 trail ride, Mount Pico de Loro hiking tour in Batangas, and the highest in the country, Mount Apo in Davao .

Wherever you are in the country, there is surely at least one mountain to hike.

The country also doesn’t run out of exciting and adrenaline-pumping watersports that are also the best places in the Philippines for family vacation . Join the fun canyoneering in Cebu , white water rafting tour in Cagayan de Oro , and parasailing in Boracay .

• Cagayan de Oro whitewater rafting package
• Cagayan de Oro city tour
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• Cagayan De Oro Sinulom Falls & Bolao Cold Spring tour
• Book a  Cagayan de Oro airport transfer

There’s absolutely no reason for you to stay indoors and not enjoy these activities outside when in the Philippines. Even more perfect is if you get to share the thrill with your friends or fellow travelers. 

If you’re an advocate of ecotourism, the Philippines offers experiences tailored to fit just for you. You can avail yourself of eco-friendly tours in  Batanes , Bohol, Palawan, Camiguin , and Cebu.

See our popular Siargao Vacation Packages

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The Philippines is rich in biodiversity and is home to many unique animals. One of these is the Philippine tarsier, which is one of the smallest primates in the world. These nocturnal creatures have distinct big eyes and can be found in Bohol province. You can also visit the Abatan River in Bohol, which is home to some of the rarest fireflies in the Philippines and in the world.

The Philippines is also rich in marine biodiversity, which makes it one of the best diving destinations in the world. The sardine run in Moalboal and diving with thresher sharks in Malapascua are some underwater experiences you can book.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience is swimming with whale sharks (locally known as butandings). Oslob in Cebu province and Donsol in Bicol province are destinations known for this experience. It's best to experience them in their natural migratory route, where you can see and swim with them at a safe distance to reduce the stress to these giant gentle creatures.

See our popular Whale Shark Tours

Another beautiful creature not to miss when visiting the Philippines is the majestic Philippine Eagle, its national bird.

It’s one of the largest and rarest eagles, and you can visit them Davao’s Philippine Eagle Center when you join a Davao City trip , a must-add to a Davao itinerary .

• Find hotels in Davao

Once you arrive in Philippine airports , you’ll notice colorful vehicles plying Manila's roads and other busy centers in the country. These are called jeepneys or jeep and are unique to the Philippines as one of the main local public transportation. The fare is quite cheap too.

Riding a jeepney is considered by many travelers as a must-do when in the Philippines because of the local and cultural immersion. 

Jeepneys are usually painted in loud colors, with their route plastered in front of it. Take note of local words like “para” (stop) and “bayad po” (here’s my payment) if you’re riding a jeepney.

The Filipinos’ culture of being helpful is also reflected as they help one another transfer payment to the driver, especially if you’re seated right at the door of the jeep.

Another interesting transportation mode is the Philippines’ version of a motorized rickshaw known as the tricycle or trike. This is similar to Thailand’s tuk-tuk, only it is a motorbike with a sidecar attached to it.

There’s another version of the tricycle which uses a bicycle; the locals call it pedicab. These two vehicles are meant for shorter drives and are usually found in provinces with narrow roads and fewer jeepneys.

Make sure to take a photo of yourself as you experience these unique transport vehicles because no trip to the Philippines is complete without riding like a local. Some places in the Philippines are best explored through  tricycle transport tours for a more rugged travel experience. 

The best way to get to know one place is to understand its history, and the Philippines has its fair share of stories as it played many roles in the history of the world.

Learn about the Philippines’  historical and heritage tours and experiences from the precolonial period to the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupations to find out about the events that shaped the country into what it is today. 

See our popular History Tours

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The Walled City, Intramuros, is a gem situated right at the heart of the Philippines' capital — Manila. It was built starting in 1521 and was the seat of power in the Philippines during the Spanish era and houses some of the most important architectural landmarks in the Philippines .

As you walk around Intramuros, you will see the proof of Filipino resilience embedded in each ruin.

Ride around Intramuros on a bamboo bike ride with a guide  or a horse-drawn carriage tour , and you will find some of the best repositories of the past, including two of the oldest churches in the Philippines: San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral.

One of the best Intramuros escapades  is a trip to Fort Santiago in Manila, a magnificent Hispanic stone fortress that houses Philippines museums .

See our popular Intramuros Tours

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Another must-see is the Rizal Shrine, which pays tribute to the Philippines’ national hero from the Spanish era, Jose Rizal.

Nearby is the oldest Chinatown in the world, Binondo, where you can do a  Binondo day trip  and feast on tasty Chinese dishes. 

• Learn about the Philippines’ history when in Manila with tours to the National Museum Complex
• Find hotels in Manila 

Another must-try for history buffs is a tour of Corregidor Island, where you will find ruined buildings and tunnels, all reflections of the past, including the tragic Bataan Death March during the American-Japanese War.

For a more vibrant experience, join Calle Crisologo trips located at the New7Wonders Cities of Vigan , Ilocos Sur, with well-preserved Spanish-era cobble-stone streets and houses.  Check out our guide on how to create an Ilocos itinerary to explore more of this region. 

See our popular Vigan Tours and Activities

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If you are interested in digging deeper into Philippine history beyond the colonial era, joining the  Tabon Cave exploration  in Palawan is necessary. It’s known as the Cradle of Philippine Civilization because of the significant archaeological artifacts found here. 

As one of the happiest people globally , Filipinos know how to throw the best parties, be it in the city or the pristine white sand beaches and islands.

Want a beach party under the stars? Head over to the island of Boracay, where you can do a pub crawl or enjoy the famed Boracay nightlife . Do you like partying while overlooking the city scrapers? Check out the bars in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.

Are you more into hip speakeasies and laid-back bars? Visit Poblacion, Makati’s strip of nightclubs and bars. Whether you like your parties loud or low-key, Filipinos sure know how to do it.

• Discover hotels in Makati  and Taguig
• Read up on things to do in Makati

Discover for Yourself Why It’s More Fun in the Philippines

The Philippines as a travel destination isn’t just about its beautiful beaches and islands. It marries everything a traveler is looking for: culture, history, natural landscape, and most importantly, people. You will not run out of things to do, and you will not get tired of exploring something new.

Wherever you go, no matter how long you’ve got, the Philippines has a lot to offer, and you won’t even have to spend that much. As long as you know where to go and how to live like a local, it will feel like home. Read our article on the best cars to rent for a road trip in the Philippines if you want to explore on your own. 

Don’t think twice about whether it’s worth booking a trip to the Philippines: it surely is, and you will most likely find yourself looking forward to your next trip here again.

Start planning your trip, check out the best Philippines tours packages , and read up on Philippine travel guides for the best adventure you’ll ever have. If you want to indulge during your trip, book a stay at one of the luxury hotels in the Philippines  or try glamping in the Philippines .

Book the best  Philippines guided tours  with Guide to the Philippines, the leading  Philippines travel agency  and travel booking website  for hassle-free  online trip booking  services. Check out our  best Philippines tour packages ,  Philippines vacation packages all inclusive , and  honeymoon package  to top destinations like Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and more top tourist destination in the Philippines and find out why visit the Philippines is a must, especially for beach lovers. 

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Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #5: Beauty

New Mandala - 28 Sep, 2018

NC: Joining us here at the headquarters of New Mandala at the ANU is Yves Aquino . So, Yves is a physician and a bioethicist currently based at the Philosophy Department of Macquarie University in Sydney. His work examines the ethics of surgical modifications among Asian women. And somehow, I managed to persuade him to swing by the capital to join us for a half hour conversation about beauty. So, Yves, welcome to Canberra.

Yves Aquino (YA): Thank you, Nicole for inviting me here. I’m so happy to be here.

NC: Alright. So, the stereotype we’re unpacking today is this: in the Philippines, to be beautiful is to look like Pia Wurtzbach . Now, for the uninitiated in the Philippine cultural landscape, Pia Wurtzbach is the winner of Miss Universe in 2015 for the Philippines. So, she is 5 feet 7 inches tall, has brown eyes, straight black hair, she has toned arms and a flat belly, she’s young, has perfect skin, perfect teeth, and she’s biracial. Her father is German and her mother is Filipina. And there’s an impression that to be beautiful in the Philippines means to look like her. So, Yves, does this make sense?

YA: That’s a very topical question. But whether she represents the ideal Filipino beauty, I think it’s a yes and no. Or at least not necessarily because we have to—if we want to understand Filipino beauty, we have to sort of review our historical—sort of our cultural history and geography. We are a post multi-colonial country with several invaders and probably we will have another one in the next few years. (laughs)

NC: (laughs)

YA: We also have migration of Chinese, Indians, and Arabs in the past, meaning we are a multi-ethnic group. We are also an archipelago, which creates physical, cultural, and linguistic borders within our own country. So, it means we have a broad range of what it means to be beautiful. But is she beautiful based on Filipino standards? I think definitely yes. And in a way, being a mixed race means she has, as we say, the Goldilocks of ethnic features. She does not look too Chinese or too Malay or native, she does not look too white, so she is just right. She’s somewhere in the middle at least in terms of skin tone and facial features. And I’m not sure if you remember, we have the  Alamat of the Kayumanggi  or the Legend of the Brown Skin. In that story, back in the day, we were—as kids, we were taught that when God was creating humans, the first batch was unsuccessful. It was uncooked. We call it in Tagalog  hilaw.  And that’s the white people.

NC: Because it’s pale.

YA: Yes. And then the second batch also did not work. It was overcooked or burnt. In Tagalog, we call it  sunog.  And that’s the black people. And then the third batch became successful. It’s what we call  katamtaman  or just right. So, those are the brown skinned people or the  kayumanggi.  And in a way, it’s sort of reflecting a colour pride to go against the colonial mentality that white is beautiful.

NC: Or racial superiority?

YA: In a way it is racial superiority as well.

NC: Because I remember this story in preschool. This is what they ingrained to younger kids saying that you have to be proud of your skin tone forgetting that the range of Philippine skin tones vary.

YA: Yeah, exactly. And of course, we have—as I’ve said—because as an archipelago, we have different skin tones for different regions as well. So, we have to take that into consideration. And third, she is beautiful insofar as beauty pageants are concerned. I think Filipinos are great in terms of categorising beauty. So, you have beautiful for marriage, you have beautiful for employment, you have beautiful for TV and film, acting, and you have beautiful for beauty pageants.

NC: Oh my god! Let’s unpack that. What does that mean?

YA: So, she’s beautiful because she’s quite tall. She is meant for beauty pageants and that’s what she represents. And in the Philippines, I think people sort of venerate and revere that kind of beauty, not necessarily envying it. Not a lot of people who find her beautiful want to be her. A lot of people, gay men and women look up to her as if she’s a goddess.

YA: Unreachable, but beautiful.

NC: I think that’s interesting because in the previous podcast, we had Hannah Bulloch on the program and she’s an anthropologist and one of her—or part of her work talks about colonial mentality when it comes to the Filipino concept of identity and one of her arguments is how American lifestyles embodies, serve as reference points for ideals of affluence and beauty. Does that still hold? The American standard of beauty? The colonial mentality we get from—colonial tradition has become the standard for what beautiful looks like.

YA: That makes a lot of sense because it’s a combination of race and class superiority. If—as you’re familiar, when it comes to colonialism, a lot of times, the colonisers reinforce existing hierarchies. So, even before Spanish and American colonisation, we already have social hierarchies. We have the  maharlika , the elites. And we have the working class,  payak . And then you have the  alipins , the slaves. And a lot of times, they are judged based on their skin colour. And so, when it comes to whiteness, it’s not just about Western features, it’s also about elite features. For the elite, they stay at home. They don’t till the lands, they don’t go fishing so, they don’t get dark skin tone. So, in a way, it’s a combination of both. Being white means being rich and being white also means being Americanised.

NC: And of course, I want to unpack the concept of biracial beauty. I remember in the Philippine pop culture scene, there has been a lot of debate about why can’t the Philippines claim space globally featuring the “real” Filipinos. And I’m doing air quotes here. The “real” Filipinos. And I remember when it comes to football, players like Phil and James Younghusband, who are also biracial, half British, half Filipino, are being criticised for not being “real” Filipinos. Or I think in the context of Australia, there has been an SBS feature about the most popular Australian you’ve never heard of which is—who’s Anne Curtis who has a million [9.7 million] followers on Instagram. So, I guess there’s this anxiety or tension within discussions in the Philippines of who are “real” Filipino looks like. So, how does your work speak to that?

YA: It’s entanglement of a lot of issues because especially when it comes to Filipino pride, it’s quite selective. So, for as long as something is positive, any amount of Filipino blood will be claimed by Filipinos. But we have to understand that Filipinos is also a heterogeneous population. Some would immediately sort of latch on to the Filipino-ness of some international celebrities but others would claim that they are not authentic Filipinos. So, there’s a combination of that. But a lot of these issues is really based on appearances, isn’t it? A lot of Filipino celebrities who are well-known worldwide who are not considered as beautiful, a lot of them are popular because of their talents. So, you have Manny Pacquiao, you have Lea Salonga, who I find very beautiful but she is far known more as a singer than obviously as a beauty contestant. She was never a beauty contestant. But in other cases, like Anne Curtis, for example, or the Azkal boys, it’s because of their appearance that they are being criticised. They are beautiful but they are not necessarily pure Filipinos. So, there’s a tension. Yes, we want them to sort of claim they’re being a Filipino but at the same time, we hold ourselves back because they don’t look like the rest of us.

NC: And how does this speak to the broader of Southeast and East Asia? You’ve examined notions of beauty in these contexts as well.

YA: So, there’s a shared sort of preference for whiteness that Filipinos sort of share with East Asia and Southeast Asia. And that’s still quite dominant. So, as I’ve said, it’s a combination of sort of class issue and sort of Western feature issue and Philippines is part of that sort of sphere.

NC: And does the colonial tradition have anything to do with it? Or has it been evolving a lot when it comes to the more mainstream Hollywood cultures?

YA: It’s a combination of both. This interesting thing about Filipinos—or at least the Philippines in comparison to say, South Korea, which was never colonised. It’s hard to distinguish them at this point because as you’ve said, the importation of Hollywood ideals of beauty is so dominating that we don’t know if it’s a factor of us just being part of the modern globalised industry or is it because of our history of being colonised? So, I think it’s a combination of both.

NC: Yes, rather iterative.

NC: And of course, there’s a political economy argument to be made here. And I’m sure you notice this that every time we go home to Manila, we see a lot of billboards that advertise laser liposuction for the arms,  Thermage  treatment to chisel the jaws, skin whitening, and even vaginal reconstruction. And advertisement is right there, a billboard is right there in one of the biggest highways in the Philippines. So, how big is the beauty and cosmetic industry in the Philippines?

YA: I don’t have the exact numbers but based on conversations with my colleagues in plastic surgery, it’s definitely growing. But we also have to thank, I guess  Dr. Vicki Belo   for allowing cosmetic surgery and cosmetic procedures to not only enter the mainstream, but to be visible. Because back in the day, there is a lot of stigma when it comes to plastic surgery. People don’t want to admit it, people don’t want any obvious, visible markers of surgery. But now, I think people are more open to discussing it. A lot of—I think a few celebrities have come out in admitting that they’ve had surgeries done on their faces or other body parts.

NC: Right. Of course, you are a physician yourself and you’re very much embedded in the medical community in the Philippines. And what you’re telling me is this: the rise of celebrity doctors really mainstreamed cosmetic surgery in the Philippines. So, it is really kind of a turning point when it comes to this industry. Would you call it an industry?

YA: It is an industry. But it’s also its own monster. Because any cosmetic service provider that advertises, they’re not usually part of the medical community or the medical specialty that they’re claiming to be. So, Dr. Vicki Belo is not part of the  Philippine Dermatological Society or Philippine Plastic Surgery Society [ Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons, Inc. ] because any member of those societies are not allowed to advertise. But as long as you are a doctor and you want to claim to be a cosmetic surgeon, no one is stopping you. So, we have to make a distinction and I don’t want to sort of betray my medical profession for that.

NC: Of course. And I think this is where your bioethics voice is very important. I read your piece published in the  Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics Journal  where you argued that surgical modifications, particularly “big eye” surgery among Asian women is pitched as a remedy to pathologise Asian features. So, if I may pull a quote from your article, you argued that “the combination of medical jargon and aesthetic references, employed by cosmetic surgeons have the tendency to conflate beauty and health” (p. 218). So, what does that mean?

YA: In my research, I make a distinction when it comes to forms of conflation. The first one is conflation based on the concepts. So, it’s a conceptual conflation when we use medical language to describe beauty concerns. In my Master of Research thesis, I did a text analysis of cosmetic surgery websites in Australia and South Korea. And what I found was the use of disabling language like deficiency, deformity, lack, excess. All those words that you actually find in describing pathological conditions in a lot of medical textbooks. So, that’s one at least on the conceptual level. Usually, in terms of Asian cosmetic surgery or Asian eyes, a lot of surgeons in websites describe Asian eyes as lacking of folds or sub-optimal or aesthetically deviant. So, it sounds scientific, objective, and to some extent, medical as well. The other type of conflation is more practical. So, that’s when you offer diagnostic evaluation that you usually use for medical conditions. It’s like using X-ray, using computers and algorithms to measure, you know, different proportions of the face. And the second part of that practical conflation is offering medical intervention as if they are “corrective” or restorative. So, in a way, that contributes to the idea that ugliness or sort of racial features are like deformities associated with injuries, disorders, or other kinds of diseases.

In terms of the second question, I think in the Philippines, we are still not as explicit. It’s not as similar to the medical framing that you find in the US, Australia, or even South Korea, where surgeries are extremely popular. I think our notion of beauty and ugliness in the Philippines are still more entangled with other social factors such as class and socioeconomic status, urban versus rural origins, and being a mixed race. So, if you look at skin whitening as an example, which is really popular in the Philippines, the way it’s marketed is not really about looking healthy. A couple of years ago, GlutaMax, it’s a very popular skin whitening product, had this marketing slogan that says Kutis Mayaman or the skin of the wealthy or the rich. It features the photo of Gretchen Barretto, a popular Filipina actress. And there were posters of that, a lot of those posters in the Philippines. I think in the Philippines, being a developing country, health still does not have a strong currency when it comes to beauty as much as it does in developed countries. So, as of the moment, marketing cosmetic procedures does not have to rely on it. The value of physical appearance based on relational and socioeconomic benefits, I think that’s enough to sell these services.

NC: But is there pushback as well? Because I think in the same way that Hollywood is trying to pluralise its concept of beauty, we’ve seen Vogue and Vanity Fair covers that feature different kinds of women from different kinds of backgrounds. Do we see a similar pushback in the Philippines?

YA: I think so. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the scandal of a new telenovela in the Philippines.

NC: Right. Bagani .

YA: Bagani. So, that one, they tried to put on darker skin tone on the actors and a lot of Filipinos pushed back against that, saying that it just showed how a lot of our actors are still fair-skinned to the point that none of the actors that we have as of the moment can authentically portray a dark-skinned indigenous population. So, I think a lot of people are growing and stating that we should have more democratised notions of what is beautiful.

NC: And of course, we couldn’t possibly talk about notions of beauty without putting a gendered aspect here. And so far, I’m assuming that people who are prone to these stereotypes and pressures to look a certain way are women. And do you see similar patterns when it comes to men? Are there emerging cultural patterns that pressure men to look a certain way or conform to a particular standard of beauty as well?

YA: I think there is. Based on the recent survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery , there is a growing number of male patients undergoing cosmetic surgery. But make no mistake, women are still 85% of consumers for cosmetic surgery. So, let’s not make the claim that it’s being democratised because it still disproportionately affects or involves women. But there is a growing number of procedures for men like hair replacement for baldness, penis enlargement, and also surgeries for gynecomastia. But what’s interesting is that a lot of feminists working in bioethics and cosmetic surgery find that a lot of male procedures are more accepted as medical procedures. They feel that appearance concerns of men are much more organic than women. Which is fairly interesting and it’s quite consistent with how—with the uneasy relationship of medicine and the female body.

NC: Can you unpack that a bit? Why is there an uneasy relationship?

YA: So, when it comes to hair loss, I think society is quick to accept that hair loss is not merely an aesthetic concern, that it also has to do with testosterone and biochemical factors. So, it sounds much more organic as opposed to female concerns about their nose or their breasts or their vagina. It sounds like society still deems that as purely about vanity. So, when I say medicine has an uneasy relationship with the female body, there’s a longstanding history in medicine where it’s the male body that is deemed as the normal body and the female body is a sort of deviance. The female body’s a failed body of a man. So, when you talk about vagina, it’s an organ that failed to develop as a penis. So, there’s that sort of problematic history when it comes to medical view of—medicine’s view of the female body. Which is interesting it’s being reflected in cosmetic surgery.

NC: Right, of course. And I think we also discussed earlier, or we touched on briefly earlier about the competing notions of beauty in the region and we also looked at East Asia when it comes to this. I’m particularly curious about the concept of the eye. Why of all features of the body is the eye considered most problematic or contentious especially in East Asia?

YA: Firstly, I think the general notion that the eyes are the windows to the soul still holds true. (laughs)

NC: Is that a medical claim? (laughs)

YA: I think it’s influential because when people talk to each other, eye contact is really important. But more importantly, it’s the eyes that are still the main subject of ridicule. So, a lot of Asians living in Western countries, they are called names such as chinky eyes or slanty eyes and people who are mocking them pull their eyes to the side to sort of mimic that Asian feature. So, in a way, because it’s a point of ridicule, it’s much easier for cosmetic surgeons to justify that, “See, there is an emotional suffering and emotional pain associated with this Asian feature. We have to do something about it. Let us offer surgical procedure to sort of relieve the suffering.” Whether or not that’s true, it’s still obviously up for debate.

NC: I read this in American Asian Studies on how the stereotype on the other hand for East Asians would they are the successful, good migrants who do well in school. So, in a way, there’s one stereotype of the good student who has oriental features versus the beautiful student who—that are very different things. Either you’re smart or your beautiful. So, does that stereotype still hold true today? Especially for diasporic communities in Western contexts?

YA: I think it’s different when it comes to the experiences of Asian women and Asian men. So, when it comes to Asian women, a lot of times they oscillate between exoticised and being deemed unattractive. So, being exoticised in the sense that they’re seen as beautiful in a very specific ethnic context. But when it comes to the stereotype of being successful, I think in a way that works for them, especially when it comes to corporate jobs where appearance can only be an advantage to some extent. You can’t be too beautiful. You can’t be distractingly beautiful. So, because they can be viewed as unattractive to some extent, that works to their advantage. I think it might be worse for men in some sense because Asian men are historically viewed as emasculated or asexual. So, they’re not masculine because of their fine features and a lot of times, even the eyes, it’s associated with being passive, with being at some point intellectually inferior. Because people say having a flat face looks like something who is not emotional. It does not register the kind of, you know, joy that you see in a lot of Western faces.

NC: Which sort of literature reinforce that? So, aside from fashion magazines of course.

YA: It has been studied in sociological research in the US and Australia. There’s this publication by Eugenia Kaw in the US, I think that was published in 1996 [1993], that looked into how cosmetic surgeons in the US justify surgical procedures for Asians. And that’s one of the claims. It’s that the Asian face appears to have this sort of association with behavioural and intellectual deviance.

NC: Yes. And of course, we started the podcast by talking about Pia Wurtzbach. So, I would be remiss not to raise the issue of beauty pageants and how the Philippines has always seen beauty pageants as a point of pride. And in a way, this is where the argument that the Philippines is more comparable to its Latin American neighbours rather than its Southeast Asian neighbours. Because we are neighbours to Latin America culturally albeit not geographically and perhaps the colonial tradition has something to do with it. So, what are your thoughts? Why are the beauty pageants such a big deal in the Philippines and why was it such as big deal that Thailand suddenly breaking in the scene as well?

YA: I think in the Philippines, we have a very uneasy relationship with physical appearance. I think we have to take into consideration that we are predominantly Catholic. So, bodily exposure has to be taken in a very specific context and beauty pageantry allows for a legitimate and sort of official venue for us to celebrate the body and you have the gown competition, you have the bathing suit competition, and you also have the question and answer. So, in a way, it’s a venue that allows us to celebrate beauty and physical attractiveness without the shame that we usually attach to it. So, that’s why it’s a big thing for us. But with the Thailand, I don’t think I have any specific opinion on that but it’s just unusual because—but it’s also surprising why—I think it’s highly overdue because in terms of cosmetic surgery, Thailand is still like one of the capitals in Southeast Asia.

NC: For medical tourism.

YA: Yeah, for medical tourism. So, I think it’s long overdue that they are breaking into the international beauty pageantry.

NC: And from the philosophy of ethics perspective, how can we judge beauty pageants? Because of course, there’s this standard feminist argument on how this reduces women to a meat market of bodies that are being judged. But of course, there’s this counter narrative, like what you mentioned, it’s a celebration of female body and sexuality and we should just stop being prudes about it. So, what are your thoughts on this from the ethics perspective?

YA: From the ethics perspective, I think in the Philippines, it’s not as apparent but if you look at Latin America, including Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, because of beauty pageantry, it increases the popularity—not even popularity, but the need for cosmetic surgery. Because for a lot of Latin American countries, which are still developing countries, a lot of times, beauty pageantry is the way out. It’s the way for economic success. So, for these countries more and more, beauty is being associated with health. It’s being associated with well-being. I think we are still far from this but in Latin American countries, they are viewing beauty pageant contestants as not only the ideal but the norm of beauty. So, even if you don’t want to enter contestants, it sometimes feels like you have to conform to those standards and it increases the burden for a lot of individuals to align with these standards which obviously increases the need for cosmetic surgery. So more and more, I think we are collapsing the distinction between what is necessary surgery and what is aesthetic surgery or surgery for the purposes of vanity.

NC: And part of it is also normalising surgery, cosmetic surgery for everyday Filipinos. Are there other stereotypes you wish to critically examine?

YA: I think I want to go back to that bit where we talked about us being predominantly Catholic. A lot of times, when people discuss beauty, it’s usually about race or about gender. But I think we have to take into consideration us being predominantly Catholic and the notion that I think a lot of Filipinos still hold the—or still suffer from the Madonna/Whore complex .

NC: Can you explain that?

YA: So, Madonna/Whore complex is this notion that there’s a specific kind of attractiveness that is appropriate for marriage and there’s one that is appropriate for sexuality. So, there’s the sexual beauty versus the virginal beauty. And that’s why I think a lot of Filipinos can categorise what kind of beauty they want to marry in and what kind of beauty they just want to view from afar, or they want to view from TV. And I think because of how—because of the shame that we sort of inherited from our Catholic tradition.

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NC: And I think what I’m getting from you here is that you’re challenging, in a way, this notion that the concept of beauty is just imposed on people and people uncritically accept that standard of beauty. It’s very Frankfurt School in a way that we are conditioned to all want to look like Pia Wurtzbach or whichever kind of celebrity there is. What I’m getting from you is there are different contexts, have different demands on the particular sorts of appearances that legitimise your status in a particular community.

YA: That’s right. I think you have to give credit to Filipinos as well as thinking beings. That they do manage to idolise certain beauty without necessary being bogged down by it. A lot of Filipinos still have to live the day to day life. They have to work, they have to deal with the traffic, they have to deal with relationships, and they’re not always preoccupied with thinking with beauty.

NC: And I guess the same is true when we talk about expectations with women. As you mentioned earlier, there is expectation of the decent woman, the kind of woman that can marry into a decent family. So, those traditional structures are very much present but on the other hand, there is also a space to something more experimental like in the arts and culture, where women can express sexualities in different ways. Are we headed towards that direction? Especially—sorry, I have to bring it up—especially in a context of a sexist president. Where does this leave the politics of appearances in what seems to be an openly misogynistic society?

YA: The thing about misogynism in the Philippines, discounting our current president, it’s a bit tricky. It’s hidden in a lot of ways. It’s not as apparent as it is in Western Countries because female opportunities are quite present when it comes to education, when it comes to employment, even when it comes to politics. We have a lot of female politicians. So, the misogyny is not as direct. So, in a way, women are allowed to be beautiful, are allowed to be sexual to some extent. But I think it’s changing because obviously because of internet. And a lot of people are travelling outside the country more and more, bringing with them the cultural and the aesthetic ideals they encounter in different countries. And I think with the importation of films not only from the West but also from Asia, we have a lot of Korean telenovelas. Now, we have Chinese media coming in as well. So, I think it’s expanding, our notion of beautiful, our notion of ways to express what it means to be beautiful in the Philippines. So, I think we are in a constant flux.

NC: Right. And I think that’s worth celebrating to a certain extent. Well, we’ve come to the end of the program. I guess in summary, Yves, can you help us make sense of this statement: In the Philippines, to be beautiful is to look like Pia Wurtzbach. To what extent does that statement make sense?

YA: I think it means that for Filipinos, our beauty ideal is both outwards and outward-looking. That is, we focus on the superficial and we constantly seek external, even international validation.

NC: Alright. Well, thank you for joining us, Yves! And thanks to all our listeners for tuning in the first season of our podcast. Till next time.

Philippines beyond Cliches

Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #4: America and development

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Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #3: Tough on crime

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Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #2: Dynasties

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Essay on Philippine Culture

Students are often asked to write an essay on Philippine Culture in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Philippine Culture

Introduction.

Philippine culture is rich and diverse. It is a mix of various influences from its history. This makes it unique and interesting. The culture includes traditions, languages, festivals, and art forms.

Traditions and Customs

Languages and dialects.

The Philippines has many languages. Filipino and English are the main ones. There are also over 170 dialects. This shows the country’s diversity.

Festivals and Celebrations

Festivals are a big part of Philippine culture. They are colorful and fun. Each festival has a story behind it. This makes them special and meaningful.

Arts and Crafts

Philippine culture is a blend of many influences. It is unique and diverse. It is a culture that values respect, hospitality, and creativity. It is a culture to be proud of.

250 Words Essay on Philippine Culture

Introduction to philippine culture.

The Philippines is a beautiful island country in Southeast Asia. It is known for its rich culture that is a mix of many influences. These influences come from its history, people, and its location in the world.

Historical Influence

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years. This Spanish rule has left a big mark on the country’s culture. Many Filipinos have Spanish names, and the country’s main religion is Roman Catholicism. This shows the strong Spanish influence.

People and Traditions

The people of the Philippines, called Filipinos, are known for their friendliness. They love to celebrate and have many festivals throughout the year. These festivals are filled with music, dance, and colorful costumes. They also have a tradition called “Bayanihan”. This is where everyone in a community helps each other. It shows the strong sense of community in Filipino culture.

Food in the Philippines

Filipino food is a big part of their culture. It is a blend of many different styles, like Spanish, Chinese, and native Filipino. Rice is a staple food, eaten at almost every meal. Adobo, a dish made from meat, vinegar, and soy sauce, is a popular Filipino dish.

Philippine Art

In conclusion, the culture of the Philippines is a rich mix of history, people, and traditions. It is a culture that values community, celebration, and art.

500 Words Essay on Philippine Culture

Philippine culture is a beautiful mix of different influences from its history. It is unique and rich because of the combination of Eastern and Western cultures. This essay will explain the culture of the Philippines in a simple way.

The Philippines has over 170 languages, but Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are the official languages. This means that most people in the Philippines speak at least two languages. This is a big part of their culture because it shows how they can adapt to different languages and still keep their own.

Family Values

Festivals, or “fiestas”, play a big role in the culture of the Philippines. There are lots of fiestas all year round. They have these to honor their local saints, to give thanks for a good harvest, or to celebrate history. During a fiesta, there is often music, dancing, and lots of food. The “Sinulog” and “Ati-Atihan” are two of the most popular festivals.

Arts and crafts are also a part of the culture of the Philippines. Filipinos are known for their weaving, pottery, and jewelry-making. They use local materials like bamboo, rattan, and shells. They also have unique dances, songs, and stories that they pass down from generation to generation.

Philippine culture is a wonderful mix of different influences. It is rich in traditions, languages, foods, and arts. Even with all the changes over the years, Filipinos have kept their unique culture alive. They are proud of their history and traditions, and they continue to share them with the world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Philippines - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse ecosystems, and complex history. Essays on the Philippines might delve into its colonial past, its struggle for independence, or its contemporary socio-political and economic challenges. Discussions might also explore the cultural traditions, the Filipino diaspora, or the environmental issues facing the Philippines. Comparative analyses of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries or exploring the impact of globalization on Filipino society can provide a comprehensive exploration of this vibrant and multifaceted nation. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Philippines you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Economic and Cultural Transformation as a Result of Globalization in the Philippines

Globalization is associated with not only advancements in communication and ever-expanding trade routes but also transformation in political systems and the enhancement or destruction of cultural heritage (Block, 2004; Lieber & Weisberg, 2002). Indeed, it is apparent that globalization in developing countries has a significant impact on political, economic, and cultural aspects. Globalization arises from several factors which may include colonialism (Korobeynikova, 2016). The expansion in power and territory that is characteristic of colonialism may promote communication and technological advancements, […]

Human Trafficking in the Philippines

What if you were given the most appealing chance to escape poverty and took it, just to find out your efforts landed you into the hands of human traffickers? Human trafficking is a large issue dealt with by countries all over the world, including the Philippines, a tier 1 country that is actively changing their methods of the battle against it. For example, one instance of this took place in 2003 where the country passed the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, […]

Globalization and its Impact on Popular Culture

Humans have been interacting with one another from the beginning of time. Communicating, trading, and making war, our relationship to one another has never been one of isolation. Centuries of progressing technology have given rise to a massive network of exchange, inciting interactions which have influenced every aspect of life for people today. It is easy to overlook Globalization’s impacts. Easy to forget that we go through life surrounded and shaped by the ideals and inventions of others. Globalization has […]

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Plastic Pollution in the Philippines

The top countries that dispose of the most plastic are all in Asia the Philippines is the third. What is the problem, the Philippines are using too many plastic objects. Who has the pollution affected humans, food sources including, land animals, crops, and wildlife? Solutions what can the Philippines do to help the water pollution and save their and our world. What is the problem? “The Philippines generates 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and 20 percent – or […]

American Rule in the Philippines and Racism

During our almost 50 years of control in the Philippines, many of our law makers and leaders were fueled by debates at home, and also our presence overseas. These two perspectives gave a lot of controversy as to how Americans were taking control, and confusion of what they were actually doing in the Philippines. Many leaders drew from Anglo- Saxon beliefs, which lead to racist ideas and laws. These combined proved unfair treatment of the Filipinos and large amounts of […]

The Ilustrados and their Contribution to Philippine Nationalism

The Filipinos at the time of 19th century has been the victim of too much social construction and terrific grind division by the Spanish authorities. In the 19th century, the Spaniards had dominated moreover controlled Filipino people. The Filipinos turned out to be a servant or a mercenary to the Spaniard. They took their taxes and they were working in accordance with their command. Those Spanish authorities and officials transferred to different location so the necessities and demands of the […]

How the Philippines Faced Poverty

According to survey conducted by SWS on December 13-16, 2019 which around 13.1 million Filipino families experienced poverty from the last quarter of the year and considered this as the highest self-rated poverty recorded in five years (CNN Philippines, 2020). Poverty is defined as the shortage of income and this issue is all around the world especially in the global south. The definition of poverty in the Philippines can be based on Section 3 of Republic Act 8425 which states […]

The Linguistic Landscape of the Philippines: Understanding Filipino Language Diversity

The Republic of the Philippines, located in Southeast Asia across an extensive archipelago consisting of more than 7,000 unique islands, possesses a distinctive and noteworthy attribute in the shape of an extensive lexicon. The linguistic terrain of the Philippines provides significant linguistic insights into the country's complex historical development, which has been marked by the profound impact of numerous colonizers and civilizations from around the world. This academic article undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the indigenous languages spoken in the […]

American Expansion and Imperialism Essay

Across all of time, imperialism and expansion from country to country has been widespread. From the Holy Roman empire, to the expansion of Germany in World War II, expansion has been a common occurrence in history for hundreds of years. However, some question the morality of expansion. Isn’t it better to just leave countries alone? That was a very common question during the late 1800’s, when imperialism and expansion became more widespread in America. Many people questioned the morality and […]

Climate Change in the Philippines: a Tale of Vulnerabilities and Resilient Unity

Welcome to a journey through the Philippines – a land of dazzling landscapes and vibrant cultures. But beneath the tropical allure lies a pressing reality – the ever-looming specter of climate change. This essay embarks on a voyage deep into the heart of the Philippines' climate story, exploring vulnerabilities, far-reaching impacts, and the resounding call for urgent action. The Philippines' Climate Quandary Imagine a country where the sun kisses the shorelines and the rainforests whisper tales of ancient wisdom. This […]

War on Drugs Philippines – Operation Double Barrel

As of June 30, 2016, President Duterte of the Philippines has given orders allowing the state-sanctioned murder of over 20,000 individuals allegedly involved in the drug trade. The whole situation is shockingly gruesome. Police invade homes and arrest individuals, people ruthlessly shot and left in the slums. More often than not the killers remain anonymous as hardly any security exists at the place of killings. Extrajudicial killings have happened every day since his election, and they are justified in the […]

Being a Filipino: the Significance of Christmas in Filipino Culture

Introduction Christmas is one of the most important and beloved holidays in the Philippines. For many Filipinos, Christmas is about spending time with family, eating delicious traditional food, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and, of course, exchanging gifts. Celebration of Jesus Christ's Birth Filipinos often start the Christmas season earlier than most other countries, with the traditional Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo masses celebrated from December 16–24. Many believe that those who complete the nine days of prayer […]

Woman has the Right of Holding the Agriculture of the Philippines

The findings reveal that understanding is taken into account a farmer, at family and community levels, is biased by gender norms. Ladies within the study villages play substantial roles in farming are progressively concerned in agricultural management. However they’re usually unmarked or under-valued as farmers by each men and ladies, at the family and community levels. However, the findings additionally reveal a lot of nuanced understanding of the contribution of girls and men to farming as households pragmatically accommodate their […]

History of Philippines and Country Analysis

Pre Colonization Before colonization the Philippines was inhabited by migrants groups that settled sporadically across the nation. Eventually these small groups developed into larger settlements known as barangays, independently of each other with no centralized government, acting within defined social hierarchy (History of the Philippines). As the islands developed maritime ports, trade relations were established between the islands and with neighboring East Asian countries, their biggest exporters being Japan and China. Ancient inhabitants of the islands became a minority and […]

Building Philippine Government and Nation

Building Philippine Nation “Ang mamatay nang dahil sa’yo” -Philippine National Anthem The Philippine 19th-century political thinkers and patriotic men such as Jose Rizal, Marcelo Del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez Jaena contributed to express and narrate the significance of Philippine historical events and to respond from the colonial system of Spanish regime. To further enlighten the minds of Filipino generations, and to trigger the souls of the masses from the depressing Spanish occupation during that time. The conqueror succeeded in claiming […]

The Philippine Government and Middle Classes

Rise of the Middle Class in the 20th Century The rise of the Middle Class in the 20th Century is when the Filipino started to become independent from the colonizers. Being independent from these colonizers help stabilize the emerging class in this era. There are three points in which I seem to get from the article and these three are:  The Philippine Independence After we gained independence in 1946, the Philippines became driven to industrialize the country, industrialization will make […]

The Dynastical Philippine Government

Democracy of this manner has two preconditions: the society must be small enough for citizens to be capable of attending debates and voting on issues, and its economy must provide these citizens with enough leisure time to engage in politics. When the United States colonized the Philippines in 1898, it planned to gradually grant self-determination to the country as the principles of democracy were imbibed by the population. However, as education was not extensive, the elite and the educated benefited […]

The Political Thoughts of Philippine Government

Aspiration to uphold and protect liberty, well-being, rights, welfare of every constituent, sovereignty, and the eradication of uncertainties like cruelties, abuses, hostilities, corruption and alienation against the people are the Philippine political thoughts that had been implied, manifested, projected and uphold throughout our history that can still be seen up to this time in different form. The former are the things that country had been deprived of while the latter are the uncertainties that the Filipinos had experienced while being […]

The Philippine Government Protects Journalists

Journalists are responsible for shining light on all events that happen in the society. Their work is of great importance to the society who depend on them for news. However, the job becomes dangerous when a journalist comes across a piece of a controversial story. The stories usually are characterized by powerful individuals who want to protect themselves from the government and wrath of the society. These individuals and organizations will go to great lengths to protect themselves from being […]

Foundation of the Philippine Government

Every country in the whole world had experienced to be the subject of colonizers, one example of it is the Philippines. When a country is at the hands of colonizers which causes sufferings, death, oppressions, and such to the inhabitants in the country in which the colonizers conquered, it is undeniable that there was no person or group of people who tried to win liberty and independence from their own motherland. In the Philippines, the ilustrados, namely Dr. Jose Rizal, […]

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18 Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines

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Planning a trip to the Philippines and wondering where to find the most beautiful places in the Philippines? This post has you covered.

The Philipines is a magical country that should be on the top of every traveler’s bucket list. In very few places will you find such aqua blue waters, white-sand beaches, and lush green jungles as here.

One of the many aspects that make the Philippines so special is the geographical makeup. The Philippines is an archipelago made up of over 7,500 beyond beautiful islands.

With so many different islands and areas to visit some pre-planning is required to ensure you hit all the right places. More so, the Philippines attracts far fewer tourists than its neighboring countries – it is actually a great alternative to nearby Bali.

This list of the 18 most beautiful places in the Philippines is put together from different travel bloggers from around the world. All of which have shared their favorite place in the Philippines that has blown them away. Fuel your wanderlust with this list and prepare to book a one-way ticket!

In This Post

Siargao, Philippines

Explored by Bradley Williams from Dream Big Travel Far

Located on the far eastern edge of The Philippines, Siargao is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth. A paradise-like island, it’s quickly becoming one of the hottest travel destinations in Asia, think Bali two decades ago. All around you see pristine golden sandy beaches covered in endless acres of palm trees.

It’s best to take a few days to drive round the island on a moped, discovering the many incredible spots as you go. Including caves, palm tree swings, lagoons and so much more. It’s perhaps best known for its surf and is a regular host site for annual professional surf competitions. 

Getting to Siargao is easiest by plane, and you can fly there from a number of different islands throughout The Philippines. I recommend staying for as long as a week, enjoying all of the many sites the island has to offer , and even taking a day or two to island hop to smaller nearby islands not far away. Particularly Guyam Island (pictured below).

You’ll find plenty of great accommodation. But be sure to book as far in advance as possible as Siargao is one of the most popular spots. This means in the busy tourist months the beachside resorts fill up quickly.

Coron , Philippines

Explored by James from The Travel Scribes

It’s synonymous with crystal clear waters, pristine white beaches and a sprinkling of almost untouched islands that look like they’ve leaped straight off the pages of a luxury travel brochure. It’s Coron, the area often called ‘the globe’s most beautiful island’ and now enticing travellers to make their way to the shores of the Philippines.

A short flight from Manilla or a  ferry from El Nido  (another one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines), Coron is located in the achingly pretty province of Palawan and is actually made up of two islands – Busuanga and Coron Island – plus some other smaller islets, many of which have made Coron famous in more recent years.

And the main thing to do there, other than just groan over the gorgeous landscapes? Island-hop on a private boat, as you explore the picturesque waters of this beautiful place.

Spend your days hiking up to the viewpoint and then diving into Kayangan Lake. Or floating in the Twin Lagoon which, as the name suggests, is a large lagoon separated by a small rocky outcrop that you duck beneath.

You can of course venture a little further afield and find islands like Bulog Dos or Malcapuya, the stuff of Instagrammer’s dreams with lily-white sandbanks and teeming marine life, as you wade out into the water for a spot of snorkeling.

City slickers can also stick to Coron Town itself, which boasts its own attractions like forest hikes, a viewpoint to rival the Hollywood sign its modeled after, and even a hot springs complex. This is the ideal place to relax after a day’s island-hopping pursuits and enjoying one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

Romblon Island, Philippines

Explored by Luke Storey from The Coastal Campaign

Romblon Island  is one of the few undiscovered, hidden gems in the Philippines. You will find this island is in the province of Romblon and to get to here you have to fly to Caticlan airport and take 3 local ferries and numerous local busses over several days. It’s a little cliché to say but the journey to get here is a huge reason why this place is so great.

Once you reach Romblon Island you will find a stunningly beautiful place almost completely untouched by international tourism. The main reason to spend so much time to visit here is Bon Bon Beach.

This is the most spectacular beach in the entire country. What makes it even better is that its remote location means you may even have the entire place to yourself in the middle of the day.

Bon Bon Beach has a long, narrow sandbar that arrows out into some of the most blue, crystal clear water you will ever see. Walking along this incredible sandbar on this remote island paradise is a special moment.

While Bon Bon Beach is the highlight of this area, Romblon Island also offers many other amazing beaches, viewpoints and waterfalls, most of which you will have all to yourself.

Port Barton, Philippines

Explored by Ellie Quinn from The Wandering Quinn Travel Blog

Port Barton is a sleepy beachside village on the island of Palawan. This is the same island as the popular beach town of El Nido and Port Barton works perfectly as a place to stop when visiting El Nido before or after flying from Puerto Princesa Airport due to its location in the middle.

However, El Nido has grown in size and popularity a lot over recent years. With many reports of it being too commercial and too busy, especially its famous boat tours.

While Port Barton’s reputation as a dusty, local, quiet, and chilled beach has remained which is what makes it one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. Which makes it a must-visit place in the Philippines.

Apart from the relaxed town and stunning wild beach that belongs to Port Barton, the biggest reason for visiting is because of how good the  island hopping boat tours in Port Barton  are!

Port Barton is surrounded by islands that are made up of forests, very different from the limestone islands nearby. A short boat trip will take you from Port Barton to these white sand islands with a clear blue ocean, perfect for snorkeling. German Island is a popular island to visit which is where you are likely to spot turtles!

Apo Island , Philippines

Explored by Aurelia Teslaru from Daily Travel Pill

If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines and one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, you have to stop for a few days at Apo Island. The island is easily accessible from Siquijor or Dumaguete and can be reached by ferry.

Apo Island  is one of the top diving and snorkeling spots in the world. Here you can get your PADI license or you can simply spend a few hours snorkeling with the turtles. The marine life surrounding Apo Island is incredible but the number one attraction is the turtles. You can swim near them and observe how they slowly make their way through colorful corals. 

If you don’t have much time to spare, you can visit Apo Island as a day trip from either Siquijor or Dumaguete. However, I recommend spending at least two days here. Even if the island is rather small, there is an entire underwater world to explore.

The hotels on Apo Island are basic so don’t expect to find any luxurious accommodation here. If you’re searching for luxury, maybe this place is not for you. However, if you want to experience one of the most incredible snorkeling environments, Apo Island is the place to be.

Kalanggaman Island, Philippines

Explored by Veronika from Travel Geekery

Kalanggaman is a beautiful tiny island in central Philippines, an hourlong boat ride from Palompon city in the province of Leyte. It’s a paradise on Earth – just a pile of sand in the middle of nowhere, with swaying coconut palms and surrounded by crystal clear water.

A long sandbank sticks out into the ocean and offers the ultimate photo opp in one of the beautiful places in the Philippines.

You can walk around the whole island in less than 20 minutes. While half of it is made up of the most perfect white sand beach, the other half is full of greenery and features a beautiful coconut lane. Kalanggaman is the quintessential relax spot.  There’s not much else to do than relax anyway. You can also snorkel or dive, but better bring your own gear.

You can get to Kalanggaman on a day trip either through a tour company or via the Palompon Tourism Office. They coordinate a number of typical Filipino pump boats, collect the visitor fee and arrange anything you might need, including spending the night on the island, if you wish to do so.

The boat ride from Palompon takes about 40 minutes and it can get bumpy! On the way, you might even get to see dolphins.

Read more: Things to do in Lombok, Indonesia

Donsol, Philippines

Explored by Campbell from Stingy Nomads

The beautiful Donsol is a small rural coastal village close to Legazpi in Sorsogon. It is full of thatch-roof huts and colorful local fishing boats that line the beach.

The town is most famous for whale sharks with many of these giant animals congregating here in season. Donsol is surrounded by beautiful nature above and underwater with plenty of exciting opportunities to explore the area.

Swimming with the giant whale sharks is the reason most tourists come from all over the globe to Donsol. It is an eco-friendly activity, compared with swimming with whale sharks in Oslob , a nearby town where they feed the world’s biggest fish to get them close to tourists.

Diving on the beautiful coral reefs around Donsol is very popular and from March to May, you can see manta rays lineup for parasites to be picked from their skin at the cleaning station at the dive site Manta Bowl.

Go on a magical hour-long riverboat firefly trip with a guide and you will see glowing trees full of fireflies. Floating down the Ogod River after dusk, watching the myriad of tiny floating lights is an incredible and very romantic experience.

The tricycle trip from town is an adventure on its own. Renting a kayak and exploring the river is also a popular activity in the daytime. Rent a car or take public transport to explore the Mayon Volcano known as “the world’s most perfect cone”. This perfect stratovolcano is a popular hiking and camping destination at the heart of the Mayon Volcano National Park.

Sugar Beach, Philippines

Explored by Emma from WITRAG travel

Found on the south-western shores of criminally under-visited Negros, Sugar Beach is the Philippines you’ve been dreaming of.

Locals will tell you that Sugar Beach, just along the coast from Sipalay, is what Boracay was like as little as 20 years ago. But unlike its celebrity sister, just getting to Sugar Beach is a challenge: it’s 5 hours, 3 buses, and a short boat from Sipalay. Your alternative, Bacolod, is at least 4 hours away on winding bus roads.

But we promise the journey is worth it. Stepping foot on this paradise beach the first thing you’ll ask is ‘where is everybody?’ Nearly a kilometre long with glorious wide stretches of sumptuous white sand, at first, you’ll see more volleyball courts than holidaymakers.

Accommodation is modest, and there are only a dozen or so hotels to choose from. Dump your bags and grab a snorkel to go explore the reefs. You can arrange scuba diving, explore caves, swim in waterfalls, or even kayak.

But swinging in your hammock, snoozing under a book, and sipping sweet banana milkshakes works just as well. Quiet winds whip up sand, waves whimper onto the shore. It’s so still you’ll hear the sound of leaves landing next to you. Sunsets are special on this very special beach.

And when you’ve had enough, Negros has plenty more to explore. Discover the incredible Casororo Falls, enjoy world-class diving in Dauin and go dolphin-spotting around Manjuyod Sandbar.

Siquijor, Philippines

Explored by Rose from Where Goes Rose

The beautiful island of Siquijor has only recently been discovered by tourists which makes now the ultimate time to visit before it becomes crowded. There’s no airport in Siquijor, you have to fly to Cebu and catch a ferry to the island.

In many ways, it’s like plenty of Filipino islands: there are paradise beaches, long dusty roads shaded by palm trees, and hotels dotted around the island outskirts, which only add to its ranking as one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

While there are plenty of opportunities to relax on the beach and sip cocktails, there’s one unique side to Siquijor that can’t be experienced elsewhere. Siquijor is known for its traditional mananambal, in other words, mystic healers.

You might also call these locals witches because they practice a particular type of magic called Bulo Bulo, a type of healing magic. This dates back to days when Siquijor had no hospitals or healthcare. When locals became sick, they had no choice but to cure their own ailments.

This tradition has lived on and nowadays, the Siquijor locals are a superstitious bunch. As a tourist, you are welcome to visit a  Siquijor healer  which is a unique experience whether you or not you have a particular ailment.

They’ll assess and cleanse your aura using clear mountain water and magic stones. Whether or not you believe it works, you’ll definitely feel more relaxed and spiritual after a sunset cocktail back at the beach

Islands of Northern Palawan, Philippines

Explored by Lora from Explore with Lora

The Philippines is home to some of the most beautiful islands in the world, many of which are in the Palawan region. One of the best ways to explore them is to take a TAO expedition through the remote islands of Northern Palawan. This way you can view some of the most beautiful places in the Philippines all at once!

This 5-day expedition will take you across several islands in Palawan. TAO has 13 base camps throughout the islands, where you’ll spend the night sleeping in gorgeous bamboo huts. What makes the islands so special is how untouched everything is.

As the boat docked on a new island each night, I couldn’t believe it was real. Each one looks like they come straight out of a postcard, with crystal clear water and pristine white sand beaches. It truly feels like Paradise.

To visit the islands of Northern Palawan, you can join an island hopping tour with TAO Philippines. You can book online through their website or visit their office in El Nido or Coron. Tours depart from both cities every couple of days. If you’re looking for an authentic way to explore the  Philippines, this is a great choice.

Read More: 20 Most Beautiful Places in Asia

Boracay, Philippines

Explored by Mariza from Hoponworld

If you’re looking for a postcard-perfect beach vacation in the Philippines, you don’t need to look much further than Boracay! As a small island located roughly 440km south of Manila, Boracay is gifted with stunning natural scenery and plenty to keep you busy for a few days’ stay. Apart from the standard options such as snorkeling, diving, and kite surfing, Boracay also offers other exciting options like parasailing, kayaking, island hopping, and more. 

If that sounds too adventurous for you, White Beach – a stunning stretch of 4km soft powdery white sand – is the perfect place to take a stroll, get a tan, or play in the water. Besides the excellent scenery on offer, you’ll also find plenty of restaurants and beach bars ready to serve you an ice-cold beer or a freshly cracked coconut along the way. 

While Boracay has no shortage of excellent accommodation options, you’ll find most of the hotels strung out along the main stretch. Station 2 is the perfect spot for partygoers as it is full of bars, clubs, and plenty to keep you busy well into the night.  Those seeking something a bit more laid back can find refuge at Station 3 away from the crowds.

The nearest airport to Boracay is Caticlan International Airport, but you’ll likely need to have a  layover in Manila  or Cebu. Upon arrival at Caticlan, simply hop in a tricycle taxi to Caticlan Jetty Port and then catch a boat to this gorgeous island and start your adventures in one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

Camiguin, Philippines

Explored by Katherine Cortes from Tara Lets Anywhere

There are many beautiful places in the Philippines. Among the underrated ones is Camiguin Island – an island province located in Mindanao. Camiguin is pretty laid-back so it appeals to those who want a relaxed stay. With its beaches and dive spots, it’s also a great option for water lovers.

As the island itself was formed due to ancient volcanic eruptions, it has interesting natural attractions and activities to offer. You can climb Mount Hibok-Hibok, the remaining active volcano on the island or you can visit the natural cold and hot springs. In like manner, you can swim in beautiful white-sand beaches including the famed White Island.

Camiguin is also one of the best diving locations in the country. Some easy diving spots you can visit include Mantigue Island and Sunken Cemetery. Lastly, you can’t visit Camiguin Island without seeing the Giant Clam Sanctuary, a protected area that houses over a thousand giant clams in various sizes.

For accommodation, you can choose from various lodgings in its capital Mambajao. You can also opt for beach resorts or mountain resorts, depending on your budget. Camiguin Island has its own airport called Mambajao Airport. It’s also accessible via Cagayan de Oro Airport, located a few hours away.

Panglao, Philippines

Explored by Nicholas from Rambling Feet

Panglao is a small island off the southwestern tip of Bohol and just east of Cebu. Two bridges cross the strait between Panglao and Bohol, making it painless to cross over once you take a ferry to Tagbilaran city on the latter island. An airport that opened on Panglao in 2018 makes it possible to get there directly via air from the rest of the Philippines. 

The main attractions here are the beautiful white sand beaches on the southern and eastern sides of the island, with the most famous being Alona Beach. Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of beachfront resorts here.

Some of them have their own private stretches of sand (day passes offer a way to access them and other facilities); others have rooms right on the beach, and a few are perched on top of the rocky cliffs. All of them offer unobstructed views of the sunrise.

They can also arrange excursions to  snorkel the reefs at Balicasag Island  and swim among sea turtles. If you’re a strong swimmer, there are reefs close to the beach too–just mind the sea urchins!

For something different, Hinagdagan cave on the northern side of the island is a cool spot to swim in. Go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch at least once-most of the ingredients they use are grown on-site. My favorite, though, is the ice-cream stand, which boasts some unique local flavors like  ube  (yam) and  malunggay  (moringa). It really hits the spot on a hot day!

Bohol Island, Philippines

Explored by Mansoureh from Travel with Mansoureh 

Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines and the country has more than 7500 islands. Bohol might not be as famous as Boracay, but this makes it more special. It is so enjoyable because the place is kept secret and it is not ruined with overcrowding. 

Bohol has a coastline of 261 km (162 mi) long. Which has resulted in some picture-perfect white-sand beaches, lush green forest, epic rivers, stunning waterfalls and some awesome caves. 

You can fly to Manila or Cebu City and then take a flight to Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol Island. Alternatively, you can take a boat from Cebu Port, where there are frequent ferries throughout the day going to Bohol.

Some people just take a day trip to Bohol from Cebu, while some prefer to stay on the island for a few days or even a week. No matter how long you are going to stay on the island, Bohol always has some amazing things to do . 

Rent an ATV and drive to the Chocolate Hills, one of the most popular places on Bohol Island and have lunch on Loboc River Cruise and enjoy the traditional Filipino meal with an unforgettable view over the river. You can also go to Mahogany Forest which is the most instagrammable places on the island.

Sumilon Island, Philippines

Explored by Reshma Narasing from The Solo Globetrotter

Sumilon Island  is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. It is located in the south of Cebu city and is home to the country’s first marine reserve. Although it is privately owned, tourists can enjoy spending time on the gorgeous island.

Sumilon is known for its secluded location, crystal-clear turquoise beaches, sandbar, vibrant corals and abundant marine life. The small yet beautiful island draws travelers for its four exclusive diving sites.

Most people visit Sumilon Island as a day trip from Cebu or Dumaguete. You can enjoy snorkeling, windsurfing, Kayaking amidst the mangroves, and hiking to the historic watchtower surrounded by tropical jungles. The sweet water Lagoon is a perfect place to enjoy paddling. 

The incredible visibility of the seawater makes snorkeling and diving fantastic experiences. You will spot hundreds of types of tropical fish, and turtles around the dense reefs. If you are lucky, you may even spot whale sharks and dolphins. If you want to relax doing nothing, the beaches are excellent. Enjoy the spectacle of sunset at the sandbar with your favorite drink.

To reach Sumilon, you need to get to the pier at Oslob. From Cebu city, it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the port by cab. Four boats leave every day, with the first one going at 8 AM, and the last one on the return journey is at 5 AM. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Sumilon Island. 

Read More: Romantic things to do in Singapore

Vigan, Philippines

Explored by Wendy Werneth from The Nomadic Vegan

Vigan is a picture-perfect Spanish colonial town — something you would expect to come across in Mexico or Ecuador, but probably not in the Philippines. It was settled by Spanish conquistadores in 1572 and offers a unique blend of Asian and Spanish culture.

In the mestizo district, you’ll see the ancestral homes of Chinese traders whose architecture is a fusion of Asian and Spanish styles. Locals still maintain some Spanish traditions here, especially religious ones such as the Semana Santa celebrations that are similar to the famous ones in Seville .

Life seems to run at a much slower pace in Vigan than in other cities in the Philippines. It’s the perfect place to relax for a few days, and perhaps splurge on a stay in a colonial hotel. Although there are also more budget-friendly  “transient rooms” on Liberation Boulevard. Avoid contributing to animal cruelty by riding the horse-drawn carriages, and instead take a stroll along Calle Crisologo and the other cobblestone streets of the old town.

There are plenty of antique shops here if you fancy doing some window shopping. Be sure to visit St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral, built in a style known as “earthquake Baroque” to withstand the earthquakes that are common in this region.

Located in North Luzon, Vigan can be reached from Manila by bus in about 8 to 10 hours. Several bus companies ply this route along the scenic Ilocos Highway.

Moalboal, Philippines

Explored by Darren & Lauren from Faramagan

There are so many reasons why Moalboal is the most beautiful place in the Philippines. Located in the Southwest of Cebu, it is easy to travel to Moalboal from other popular destinations such as Oslob, Malapascua Island, Bohol, and Dumaguete.

Alternatively, you can catch a bus from Cebu to Moalboal for only 160 pesos. From Moalboal bus station it is around a 10-minute journey to Panagsama Beach. Which is the main hub for all Moalboal activities from dining to diving.

Whether you have a week or a weekend, no Moalboal itinerary would be complete without snorkeling off Panagsama beach. Here it is guaranteed you will not only find turtles just minutes from the shore but also witness the famous sardine run.

It is an incredible experience to share the ocean with these creatures and watch them in the wild. Better yet, you won’t need an expensive tour to do so – simply hire a mask for 100 pesos from the nearby beach shops and you can snorkel straight from the shore.

After a busy day at the beach, the sunset at Panagsama is one of the most beautiful in the Philippines, if not the world. Crowds gather early at the picturesque beach bars which line the shore. Be sure to arrive early to save a spot to watch the sky transform into a rainbow of colors.

Sohoton Natural Bridge Natural Park, Philippines

Explored by Linn Haglund from Brainy Backpackers

One of the most beautiful places in the Philippines is Sohoton Natural Bridge nestled in the  Sohoton Natural Bridge Natural Park  in the Eastern Visayas. You can only visit by kayak and there are boats that take you from Sohoton Visitor Center and Eco-Lodge to the Panhulugan Cave where the kayaks wait.

The full tour includes a visit to the cave which is incredible with different rock formations resembling famous landmarks like the Great Wall of China and the Chocolate Hills. And of course, there is a cute family of miniature bats hanging out in the cave ceiling.

Once in the kayak, you will paddle through the Sohoton River surrounded by limestone cliff walls with a lush jungle cascading from the top. Sometimes the stream suckles louder and you need to be careful not to tip the kayak.

Once you get to the Natural Bridge, the kayak sliding silently under the limestone and into a natural pool surrounded by cliffs giving a delightful shade the world stops up just a little. This is the magic of nature. Breathtakingly beautiful.

To get to Sohoton Visitor Center and Eco-Lodge you need to travel either by bus or Jeepney from Tacloban to Basey. In Basey, you need to get your tickets at the Tourist Information. If you let the bus driver know upfront, he will stop right outside the door for you. At the Tourist Information, they will order a motorcycle taxi for you for the rest of the way.

El Nido, Philippines

Explored by Ivan from Mind the Travel

Located on the edge of Bacuit Bay in northern Palawan, the beach town of  El Nido is one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations and one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

Full of secluded bays and caves, there’s enough here to keep you entertained for your whole trip. El Nido is also home to more than 50 limestone cliffs rising vertiginously out of stunning turquoise waters teeming with colorful corals and fish.

If you came to the Philippines to see spectacular beaches and island views, El Nido is best explored on an island-hopping spree. El Nido islets and islands hide in their bosoms’ cavernous depths, hidden lagoons, uninhabited stretches of powder-fine, dreamlike beaches, and exotic marine life not found anywhere else in the country.

An arduous ferry ride to the north and an equally long bus ride to the south bring the venturesome traveler to the emerald colored lagoons, one of the best places in the country to get your PADI certificate.

To get to El Nido you can by hopping on a plane from Manila to Puerto  Princesa Airport (PPS). The flight takes about one and a half hours,  followed by a 5 to 6-hour shuttle ride to El Nido town. Alternatively, you fly directly to El Nido from Manila, Cebu, or Boracay-Caticlan. This is the fastest but will set you back a bit more cash.

If the Philippines wasn’t on your bucket list before, it is now! This list of the most beautiful places in the Philippines only covers a handful of the beauty this stunning country has to offer. It is time to start planning your next tropical getaway to the Philippines!

Like this post? Pin ” Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines” for later!

Samantha Karen is the owner and author of the travel blog Sam Sees World, a travel blog dedicated to sharing the world's most beautiful and unique travel destinations. As a full time traveler she has visited over 50 countries with more on the way.

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A brief essay on my key issues book: the philippines: from earliest times to the present.

My AAS Key Issues in Asian Studies book— The Philippines: From Earliest Times to the Present —is intended to introduce readers to a nation originally named after a European prince. The people of the archipelago that now constitutes the Philippines had a long history before any European contact occurred. Since the latter part of the nineteenth century, Filipinos have experienced a wide range of encounters with the US. The Philippines was Asia’s first republic and then became a US colony after an American war of conquest and pacification, which some argue resulted in the deaths of 10 percent of the population. Almost a million Filipino soldiers and civilians, and approximately 23,000 American military, died in the war against Imperial Japanese forces.

There are at least two ideas that drive this book. The first is that the Philippines was not some isolated archipelago that was accidentally “discovered” by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Some residents of the Philippines had contact with “the outside world” long before European contact through trade with other Southeast Asian polities and Imperial China.

The second and more important theme is that vibrant cultures existed before outsiders arrived, and they have continued throughout the history of the Philippines, though perhaps not seen or simply ignored by historians and other scholars. The intrusion by the Spaniards might be seen to have changed almost everything, as did the American incursion, and to a lesser extent the Japanese occupation. This is not the case. But if one does not know what was there before, the focus may be upon the intruders—their religion, culture, economies, and the impact they had on the local population—rather than on Filipinos, the local inhabitants. While acknowledging the impact and influence of foreign occupations, I sought in the book to focus on Filipinos and to see them as not merely, or even primarily, reactive.

Beginning with the pre-Hispanic period, The Philippines: From Earliest Times to the Present seeks to present, briefly, the reality of an advanced indigenous culture certainly influenced but not erased by more than three centuries of Spanish occupation. The second half of the nineteenth century saw the emergence on two levels—peasants and elite—of organized resistance to that presence, culminating in what some call a revolution and finally a republic. But this development was cut short by the Americans. When a commonwealth was put in place during the fourth decade of American rule, this was interrupted by World War II and the Japanese occupation. After World War II, the Philippines once again became an independent republic with the growing pains of a newly evolving democracy and its share of ups and down, including the Marcos dictatorship.

The Philippines has emerged in the twenty-first century with a robust and expanding economy, and as an important member of ASEAN. And it has its issues. On November 7, 2013, the most powerful Philippine typhoon on record hit the central part of the archipelago, resulting in more than 6,000 deaths. President Rodrigo Duterte, elected in 2016, has caught the eye of human rights advocates as he has dealt harshly with a drug problem that is far more significant than most realized. Then there is the ongoing conflict with China over islands in the South China Sea. The Philippines has been and will continue to be in the news.

The Philippines: From Earliest Times to the Present depicts Filipinos as not passive or merely the recipients of foreign influences. Contrary to the title of Stanley Karnow’s 1989 book, In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines, the Philippines is not made in anyone’s, including America’s, image. Teachers and students should find this book helpful, not only in dealing with the history of the Philippines but also in recognizing that often the histories of developing countries fail to seriously take into account the local population—their culture, their actions, their vision of the world. The Philippines is perhaps best known today in the West as a place with beautiful beaches and as a wonderful place to vacation. This book will show it to be much more than that.

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Beautifilipina

Beauty Standards in the Philippines: Our Progressing Views On What is Beautiful

Beauty Standards in the Philippines: A Deep Dive

Beauty: Beyond Skin Deep

The frequency with which "beauty" resonates in content underlines its significance. In recent years, there's been a perceptible shift towards embracing a diverse range of skin tones. Gone are the days when "white skin" was universally considered the zenith of beauty. Today, "dark skin," "light skin," "brown skin" – all have their own charm. In fact, expressions like "skin look" and "skin type" are gaining traction, indicating a broadening spectrum of beauty standards.

The Rise of Philippines’ Personal Care Market

The research team at Beautifilipina is constantly on the pulse of evolving trends, meticulously exploring which high-end products we can introduce next. Our keen observations led us to a noteworthy discovery. When discussing beauty in the Philippines, one cannot sidestep the booming personal care market. With terms like "products," "skin care products," and especially "Philippines skin care products" seeing a high frequency in content, there's a clear indication of the market's growth in our country.

The Media's Role in Shaping Beauty Norms

The role of media, especially social media, in shaping beauty standards can't be overstated. From influencers in Manila to beauty gurus in New York, the global exchange of beauty norms, products, and techniques is incessant. "Makeup look," "best skincare," and the various shades of beauty they showcase have an undeniable impact.

The Filipino Skin Color Narrative

Delving deeper into the narrative around Filipino skin color, we notice a fascinating interplay of terms. "Filipino," "Filipina," and even "Flipino" see substantial mentions when searching for beauty products, painting a picture of the country's diverse population and our seeking to meet our own diverse needs.

Beneath this lies a complicated story. The Philippines has a long-standing beauty color hierarchy, often influenced by its history and global beauty standards. The dichotomy between "white skin" and "dark skin" still holds a significant place in Filipino culture. But there's hope. Terms like "wear color proud" and discussions around "different skin tones" point towards an evolving narrative – one where every shade is celebrated.

Beauty, in the Philippines and worldwide, is an ever-evolving construct. While the shadows of past norms and standards still linger, the future holds promise. As discussions grow richer and more inclusive, there's hope that terms like "beauty standard" will soon be relics of the past, giving way to a world where beauty is as diverse as the people who define it. Beautifilipina offers skincare and cosmetics that are designed for our needs. Shop at Beautifilipina.com for cosmetics and skincare formulated especially for Filipinas. 

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The Wonders & Beauty of Mindanao, the Philippines

april 02, 2012 by Travel , Uncategorized 1

By: Gen V. Caracena

Mindanao: Flora, Fauna and Mountain Resorts

The tropical rainforests are blessed with a diverse flora and fauna and the region’s mountainous terrains are ideal for jungle tracking.  For nature lovers who like an adrenalin rush, Mount Apo is a great attraction. Located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII of the island, Mount Apo is the country’s highest mountain measuring 3,144 meters above sea level. On average, the summit can be reached in two days. The mountain is volcanic in nature, but history has no verified record of eruption.

Mount Apo is the habitat of over 272 bird species, 111 of which are endemic to the area. Nature lovers can explore through the rain forest of the mountain and discover the country’s national bird, the world’s largest and critically endangered Philippine Eagle. Mount Apo is the only remaining habitat of the Philippine Eagle.

It is in the mountains of Mindanao, especially at the foot of Mount Apo where you can find the original source of the most beautiful varieties of flowering plants like the captivating Philippine Orchids, among which is the rarest Queen of Orchids, Vanda Sanderiana known as Waling-Waling.  Davao City, the largest city and most important economic center in Mindanao is named as the ‘City of Blooms’ for its wide plantations and garden resorts that grow rare and exotic orchids and other plants. The city is known in the world specifically for its famous Waling-Waling.

Mount Apo is the ancestral domain and home to six indigenous peoples (Manobos, Bagobo, Ubos, Atas, K’lagans and the Tagacaolo. For them the mountain is a sacred ground because it is their place of worship and burial ground of their great forefather Apo Sandawa where the mountain’s name came from. Culturally and spiritually it is their life and their source of food and medicine.

Davao boardwalk, By: Burgermac

The Department of Tourism in Davao City organizes guided trips for you to personally marvel at the wonders of Mount Apo. A simple walk through the forest and alongside the mountain slopes fascinates and makes you feel part of nature.

Durian, the smelly king of fruits, By: Keith Bacongco

Mindanao is blessed with the bounty of the earth, being the country’s Food Basket. Its fertile soil makes a bountiful harvest of a variety of fruits and other farm products that provides 40% of the country’s requirement.

Durian, the smelly king of fruits grows abundantly in Mount Apo and other parts of the region. It comes in different varieties. Davao City is also named ‘The Durian Capital’ of the Philippines. The fruit is unique for its huge size that grows 12 inches long and 6 inches in diameter, distinct odor, and thorn-covered husk. Durian’s odor is overpowering for some people, but others consider it as fragrant. Despite the distinct odor, many love Durian for its creamy and mouth watering taste. The durian flesh can be consumed when ripe, but it is also used to flavor a variety of sweet savoury cuisines.  When you come to Davao or Cotabato provinces do not miss to try Durian and you’ll surely fell in love with its delightful taste.

Mindanao is also blessed with the bounty of marine life and marine resources. One of the country’s biggest producers of Philippine Tuna comes from Mindanao in General Santos City, which lies at the southern part of the country. Tagged as the Tuna Capital of the country, General Santos City also records for one of the largest daily total catch of fish in the country.

Mindanao's enchanting landscape, By: Jojo Nicdao

Mindanao Beaches and Waterfalls

Aside from mountain resorts, Mindanao prides itself in a great number of beautiful and refreshing waterfalls. Iligan is known as the City of Waterfalls because of the presence of more than 20 waterfalls in the city. One of the most resplendent is the famous Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan’s greatest heritage.  Standing 320 feet high, Maria Cristina Falls is not just a landmark of Iligan, it is also the source of industrial power in the region. Iligan is a highly urbanized industrial city in the province of Lanao del Norte  located at the northern Mindanao region.

Tinago (hidden) falls, By: Volkanoboy

The highest water fall in the country is the 388-meter-high Aliwagwag Falls in Davao Oriental province in Mindanao. Considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, Aliwagwag Falls is nestled in the middle of the forest and is a series of 84 cascading waterfalls.

The second highest to Aliwagwag Falls is the two-tiered  Limunsudan Falls that stands 870 feet also found in Iligan.  It’s lower cascade is higher than the entire height of Maria Cristina Falls.

Most of the finest and immaculate white beach resorts and facilities in the country are found in Mindanao. The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) located two kilometers away from Davao City is named by the Department of Tourism as one of the best visiting islands in Mindanao because of its beautiful beach resorts that include the Kaputian Resort, Pearl Farm, Paradise Island and a lot more. For an underwater world adventure, Dakak in Western Mindanao is an ideal destination where the famous Dakak Park and Beach Resort stands. The powdery white sand, blue waters, great dive sites with numerous coral reefs and beautiful sunset best describe this God’s work of art. IGACOS and Dakak are only two of the best leading destinations in Mindanao for your adventure and leisure experience.

Davao beach life in blue, By: Edward Musiak

The People and Culture of Mindanao

Mindanao is composed of a population with diverse ethnicities, cultures and religions. Christians are dominant in the region, but it is also an abode to most of the country’s muslim population comprising various ethnic groups and the collective group of indigenous tribes known as the Lumad. Each group has a distinct culture and language.

Cebuano dialect is the most widely spoken language in the region, except in Muslim areas on the west coast and some hill tribes. In Zamboanga City the primary language is Chavacano. The dialect Zamboangueno Chavacano is one of the six dialects of Chavacano whose native speakers are known as the Zamboangueno latino.

See you in Mindanao, By: Paul David Lewin

The citizens of Mindanao are a people of diversity but co-exist in a peaceful, harmonious and loving community because they have grown in respect and appreciation of the culture, beliefs and religion by numerous ethnic groups. Often attached to the word Mindanao is an impression of a deteriorating peace and order situation.  However, besides some parts of the region where there are conflicts due to political rivalries, Mindanao is generally a safe and peaceful destination.

These are just few of the wonders and spectacles of  Mindanao. A great number awaits you to uncover.  For nature, culture and adventure loving people, Mindano the ‘Land of Promise’, is truly a fun-filled place to visit.

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Guest Essay

Men Fear Me, Society Shames Me, and I Love My Life

By Glynnis MacNicol

Ms. MacNicol is a writer, a podcast host and the author of the forthcoming memoir “I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself.”

I was once told that the challenge of making successful feminist porn is that the thing women desire most is freedom.

If that’s the case, one might consider my life over the past few years to be extremely pornographic — even without all the actual sex that occurred. It definitely has the makings of a fantasy, if we allowed for fantasies starring single, childless women on the brink of turning 50.

It’s not just in enjoying my age that I’m defying expectations. It’s that I’ve exempted myself from the central things we’re told give a woman’s life meaning — partnership and parenting. I’ve discovered that despite all the warnings, I regret none of those choices.

Indeed, I am enjoying them immensely. Instead of my prospects diminishing, as nearly every message that gets sent my way promises they will — fewer relationships, less excitement, less sex, less visibility — I find them widening. The world is more available to me than it’s ever been.

Saying so should not be radical in 2024, and yet, somehow it feels that way. We live in a world whose power structures continue to benefit from women staying in place. In fact, we’re currently experiencing the latest backlash against the meager feminist gains of the past half-century. My story — and those of the other women in similar shoes — shows that there are other, fulfilling ways to live.

It is disconcerting to enjoy oneself so much when there is so much to assure you to expect the opposite, just as it is strange to feel so good against a backdrop of so much terribleness in the world. But with age (hopefully) comes clarity.

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Home / Essay Samples / World / Philippines / What Can I Say to Describe Philippines

What Can I Say to Describe Philippines

• Category: Sociology , World
• Topic: Cultural Identity , Ethnicity , Philippines

Pages: 3 (1139 words)

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Do I Agree With the Differentiation Between the West and the East?

Where can i find the philippines in the distinction, what are the factors that make the philippines similar or different from its asian neighbors, is there also a difference between regions or ethno linguistic groups in the philippines .

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