Asian Paradises

– 142 – www.paradises.com The Philippines is divided into northern, central and southern regions by the three island groups of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. As many as 2500 Philippine islands are not named and the nearest neighbours are Taiwan in the north, eastern Malaysia and Brunei to the southwest, and Indonesia in the south. The archipelago has a dramatic and varied landscape, ranging from volcanoes to narrow coastal plains and waterways, ancient rice terraces, rugged coastlines and fine white beaches. In addition to its natural assets, the Philippines has a rich history and unique culture resulting in a multitude of festivals and celebrations. Capital and major centres The capital and by far the largest city, Metro Manila, has a population of more than 10 million. Located in the northern region of Luzon, it is the capital and principal centre of government, commerce and education. Baguio City is five hours from Manila, in the Cordillera Mountains of Luzon. From March to May it experiences a population surge, and during Holy Week its population has been known to triple. Cebu City is the capital of the Visayas, at the centre of the Philippines' major island group of 167 islands. Davao City on the lush island of Mindanao is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of land mass. The people The people are mostly of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish and Arab blood. Most of the population claims to be Christian, and 80 percent are Roman Catholic. Muslim communities make up around five percent of the population and most live in Mindanao and the Sulu Islands. Nature The Philippines has white sandy beaches, lush green forests, mountain peaks and clear blue waters teeming with marine life. An incredible 80 percent of tropical fish sold worldwide are from the Philippines. The yellow flowering narra is the national tree of the Philippines. The nipa palm is seen all over the country and the orchid could also stake its claim as the national flower, with almost 1000 endemic species, including the Waling- Waling variety of Mindanao. There are only about 100 of the magnificent haribon (Philippine Eagles) around Mt Apo, and the once abundant dugong are now rare, however, small gravity-defying geckos can be seen everywhere. The tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world, can be found in Corella in Bohol. The sights Popular with travellers are Boracay and Banaue, but the Philippines offers a host of other attractions, such as Camiguin's rainforest and reef, Cebu's beaches, sunsets over Lake Sebu, the burial caves of Sagada and a trip to Mt Pinatubo which erupted violently in 1991. When the Spanish moved the capital of the Philippines from Cebu to Manila in 1571, they built Intramuros, the Walled City, as the seat of Church and State. This fortress complex is well worth a visit. Another important landmark is the theme park Nayong Filipino, which has small- scale replicas of Bicol's Mayon Volcano, the Banaue rice terraces, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and Magellan's Cross in Cebu. Clusters of houses, representing architecture from a mix of regions, are grouped together in miniature villages now located in Clark, Pampanga. The Banaue Rice Terraces of the Ifugao Province have been dubbed the eighth wonder of the world, covering an incredible 22 400 kilometres. Palawan, called the country's 'last frontier', is a mini archipelago of virgin islands, home to rare species of flora and fauna. The Tabon Caves in southern Palawan are acknowledged as the 'cradle of civilisation' of the Philippines. At Calauit Island, a wildlife sanctuary has been breeding African animals for nearly 20 years. It is home to around 500 animals, including giraffes, zebras and gazelles to name a few. In the Visayas, Bohol is a small island famous for its Chocolate Hills—more than 1000 oval limestone mounds spread throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. In Aklan province in the Western Visayas there are two attractions worth noting: the Ati-Atihan Festival and Boracay Island. Every third week of January, in the streets of Kalibo, locals celebrate Aklan with wild, mardi gras-style revelry. Where to stay The Philippines offers a wide range of accommodation for all budgets. Metro Manila has everything vistors need from deluxe hotels and serviced apartments to hostels and homestays. There are comfortable deluxe hotels in all the big cities, first-class resorts in Batangas, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay and Bohol, and Davao in Mindanao. Getting around The variety of bus services running are generally very economical, and departures are frequent, although buses sometimes leave early if they're full. Making a reservation is recommended. There are more buses in the morning, as people try to beat the heat. Roads often have potholes and it takes a while to get anywhere but hire cars, taxis and the colourful and individually decorated jeepneys are easily found. Although jeepneys are the cheapest way to negotiate the traffic, they do tend to be driven at an alarming and erratic speed and are not air-conditioned. The elevated Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, also known as Metrorail provides the best and most efficient way to travel from Baclaran in the south to Caloocan City in the north. The Metro Railway Transit (MRT) traverses the length of Edsa and connects P H I L I P P I N E S

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