Back to top

PEOPLE AND HISTORICAL DIVERSITY

The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. It has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos already had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese and the Japanese. 333 years of Spanish colonization brought about the construction of Intramuros, a "Walled City" comprised of European buildings and churches, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. In 1898, the Filipinos, through the efforts of leaders like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo, succeeded in ending Spanish rule which, however, saw the islands becoming the first and only colony of the United States. American regime brought widespread public education and, with it, notions of democracy and republicanism which the Filipinos adopted into their laws as they prepared for eventual self-rule. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, particularly at the famous battle of Bataan and Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance to other parts of Asia and saved Australia from imminent invasion. The fall of Corregidor in May 1942 saw the start of a fierce guerilla war against the Japanese by hold out units who refused to give up the fight. The islands were liberated in 1945, with the return of the US forces under General Douglas MacArthur, and the Filipinos finally achieved independence in 1946.

Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt regimes. The Philippines is a vibrant democracy, as evidenced by 12 English national newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.

Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.
 

TOP HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES

Banaue Rice Terraces - This ancient architectural marvel is the most extensive anywhere in the world and was carved over 2,000 years ago into the mountain ranges of the Cordilleras using only their bare hands, stone implements and rudimentary pieces of metal. Regarded as the “8th Wonder of the World”, this archeological marvel extends over 4,000 square miles and when placed end-to-end would reach halfway around the globe. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system utilizing an ingenious complex of bamboo pipes and canals, drawing water from streams in mountain rainforests to provide their Ifugao tribesmen builders a steady supply of rice, their staple food.

Bohol Chocolate Hills - A unique collection of some 1,268 geological formations that look like giant mole hills, these natural phenomena are found nowhere else in the world. The mounds rise to varying heights of 98 to 165 feet and are composed of weathered formations of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay. Their green grass covering turns to brown during the long dry seasons, making them look like chocolate mounds prompting an American observer to refer to them then as “chocolate drop hills”.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park - The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karsts landscape carved though the ages by an underground river that runs more than 5 miles into the Palawan mountainsides. The cathedral-like interiors with spectacular domes of stalactites and stalagmites running its entire length may be viewed on board outrigger boats from the sea. The park is a significant habitat for ecological conservation and is known for regular sightings of threatened bird species and other exotic fauna such as the Palawan flying fox, Oriental small-clawed otter, stink badger, binturong, flying squirrel, mountain tree squirrel and porcupine.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park - The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 82,000 acres of marvelous marine wilderness and a special ecosystem much appreciated for its beauty as well as its scientific value. The atoll reef boasts a high density of marine species, with 80% covered by 46 coral genres and 376 fish species. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two-coral islands. Tubbataha’s north islet is a nesting site for sea birds of all kinds and endangered hawksbill sea turtles; a diver’s paradise with gorgonian seafans, soft corals, and gigantic sea sponges serving as home to turkey fish, anemone crab, banded seasnakes, nudibranchs, starfish, catsharks, surgeon fish, batfish, butterfly fish, and the rare, unusual looking fox-faced rabbit fish. Marine turtles, including the critically endangered hawksbill and green turtle, nest on some of the beaches.

Historic Town of Vigan - The 16th century town of Vigan is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a European trading town in East Asia. Its architecture reflects the fusion of local elements with Chinese and European influences that have been seemingly impervious to time and spared from the ravages of rebellion and war. Vigan is a “time-machine” that boasts more than 180 age-old edifices comprised of a grand cathedral, massive mansions with red-tile roofs and spacious balconies, narrow cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages that bring visitors back to a bygone era.

San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila - Built in 1587, San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines, the only one that retains its original 16th century Spanish architecture. It has defied several fires, earthquakes and the heavy shelling of both Japanese and American forces in World War II and emerged as a reminder of a grander past, when Intramuros was the country’s political and business epicenter. An excellent example of ecclesiastical architecture, the church and its compound also serve as a repository of the most important works of art and literature of the Spanish colonial period.

Back to top

ANNUAL EVENTS AND CELEBRATION

MASSKARA FESTIVAL
(October 1-20, 2010)
A week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province. The term was coined from two words: Mass meaning “a multitude of the people" and the Spanish word Cara meaning "face". Bacolod has traditionally been dubbed the “City of Smiles” and a prominent feature of the festival is the mask of a smiling face worn by participants; MassKara is thus taken to mean a multitude of smiling faces symbolizing the resiliency and zest for life of the people of Negros despite trying times, such as the periodic economic downturns in the sugar industry from which they draw their main source of livelihood. The festival features a street dance competition featuring colorfully-masked dancers gyrating to the rhythm of driving drum beats in a display of mastery, gaiety, coordination and stamina; other major activities include the MassKara Queen beauty pageant, carnivals, marching band competitions, food festivals, sports events, musical concerts, and trade fairs, garden shows.

PANAGBENGA
(February 1– first Sunday in March, 2010)
Term of the Kankanaey tribe meaning “season of blooming”, is a month-long annual flower held in Baguio City, the country’s summer capital. It showcases the mountain provinces’ home-grown flowers, fruits, vegetables and tradecrafts and was conceived as a way to spur the city from devastation of the deadly 1990 earthquake. Aside from the colorful parades of flower-laden floats, the festival features street dancing competitions with hundreds of dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes evoking the traditional Bendian, an Ibaloi tribal dance of celebration and merriment.

PEÑAFRANCIA
(September, 2010) - dating back to 1885, this annual celebration is considered the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines. It honors Our Lady of Peñafrancia, whose image (a replica of the statue of the Virgin in Peñafrancia, Spain) is enshrined at the Basilica Minore just outside Naga City where it draws over 6 million devotees a year from around the world who believe it to be miraculous. The feast is preceded by a procession, locally called “translacion”, during which the image and the Divino Rostro are transferred from the Basilica to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for 9 days of Novena prayers and Holy Masses as well as a colorful celebration of cultural shows, civic and military parades, sports competitions, agro-industrial trade fair, and the coronation of Miss Bicolandia beauties. It culminates in a fluvial parade on which candle-bearing devotees bring Our Lady’s image back to the Basilica.

SINULOG
(January 2011)
The Sinulog is a centuries-old tradition observed in Cebu, the Philippines’ second largest city, in honor of the Santo Niño (Holy Child). The term comes from the Cebuano adverb “sulog” which translates to "like water current movement," and describes the traditional two steps forward and one step backward movement of the Sinulog prayer-dance with is synchronized to the beat of drums and shouts of "Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!" Celebrating the Cebuanos’ Islamic and pagan origins and their subsequent conversion to Roman Catholicism, the festival features a street parade with participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs during the week-long festivities that draw participants from different regions and other parts of the world.

MORIONES
(Holy Week)
This weeklong celebration reenacts the story of Longinus, a one-eyed Roman centurion whose eyesight was restored by blood that spurted when he pierced the side of the crucified Christ; the miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. Morion refers to the visor of the medieval Roman armor which covers the face and Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded. The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly-colored tunics. Various towns in the area also practice the unique tradition of the pabasa, a recitation of Christ's passion in verse, and the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) which is reenacted by flagellants, known as antipos, who inflict suffering upon themselves as a form of atonement. After three o'clock on Good Friday afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, during which old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand in wake of the dead Christ.

ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA FESTIVAL
(October 2010)
The picturesque city of Zamboanga celebrates its Zamboanga Hermosa Festival with 12 days and nights of events and celebrations. Held in honor of Our Lady of the Pilar, the festival is also popularly known as the 'Fiesta Pilar' and is a big celebration across the region. The event includes live music, cultural performances, street parades, and fireworks displays. The regatta that features numerous boats with brightly-colored sails (vintas) filling the harbor is truly a sight to behold.

SIARGAO INTERNATIONAL SURFING CUP
(September 2010)
This annual competition features phenomenal surfing on gigantic waves. The most popular and very powerful wave-off “Cloud Nine” located in General Luna has been hailed as one of the world’s five toughest breaks is considered to be one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the famous surf of Hawaii and Australia. East of Siargao Islands lies the Philippine Deep that rises from 34,000 feet underwater to a belt of reefs; because of the water’s depth, the waves break out of the narrow continental shelf with such energy as to make for an excellent and challenging surf.

ATI-ATIHAN
(Third weekend of January on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, 2011)
The term “ati-atihan” means make-believe “Atis”, the indigenous island natives who sold part of the lowlands in the 13th century to settlers from Borneo, before moving to the mountains. Legend has it that poor crop yields forced the Atis to go back to the lowlands where they were warmly received by those they asked for help. They celebrated this kindness through dance which was joined by the fair-skinned lowlanders who painted themselves black as a mark of goodwill and friendship. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the festival later evolved to encompass rejoicing for the gift of an image of the Santo Niño by the Portuguese explorer Magellan to the native Queen of Cebu in 1521. The Ati-Atihan is the greatest, most colorful and fun festival in the Philippines featuring native dance competitions pitched to rhythmic and mesmerizing drumbeats that run nonstop for several days. Competitors rehearse for weeks, dress in colorful costumes, and, in keeping with the tradition, paint their bodies with black ash to resemble the “Ati” as they perform intricate routines before hundreds of thousands of devotees and other visitors from all over the world.

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
(May 15, 2011)
Celebrated in Lucban in the Quezon Province, it is an annual celebration held in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, in thanksgiving for abundant harvests. “Pahiyas” literally means decorating the walls of houses with "kiping", a native delicacy made from ground rice and flour then dyed in various radiant colors, that are strung together to form all sorts of elaborate decorative arrangements. Also in display during the celebrations are various local agricultural produce along with home-made mannequins dressed up to depict farmers. The locals believe dressing up their homes ensures special favor and blessing by San Isidro in the coming year so they try to outdo each other with their creativity in friendly competition to ensure better fortunes.

FLORES DE MAYO and SANTACRUZAN
(May 1 - May 31, 2011)
May is considered by Filipinos as the month of flowers and of their patron, the Virgin Mary. Catholic parishes and other community organizations all over the islands celebrate the Flores de Mayo with 9-day novenas during which the decades of the Rosary are recited and children offer flowers in Her honor. Traditionally, the Santacruzan is a sunset religious procession-parade held on the last day of the novena that fetes the Virgin’s many virtues and celebrates the recovery of Holy Cross of Christ’s by the Roman Emperor Constantine and his mother Queen Helena. Girls and young ladies are chosen as “Sagalas” to be a part of the festivities and assigned symbols meant to evoke Mary’s virtues as well as various biblical and fictional characters. The fairest is usually given the role of Reyna Elena who, as the central figure of the procession, holds a Crucifix and is escorted by a young boy dressed up as Prince Constantine. In metropolitan areas, the Santacruzan has evolved to be a veritable fashion show with celebrities and beauty queens wearing gowns by top fashion designers of the country.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM