Philippines a Democratic Country
With Exciting Destinations

Philippines in Southeast Asia, an archipelago with 7,107 islands, is blessed with so many wonderful beaches and exciting destinations. It is a democratic republic with a government that is made of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch, and is headed by an elected president.

In history, the country has gone through three major foreign occupations until 1946. Independence day is celebrated every June 12 based on the first declaration of independence on June 12, 1898 which I find not to be true. In my opinion, the real Philippine Independence was on July 4, 1946 as granted by the Americans. That June 12, 1898 was just a mere cry of independence and there were dozens of those since the Philippine History began.

Getting Around

Spanish and American influence run strong on this island nation where the Roman Catholic religion was influenced by Spain and the English language by the Americans. The Philippine Culture is unique because of the combination of diverse cultures from Polynesian, Malayan, and other Asian along with some middle eastern influences. Strong family bond is perhaps the most distinct of the Filipino Culture.

The Philippines is subdivided into three island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It is further subdivided into seventeen regions and each region is composed of several provinces. The capital city is Manila, which is a part of the National Capital Region also known as Metro Manila.

Visiting The Country

Visas are not required for visitors from most countries if the visit is only for 21 days or less. An extension or visa can be requested from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation office in Intramuros, Manila, if you wish to stay longer. The best time to be here is between November and May when the weather is mostly calm and dry.

Things To Do

There are many things to do in this archipelago like touring historical sites, going to the wonderful beaches, scuba diving, surfing, mountain trekking, site seeing, fishing, attending unique festivals or simply experiencing the life and culture of the Filipino. Others come here for the entertainment and experience the nightlife.

Getting Around

There is a variety of ways on how to move around the country. Other than the common means of transport like planes, buses, boats, trains, and cars. there are also some unique form of transportation here like the jeepneys, trikes, kalesas, and bancas.

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