One of the countries with the most happy, cheerful and contented people I have seen, the archipelago of the Philippines, consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The capital city is called Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both part of the larger Metro Manila. Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east, and Malaysia and Indonesia to the south.

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer leading a fleet for the Spanish, in Homonhon, Eastern Samar in 1521 marked the beginning of Hispanic colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas in honour of Philip II of Spain. With the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi from Mexico City, in 1565, the first Hispanic settlement in the archipelago was established. The Philippines became part of the Spanish Empire for more than 300 years. This resulted in Catholicism becoming the dominant religion. During this time, Manila became the western hub of the trans-Pacific trade connecting Asia with Acapulco in the Americas using Manila galleons. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, the Philippine Revolution quickly followed, which then spawned the short-lived First Philippine Republic, followed by the bloody Philippine–American War. The war, as well as the ensuing cholera epidemic, resulted in the deaths of thousands of combatants as well as tens of thousands of civilians. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until after World War II, when the Philippines was recognized as an independent nation. Since then, the unitary sovereign state has often had a tumultuous experience with democracy, which included the overthrow of a dictatorship by a non-violent revolution.

The Philippines has only 2 seasons- wet and dry season. During March to May and even up to June, the weather is hot and humid. From June to November, expect the weather to be rainy and cold. Wet season can start as early as May. The best time to visit the country is around December – January when the weather is not so hot and sultry. The peak season though is the dry and hot season between March and May, when some of the popular beaches experience surges in tourist arrivals, which consequently mean that accommodation prices are jacked up!

The country boasts of some spectacular beaches in addition to other historical town and cities. I have been to Manila a couple of times on work visits, but have not ventured much into the city as well as visited other regions in the country. This country has remained on my bucket list for a while now and hopefully, I aim to visit more soon. The only issue I personally would have would be the lack of vegetarian food in the Philippines. My business trips to Manila made me acutely aware of this problem, but I will make sure I have supplies the next time I visit.

This mini-series will explore each one of the islands in detail in each blog post, starting with the northernmost island division of Luzon (which will be divided into two parts), followed by Visayas and then lastly the southernmost island division of Mindanao.

Luzon
Luzon is the largest and most populous island group in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the archipelago, it is the economic and political centre of the nation, being home to the country’s capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country’s most populous city and contains about 52.5% of the country’s total population.

The Luzon island group includes the Luzon mainland, the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands to the north, Polillo Islands to the east, and the outlying islands of Catanduanes, Marinduque and Mindoro, among others, to the south.

Northern Luzon
The northern region of the most populated island in the Philippines is where you’ll find mountains, coastlines, tropical forests, and rivers. No sight in this area is more famous than the stunning Banaue Rice Terraces; located near the popular, relatively cool-weather city of Baguio, these terraces are like emerald steps down the hills of the Cordillera Mountains. These share their name with the fascinating and diverse Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Further north, in the same mountains, is the area of Sagada, famous for its caving – such as at Sumaguing Cave – and hiking trails amidst misty mountain villages. Find more hiking opportunities in Kalinga Province, with its tattooed, machete-wearing tribespeople; headhunting ceased here just decades ago. Flung off the northern coast of Luzon, nearer to Taiwan than the Philippines, are the Batanes Islands. Here you’ll find rugged cliffs, green hills and half-subterranean, typhoon-proof houses on the main island of Batan.

Central Luzon
Just north of Metro Manila, the region of Central Luzon is known as the rice granary of the Philippines. It’s the largest flat plains area in the country, so there’s plenty of room for agriculture here. There is some elevation, however. The active volcano of Mount Pinatubo in the Zambales Mountains provides hiking opportunities, where keen trekkers can reach the summit and catch sight of its crater lake. Minlungao, with its winding river, is a popular spot for cliff diving or laid-back rafting. On the west coast, the city of Balanga, Bataan province, boasts colonial architecture, old-world splendor at The Plaza Hotel, and a festival to honor the hatching of baby sea turtles at the Pawikan Conservation Centre. Once the capital of the Philippine Republic, Angeles is comparable to Manila, with shopping, nightlife, and colonial history; it’s also the gateway to the Mount Arayat National Park. Surrounded by rice paddies, Mount Arayat boasts valleys and rivers.

Southern Luzon
The southern end of the island of Luzon is made up of two regions: Calabarzon, bordering Metro Manila to the north and east; and the Bicol Region, comprising offshore islands, too. Calabarzon is popular thanks to its proximity to Manila. At Laguna Lake, you can find hot spring resorts, particularly around Mount Makiling. To the south, Batangas province is where you’ll find many beachside resorts and towns scattered with colonial-era churches and buildings. In Batangas, the town of Tagaytay is home to Taal Lake, in the middle of which is Taal Volcano, whose crater hides yet another lake!
Made up of six provinces, Bicol is where you’ll find limestone caves, beaches and a whole host of islands to explore. The symmetrical, almost perfectly conical Mount Mayon, near Legazpi City, is a sacred, active volcano. Elsewhere you’ll discover rough, jagged terrain on the Caramoan Peninsula, the gateway to beaches and lush scenery.

Most travellers will start their exploration of the country and Luzon from the capital city of Manila.

Manila
The Asian megacity of Manila is the capital of the Philippines and a unique blend of the old and the new. From the tall gleaming skyscrapers of the commercial areas of Makati to the old and historic buildings from the Philippines colonial era of Intramuros and old Manila, Manila is, but a microsm glimpse of what a traveller can expect in this country. The city is a blend of its Spanish and American colonial past as well as its indigenous cultures and the immigrant Chinese cultures, all which today present the Filipino identity. Metro Manila is a megalopolis of an urban area. It is composed of 16 cities all converging into one: City of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela (and one municipality: Pateros). Located on a narrow isthmus between Central and Southern Luzon, Metro Manila is the center of culture and government for the Philippines. The collection of settlements is pockmarked with Spanish colonial architecture, like the inner walled city of Intramuros, which is filled with Spanish-era architecture including the Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago and the San Augstin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as mixed with skyscrapers; the City of Manila itself is the most densely populated city proper in the world. Though the vast green space of Rizal Park with its lawns and gardens is a tranquil oasis in the city, it’s also on the shores of Laguna Lake – the Philippines’ largest freshwater lake – and Manila Bay in the east. The riverside forest park of Arro Cerros and Ayala Triangle Gardens make for good urban retreats, too. Beat the tropical heat & shop at Manila’s massive malls. The Metro Manila is home to many of the World’s largest malls including the ever-expanding Mall of Asia, expected to grab the #1 spot by 2021. You can find exciting food and a bustling nightlife scene in cosmopolitan Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) as well as new entertainment districts in the Manila Bay area. Using Manila as a base, you can make day trips to the nearby Corregidor Island, waterfalls in Laguna, Tagaytay/Taal Volcano, Antipolo (view overlooking Metro Manila skyline) & more.

Puerto Galera
Just south of Manila is the charming coastal town of Puerto Galera, well-favoured for its gorgeous beaches, excellent diving spots and wide diversity of marine species. The most popular beaches are White Beach and Sabang Beach, which also offer nearby shopping, dining, nightlife and hotel accommodation. Another popular attraction is the natural harbour of Muelle Bay with its rows of shops, restaurants and bars. Visitors can also go snorkelling to see some of Asia’s best coral reefs or dive among old shipwrecks and hundreds of fish species.

Banuae and Cordilleras’ Rice Terraces
The mountainous terrain of the Philippines’ Cordilleras kept the Spanish colonizers away, allowing the Ifugao of these parts to keep their unique culture alive. Today, buses regularly ply the treacherously curvy roads leading into Banaue – you can now take a nine-hour bus ride from Manila into the mountains, going where conquistadores feared to tread. This top Philippine tourist spot is now featured on the Php 1,000 note. The agricultural engineering system represented here was built 2000 years ago without modern tools by the Ifugao tribes and passed on from generation to generation, these magnificent farm terraces resemble giant steps reaching up to the sky. Though the serene and impressive flats would be enough to make this a must-see, the spectacular wood-carved rice guardians make the trip even more worthwhile. The ancient, crude sculptures are reminiscent of tikis, and believed to protect the crops from harm. Though tourism has brought the Western world to an ancient way of life and created a large tourist market here, there are opportunities to visit less touristy towns whose rice crops are still the main staple of their economy for those seeking a more authentic experience. Hike around the UNESCO World Heritage sites and you’ll find a way of life that revolves around rice. You’ll also walk some pretty challenging hiking trails that plunge steeply down mountainsides and right alongside sheer cliff faces. Don’t forget to look around you – the sight of the rice terraces surrounding you will be one you will cherish long after you are back home.

We will cover more of the Philippines and especially Luzon in the next blog post