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| Introduction |
Philippine history, many argue, did not
begin with the coming of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in
1521. Rather, it began in the 13th century when 10 datus from Borneo,
each with a hundred of his kinsmen, landed in what is now known as Panay
Island in the Visayas.
Yet it was Magellan, and succeeding expeditions from Spain, who put the
Philippine archipelago on the map of the world. The intrepid Magellan
was dubbed the rediscover of the Philippines after he landed in Homonhon
Islet, near Samar, on March 17, 1521. He was later killed in Mactan Island
of Cebu in a clash with native warriors led by a chieftain named Lapu-Lapu.
The Philippines was a prize catch for Spain which at that time was locked
in a fierce struggle for world colonization with Portugal. The archipelago,
named Felipinas for Spain's Philip II, was composed of 7,107 islands and
islets spanning 1854 kilometers from north to south. The Philippines,
also a window to the New World, stretched from China to the north and
the Indonesian archipelago to the south. The northern most tip of the
country, Y'ami of the Batanes Island group, is 241 kilometers south of
Taiwan while the southernmost tip, Sibutu of the Tawi-Tawi group of islands,
is just 14.4 kilometers north of Borneo
The Philippines, in fact, is at a most strategic location, making it a
natural hub for commerce. Manila and Cebu are premiere centers of trade
in the region. To the east is the vast Pacific Ocean and beyond it, the
new World. To the west are the kingdoms Indo China including Cambodia
and Thailand while southwest is Malaysia.
There are three major geographical groups in the country, Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao. The northern portion of the archipelago is composed of the
largest island, Luzon. The Visayan region is made up of about 6,000 islands
including Panay, Leyte, Samar, Cebu and Bohol. Mindanao is the second
largest island and encompasses about 400 smaller islands.
Spanish colonizers succeeded in introducing Christianity in Luzon and
Visayas but were unsuccessful in Mindanao, where Moslems stayed off Spanish
efforts.
Spain's rule lasted from the 16th to the 19th century but was marked with
a series of revolts. When three Filipino priests were executed for nationalist
activities, a group of reformist formed the Propaganda Movement that would
later pave the way for the Philippine Revolution. A young doctor-writer
named Jose Rizal was arrested and later executed by Spanish officials
for his scathing criticisms of Spanish rule in the Philippines through
two novels. Rizal, who was just 30 when he was executed, would later be
recognized by historians as Asia's first nationalist. His contemporaries
include Gandhi and Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
The Philippine Revolution on August 29, 1896 started launched and was
led first by Andres Bonifacio and then later by Emilio Aguinaldo. Philippine
independence was officially proclaimed on June 12, 1898 at the balcony
of Aguinaldo's http://www.philippines-hotel-reservations.com in Cavite.
Political independence from US rule was officially proclaimed on 1946.
But as Spanish rule ended, so would American domination start. Unknown
to Aguinaldo and the Filipinos, Spain ceded the archipelago to the US
for $20 million. Thus, when American and Filipino forces laid siege on
Intramuros, little did the Filipinos know that they would have new enemies.
Intramuros surrendered but Filipinos were prevented by Americans from
entering. This sowed the seeds of distrust that would eventually culminate
in the Filipino-American War.
A new fight for independence was waged and this would last six years.
The war ended in 1905 and the period of fighting was followed by decades
of progress. In 1935, a Commonwealth government was established complete
with a Constitution.
World War II broke out in 1941. Japan annexed the Philippines after a
heroic battle with Filipino-American forces making a stand in Bataan and
Corregidor. With the surrender, Filipinos took to the hills and waged
a guerrilla war for four years. In 1945, US forces liberated the Philippines.
On July 4, 1946, the US flag was lowered for the last time as the Philippines
was finally granted independence. |
| 7,107
Islands |
The Philippines is an archipelago blessed
with a wealth of natural resources, a rich history and unique culture.
The Philippines attractions are as many as they are diverse, with each
island offering something different, something special to the most discerning
visitor. White sand beaches, lush green forest, majesty mountain peaks,
age-old structure, modern cities, rustic country-sides. The list goes
on and on.
The country is most popular for its beaches and deep waters teeming with
a plethora of marine life. The Philippine waters have attracted a growing
numbers of scuba divers all eager to discover the underwater treasures
of the country. Most of the resorts are well-equipped with modern diving
equipment and have their staff professional diving instructors and guides.
Facilities for water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, hobie cat sailing,
island hopping, and other water sports are also available. Those who prefer
to keep their feet dry can still view the magical coral world through
glass-bottomed boats.
The Philippines is not only for sun, sea and sand lovers. The numerous
attractions present a wide array of activities to choose from whether
you are in the north or the south.
For the nature lover, there is a mountain climbing, birdwatching, cave
exploration, and even photo safaris. History and culture buffs may learn
more about the Philippines and its people when visiting the museums centuries-old
structures, monuments, and churches spread across the country. And for
a taste of rural Philippine life, a tour of the farms in the provinces
is highly recommended.
Golfers have also found their place in the sun here in the Philippines.
The country boasts of challenging golf courses, some of which were designed
by world-class course architects in the likes of Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
and Gary Player.
Whatever your interests are, our islands have it. |
| People |
The Filipino is basically of Malay stock
with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish and Arab blood. The Philippines
has a population of 76.5 million, and it is hard to distinguish accurately
the lines between stocks. From a long history of Western colonial rule,
interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people
of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture.
The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all the cultures put
together. The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos
are famous for is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family
relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness
comes, from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century.
Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this
is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are probably one of the
few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today. Pilipino
is the official national language, with English considered as the country's
unofficial one.
The Filipinos are divided geo-graphically and culturally into regions,
and each regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects-the
sturdy and frugal Ilocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalog's of
the central plains, the carefree Visayans from the central islands and
the colorful tribes-men and religious Moslems of Mindanao. Tribal communities
can be found scattered across the archipelago. All in all the Philippines
has 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions of these basic regional
and regional groups.
Some 80 percent of the population is Catholic, Spain's lasting legacy.
About 15 percent is Moslem and these people can be found basically in
Mindanao. The rest of the population is made up mostly of smaller Christian
denominations and Buddhists. |
| Visas |
Visitors must hold a valid passport. Except
for the stateless persons and those from countries with which the Philippines
has no diplomatic relations, all visitors may enter the country without
visas and may stay up to 21 days provided they have tickets for onward
journey.
Holders of Hongkong and Taiwan passports must have special permits. Visas
may be obtained from Philippine embassies or consular offices abroad. |
| Health
Documents |
| A certificate of vaccination against yellow
fever is required for those coming from infected areas. Children less
than one year old are exempted but may be subject to isolation when necessary.
Visitors must check with their travel agents before departure as regulations
may change without notice. |
| Things
To See And Do |
The Philippines offers a variety of places
to visit and activities to do that would perk up and make every tourist's
stay truly enjoyable and memorable.
Dining :
Anywhere in the Philippines is an experience travelers can never forget
because it is one of the greatest pleasures of the Filipino people. The
exotic dishes spread on the Filipino table are a blend of Oriental, Spanish
and local culinary dishes. There are also a number of restaurants which
specializes in different cuisine suitable to the distinguishing taste
buds of any travelers.
Shopping :
Whether a traveler is looking for places to shop, the Philippines is a
shopper's happy hunting ground, not just for designer goods with familiar
names and signature logos that can be found in the fashion capitals of
New York, London and Paris, but more especially for handmade goods, skillfully
crafted by local townsfolk and natural beauties such as the South Sea
pearls.
Diving :
In the Philippines, is simply the best in the world. The beauty and variety
of the country's coral reefs and underwater topography are among the best
that diving enthusiasts can explore and undercover. Fishing has also become
a popular sport for adventure anglers in the country.
A photo safari tour in the Philippines provides a novel adventure and
the opportunity to visit a game refuge center to observe wildlife and
capture this on film. Other activities that interest a number of adventurers
are the spelunking expeditions, mountain trekking and bird watching. Golf
in the country is also an activity one can not do without. |
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