The Philippine Island

The Philippines (also known as the Republic of the Philippines RP), is an archipelagic country with fascinating landscapes, active volcanoes, splendid white sand beaches, coral waters, and tropical lush green forests. It is located in Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean which comprises of 7,107 islands, sharing maritime borders with Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, China, and Vietnam. The Philippines has a population of approaching 90 million people and the 12th most populous country in the entire world. Tourism is one of the primary industries that support the economy of the Philippines. The country enjoys a constant flow of visitors from Europe, the US, and neighboring Asian countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, and recently a flood of Koreans, many of whom stay for good.

The Austronesian were the first people settled in the area who traded goods with other Asian people. The Philippines then became a Spanish colony by the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521, landing on the island of Cebu where the first Catholic mass in Asia was held. Magellan would later be killed in battle by natives of neighboring Mactan Island lead by chieftain Lapu lapu.

It was only several years later when the Philippines were actually given its name. The second group of Europeans led by conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in 1565, and the Philippines got its name after King Philip II of Spain. This began the colonization of the Philippines, with the first Spanish settlements in Cebu. In 1571 he established Manila as the capital of the new Spanish colony.

Recently, the Philippines is a popular place to have a romantic vacation and being a spectacular destination for adventure sports such as scuba and snorkel diving, fishing, mountain biking, and boating. Aside from it, the Philippines is also a very religious country and Catholicism is the country’s predominant religion, although pre-Hispanic indigenous religious practices still exist; there are also followers of Islam. The Filipinos are amongst of the friendliest people on earth, and are eager to share their colorful ceremonies as well as myths and legends with visitors who show an interest.

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