Tuesday 24 January 2012

Philippines Overview


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The Republic of the Philippines, an island nation located in the Malay archipelago in Southeast Asia, comprising of 7,107 islands, collectively known as Philippine Archipelago, has a total area of nearly 300,000 square kilometers to it's credit. The country, named "Las Islas Felipinas" after King Philip II of Spain, fell prey to Spanish colonialism in 1565. The colonial rule lasted for three long centuries and ended after Philippine Revolution of 1896. But independence, the most prized political ambition of modern times, was not forthcoming for it yet. It was ceded to the US in 1898 in the wake of the Spanish-American War, and it was only in 1946 that they saw the run of independence rise after Japanese occupation in World War II. However, it was as late as in 1992 that the US finally closed its last military bases on the islands and left the Philippine soil for good. Manila is now the capital of Philippines. The history of the Philippines can be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521); the Spanish period (1521-1898); the American period (1898-1946); and the post-independence period (1946-present).


 The video above best describes about the Philippines. The Capital of the Philippines is Manila where many of Filipinos live. It's a pity that Manila is often disparaged, as there's much here to like. For one, all the adjectives often used to describe the Philippines - jovial, laid back, casual, corrupt, shambolic, earnest and more are on display here more than anywhere else in the country. It's a truly teeming metropolis that gets bigger each day, both in population, with people pouring in from the hinterlands, and size, as new developments in all directions swallow up villages and rice fields.Manila can be a very discombobulated place, for it is really just a collection of towns with no definable centre. The walled Intramuros area was the traditional centre of Manila, but was mostly wiped out in WWII and has never recovered. Binondo, Quiapo, Ermita and Malate have never been more than a supporting cast for a star that doesn't exist. Still, you may well find lots of fun in Ermita and Malate, while Binondo and Quiapo have a certain raw energy and unique markets. And Intramuros is a good place to explore, just to find the bones of its past.

Other parts of town are more lively. At the centre of modern Manila is Makati, the commercial centre for the country. Here, in almost orderly surroundings, you can shop, eat and drink to your heart's content. It transcends the generic-mall syndrome by having its own unique vibe that comes from the hordes of locals who come here to work, relax and play. As many will tell you, 'this is the Manila we wish we had'.

Rather than seeing Manila as an amorphous mass, focus instead on enjoying its individual areas, and you will start to get a feel for the greater Manila, which really is a sum of its parts.The Philippine economy has shown a great degree of resilience, which is generally attributed to low foreign inflows and the fact that Philippines' is a largely agriculture-based economy. Economic set backs could not throw the Philippine economy out of gear when it struck the nation in 1999. The growth rate came down to 3 percent in 1999 but rose remarkably to 4 percent in 2000, and by 2004 the Philippine had registered an admirable 6 percent growth recovering from the East Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.




This video is one of the most visited dive site in the Philippines which is one of the tourist attraction. The Philippines is tropical archipelago located near the equator. The climate and location of the Philippines makes it a great place for divers to explore the great aquatic life. People are always fascinated by the wonderful colors and variation of marine life. It is a guarantee that when you decide to go to the Philippines you will have more than enough dive sites to satisfy you. Here is a list of some of the best dive sites in the Philippines.

Monday 23 January 2012

When to go to Philippines ?

Philippines- the land of the tropical rain forests, active volcanoes, varied wildlife, corals, rich flora and fauna and a giving nature. Consisting of nearly around 7,107 islands, Philippines forms an archipelago bounded by sea on the east, west and the south. Covering a total area of 3, 00, 000 square kilometers, the entire cluster of islands is divided into three distinctive groups Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. With so much to explore the only question that comes to mind is When to go to Philippines.
With a rugged terrain the region is predominantly volcanic giving rise to some awesome geographical features and water bodies which has given rise to a lot of exciting water sports. Every island has their own specialty but the spirit of hospitality is the same anywhere you go.
The islands are inhabited by the local tribes practicing occupations which have helped in keeping the traditional arts and crafts of the country alive.
In terms of economic growth too the country is making a gradual progress. The country has a strong agricultural base as the volcanic activities have given rise to extensive tracts of fertile lands which produces a great variety of crops like rice, corn, sugarcane and fruits like bananas and pine apples.
The favorable geographical conditions have boosted up the tourism sector and tourists are keen to visit this exotic island location. However a detailed knowledge about the climate will surely help in deciding when to go to Philippines.
The general climate is tropical with hot and humid conditions. The country experiences heavy rainfall during the rainy season often accompanied by typhoons as well as high temperatures during the summer months.
Philippines enjoy three distinctive seasons:
Summer Season- March to May
Winter Season- December to February
Monsoon Season- June to November
So the best time to visit Philippines is during the months of November to March and April. The weather is dry and pleasant as the trade winds bring no rainfall.


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Philippines Tourist Information

The geographical location states its position in the Malay Archipelago in South East Asia. The Republic of Philippines is a truly remarkable country with a culture as rich as its glorious past fraught by many foreign influences like that of the Spanish and the American. Despite of being colonized to foreign powers, the country has remained unchanged; it has not compromised with its authenticity, its decorum, code of conduct and culture and has retained its typical Filipino spirit. Rather what it has done is, it has imbibed the best of both the worlds and have shaped what we know today as the Republic of Philippines.
For those interested in visiting the exotic island destination and enjoying to their fullest, note should be made of the Tourist Information that is available. Your holiday would be without any trouble and a memorable one.

Reviving from the influences of the colonizers, the country has invited and seen growth and development in every phase. Today, it has got its own independent place under the blue skies and has succeeded in gaining the status of an important commercial center as well as a hot tourist destination. Mother Nature has been generous in Philippines case, it has got the best of sandy beaches, an awesome spread of lush green tropical rain forests, islands which are like pearls in the depth of the ocean, an envious collection of corals and flora and fauna, fresh fruits and a good catch from the sea. For the tourists it has more on offer- shopping malls, night life and adventure sports. The country now has become self sufficient and is proud of the excellence achieved in the field of communication, business and medical services.
In the world map therefore Philippines has really carved out a niche for itself. The tourism of the country has seen a boost in recent years and hopes to see a steady growth in the future.


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Philippines Time Zones

Time Zones are an important feature in every country and vary accordingly with the respective geographical extent in which each country lies. It generally refers to a specific region of the Earth; that has accepted the same standard time known to be the local time. However in deciding the time zones one standard factor is always kept in mind and that is the Greenwich Mean Time. The Greenwich Mean Time or GMT refers to the ‘mean solar time’ at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in England.
Philippine Time Zone or the Philippine Time refers to the term by which Philippine describes or denotes its place among the other time zones in the world. With is geographical location of being situated in the east of the Prime Meridian Philippines falls in the UTC+ 8 time zone. That is, the country has only one time zone, 120 degrees East Meridian Time, which is calculated to be 8 hours advance of the Greenwich Mean Time or GMT.
However the standard time in Philippines is calculated in relation to the current time in Manila. Time differences may vary according to the regions as such it is seen that the time in Davao City is 15 minutes ahead of what is recorded in the capital City of Manila. The Philippine Standard Time defining procedure was instituted according to the law describing the Metric System (Batas Pambansa). It got its approval on 2nd December, 1978 and was put to use in 1st January, 1983.
The Standard Time in Philippines or the time zone in which Philippine falls is recorded and maintained by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.


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Philippines Things to Know

The Archipelagic country of Philippines with its collection of more than 7000 islands comprises of lots of places to explore than you can actually count on your fingers. It’s always helpful to know something about the country you are planning to visit prior o your journey. The ultimate benefit will be yours if you are accustomed to certain norms or things that are followed and practiced by the common people in their daily life. So certain Things to Know before you visit Philippines are:

Country- The Republic of Philippines
Geographical Location- Malay Archipelago, South East Asia
Standard Time- The local time is 8 hours in addition to the Greenwich Mean Time
Common Language- Filipino is the local language; however English is the widely spoken dialect.
Local Currency- Peso, foreign currency can be converted at banks, hotels and other authorized places. However credit cards and traveler’s cheques can also be used.
How to get to Philippines- The country boasts of a number of national and International Airports. However the Ninoy Aquino international Airport and the Mactan International Airport are the prime international Airports. A valid passport and accurate visa details will ensure a problem free entry into the country.
Local Transport- The country maintains a good transport infrastructure. Buses, taxis, Jeepneys, ferries are available in abundance and ensures good service.

What to Wear- The climate is tropical so casual dresses are the general recommendation. However the formal attire consists of dinner jackets for men and gowns or women.
Dining and Drinking- The Philippine Food is famous for its variety and freshness. A large number of restaurants are present which specializes in the local fare as well as international delicacies. The sea food and the fruits are a must try. The water to be used for drinking should be boiled, so is the milk.
Business Hours- Offices both Private and Government are open five days a week, some even working on Saturdays for half the day. The timings generally are from 8 or 9 A.M in the morning till 5 to 6 P.M in the evening. The shopping centers and department stores are open daily. 24 hours open medical stores are also present.
The Banks generally work from Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 A.M to 3:00 A.M generally

Medical Facilities- Philippine boasts of some excellent hospitals and health clinics in the major cities and provinces in the country, nevertheless a prior vaccination against yellow fever, hepatitis B, and typhoid is advisable.


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