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ABOUT THE PHILIPPINESThe Philippines are located in the Pacific Ocean and belong to Southeast Asia.
The island state consists of 7641 islands. The majority of the population in the Philippines is Catholic. The Philippines are divided into 3 major regions:
The capital of the Philippines is Manila. Together with 17 other cities, they form the Metro Manila region with around 14,4 million people (as of 2022). |
Metro Manila consists of Manila, the cities of Navotas City, Caloocan City, Malabon City and Valenzuela City in the north, Quezon City and Marikina City in the northeast, San Juan, Pasig City and Mandaluyong City in the east, Makati and Pateros in the southeast and Pasay, Taguig and Parañaque City in the south. |
Climate.
The climate of the Philippines is tropical and subtropical in the higher regions of the mountains. The average annual temperature is 26.5 degrees Celsius.
Typhoons and tropical storms occur in the Philippines year round. The northern and eastern parts of the archipelago are regularly hit by typhoons, some of which are violent, from July to September, which can reach wind speeds of over 250 km / h. The rest of the archipelago is hit by sometimes violent tropical storms over the year, some of which cause large amounts of rain to fall over the land masses. The highest annual rainfall occurs in the central and eastern parts of the island of Luzon.
Typhoons and tropical storms occur in the Philippines year round. The northern and eastern parts of the archipelago are regularly hit by typhoons, some of which are violent, from July to September, which can reach wind speeds of over 250 km / h. The rest of the archipelago is hit by sometimes violent tropical storms over the year, some of which cause large amounts of rain to fall over the land masses. The highest annual rainfall occurs in the central and eastern parts of the island of Luzon.
Population.
Filipino (m.) and Filipina (w.) is in Tagalog (or the official language, Filipino), the name for the inhabitants. The colloquial form is Pinoy or Pinay (Tagalog, colloquial language). In German you can also say Filipinos. The total population in 2020 was around 108 million (as of 2019) . The population is very young with an average of 23.4 years.
The Philippines are a country of emigration. In 2017, the number of people who emigrated was 5.7 million. The most frequent destination countries were the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates , Canada and Japan. With only 0.2% of the population, the proportion of foreigners in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world.
The Philippines are a country of emigration. In 2017, the number of people who emigrated was 5.7 million. The most frequent destination countries were the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates , Canada and Japan. With only 0.2% of the population, the proportion of foreigners in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world.
Languages.
The official languages are Filippino and English.
Politics.
In 1987 a new constitution came into force and since 1987 the Philippines have been a presidential republic again. The President has extensive executive powers. He convenes the cabinet. In May 2022, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elected President of the Philippines. The Congress consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The lowest level of administration in the Philippines is the barangay. Each city and each independently administered municipality is made up of several barangays (a total of 38,957 barangays), which can therefore be viewed as districts. The next level up are the country's 81 provinces. These in turn are grouped into 17 regions to simplify administration. Each province is headed by a governor and a lieutenant governor; whereas each city and municipality is headed by a mayor and a city council.
Economy.
Currency:
1 Philippine Peso = 100 Centavos
1 EUR = 56,620 PHP (August 2022)
From a European perspective, the Philippines are one of the poorer countries. There is a strong economic contrast between a small, rich upper class and the broad majority of the population. In the metropolitan region of Manila, for example, there is on the one hand the clean and safe skyscraper city of Makati City with numerous international companies, on the other hand there are also many slums without sufficient water and electricity supplies. Furthermore, there is a clear north-south divide in income.
The main trading partners are the People's Republic of China, the United States and Japan. The main export goods are electronics, machines and means of transport. The Philippines' economic output has grown steadily by 6 to 7 percent annually in recent years, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Philippines has a very strong service sector due to the widespread knowledge of English. Call centers in particular that work for American companies are very numerous in the Philippines. Other service branches are accounting and software development, as Filipino university graduates are very well trained in these areas, but still have quite low salaries.
The tourism sector is growing rapidly. In 2016, the country was visited by approximately 6 million tourists, spending $ 5.1 billion. Tourist arrivals have almost doubled since 2010. The acquisition of real estate is only possible for Filipino citizens, foreigners can only acquire real estate under certain conditions. However, it is possible to acquire Filipino citizenship as a foreigner. In the Global Competitiveness Index, which measures a country's competitiveness, the Philippines ranks 56th out of 137 countries (2017-2018).
1 Philippine Peso = 100 Centavos
1 EUR = 56,620 PHP (August 2022)
From a European perspective, the Philippines are one of the poorer countries. There is a strong economic contrast between a small, rich upper class and the broad majority of the population. In the metropolitan region of Manila, for example, there is on the one hand the clean and safe skyscraper city of Makati City with numerous international companies, on the other hand there are also many slums without sufficient water and electricity supplies. Furthermore, there is a clear north-south divide in income.
The main trading partners are the People's Republic of China, the United States and Japan. The main export goods are electronics, machines and means of transport. The Philippines' economic output has grown steadily by 6 to 7 percent annually in recent years, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Philippines has a very strong service sector due to the widespread knowledge of English. Call centers in particular that work for American companies are very numerous in the Philippines. Other service branches are accounting and software development, as Filipino university graduates are very well trained in these areas, but still have quite low salaries.
The tourism sector is growing rapidly. In 2016, the country was visited by approximately 6 million tourists, spending $ 5.1 billion. Tourist arrivals have almost doubled since 2010. The acquisition of real estate is only possible for Filipino citizens, foreigners can only acquire real estate under certain conditions. However, it is possible to acquire Filipino citizenship as a foreigner. In the Global Competitiveness Index, which measures a country's competitiveness, the Philippines ranks 56th out of 137 countries (2017-2018).
Transportation.
Traffic in Manila
Transportation is based on shipping, aviation and road transport.
Shipping dominates national traffic, followed by air traffic. The largest passenger shipping company is the SuperFerry Cooperation, followed by Negros Navigation. Both companies offer ferry connections throughout the Philippines, including long-haul routes.
The plane is the fastest mode of transportation in the Philippines. The country's largest airline is Philippine Airlines, which offers international routes to the regions of North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Your domestic offshoot is Airphil Express. The largest domestic airline is the Cebu Pacific, it offers flights to all regions of the country. Smaller airlines are Zest Airways and Tigerair Philippines. The main international airport in the Philippines is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. There are no direct flights from Switzerland to the Philippines.
The railroad is underdeveloped and essentially consists of a single Philippine National Railways (PNR) rail line into the Bicol region. In Manila there is an elevated railway system, the Mass Rapid Transit Manila (on the route of EDSA Avenue), and the Light Rapid Transit (direct north-south connection).
On the big islands, coaches run regularly between the big cities, most of which are air-conditioned. Buses running in the capital Manila are called "ordinary". Almost all over the country, jeepneys and tricycles (motorized three-wheelers) dominate short-haul traffic in cities.
Shipping dominates national traffic, followed by air traffic. The largest passenger shipping company is the SuperFerry Cooperation, followed by Negros Navigation. Both companies offer ferry connections throughout the Philippines, including long-haul routes.
The plane is the fastest mode of transportation in the Philippines. The country's largest airline is Philippine Airlines, which offers international routes to the regions of North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Your domestic offshoot is Airphil Express. The largest domestic airline is the Cebu Pacific, it offers flights to all regions of the country. Smaller airlines are Zest Airways and Tigerair Philippines. The main international airport in the Philippines is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. There are no direct flights from Switzerland to the Philippines.
The railroad is underdeveloped and essentially consists of a single Philippine National Railways (PNR) rail line into the Bicol region. In Manila there is an elevated railway system, the Mass Rapid Transit Manila (on the route of EDSA Avenue), and the Light Rapid Transit (direct north-south connection).
On the big islands, coaches run regularly between the big cities, most of which are air-conditioned. Buses running in the capital Manila are called "ordinary". Almost all over the country, jeepneys and tricycles (motorized three-wheelers) dominate short-haul traffic in cities.
Filipino cuisine.
Fish and seafood, along with rice, are the staple foods in the Philippines. Fish is often simply fried and eaten with rice and vegetables. Sinigang na isda (a sour soup) or inihaw (grilled fish) are made from larger fish. Pork and chicken are also popular.
The national dish is adobo, which consists of pork, beef, poultry, fish or vegetables, which is steamed. There are also vinegar, garlic, onions, pepper and, depending on the region, soy sauce or coconut milk. For festive occasions, grilled suckling pig with liver sauce is usually served, known in the Philippines under the Spanish name Lechón. Other popular foods are grilled meat or fish skewers.
Kare-Kare (oxtail and / or beef in peanut sauce) is also very popular. The dishes are not as strongly seasoned as in other Asian countries, a lot of coconut milk is used for this.
In the province of Bicol, however, people like to eat spicy, the so-called Bicol Express, for example, is very similar to Thai curry.
Dumplings filled with meat or vegetables (Siopao) are of Chinese origin. Long noodles (pancit), which are supposed to symbolize a long life, are served on birthdays and celebrations. Pancit, like spring rolls (lumpia), are also of Chinese origin. As a snack between meals there is, for example, a Spanish pan de sal (small bread roll), but also rice cakes such as puto or bibingka. The Chinese dishes Hopia (pastries with bean paste) or Pancit canton (wok noodles) are also very popular.
A popular snack in the Philippines is the balut. Balut is a cooked but hatched duck egg. Inside the egg is a duck embryo with a beak and a feather base. The Filippinos like to consume it as a small strengthening agent, in which the liquid is first slurped from the egg and then the solid content is consumed. In the old days there was a myth that balut would increase potency.
Mangoes are among the most famous exports of the Philippines. Halo-halo, a mixture of shaved ice, milk, taro, desiccated coconut, caramel pudding, beans, and fruit, is often sold on the street and in fast food restaurants. A similar dessert is nata de coco. Due to the Spanish and American colonization, cutlery is used when eating, but mostly without a knife, just a spoon and fork. The rural population and traditional snacks, however, mainly eat with the fingers. A condiment that is often rejected by Western visitors is bagoong, a paste made from fermented shrimp.
The national dish is adobo, which consists of pork, beef, poultry, fish or vegetables, which is steamed. There are also vinegar, garlic, onions, pepper and, depending on the region, soy sauce or coconut milk. For festive occasions, grilled suckling pig with liver sauce is usually served, known in the Philippines under the Spanish name Lechón. Other popular foods are grilled meat or fish skewers.
Kare-Kare (oxtail and / or beef in peanut sauce) is also very popular. The dishes are not as strongly seasoned as in other Asian countries, a lot of coconut milk is used for this.
In the province of Bicol, however, people like to eat spicy, the so-called Bicol Express, for example, is very similar to Thai curry.
Dumplings filled with meat or vegetables (Siopao) are of Chinese origin. Long noodles (pancit), which are supposed to symbolize a long life, are served on birthdays and celebrations. Pancit, like spring rolls (lumpia), are also of Chinese origin. As a snack between meals there is, for example, a Spanish pan de sal (small bread roll), but also rice cakes such as puto or bibingka. The Chinese dishes Hopia (pastries with bean paste) or Pancit canton (wok noodles) are also very popular.
A popular snack in the Philippines is the balut. Balut is a cooked but hatched duck egg. Inside the egg is a duck embryo with a beak and a feather base. The Filippinos like to consume it as a small strengthening agent, in which the liquid is first slurped from the egg and then the solid content is consumed. In the old days there was a myth that balut would increase potency.
Mangoes are among the most famous exports of the Philippines. Halo-halo, a mixture of shaved ice, milk, taro, desiccated coconut, caramel pudding, beans, and fruit, is often sold on the street and in fast food restaurants. A similar dessert is nata de coco. Due to the Spanish and American colonization, cutlery is used when eating, but mostly without a knife, just a spoon and fork. The rural population and traditional snacks, however, mainly eat with the fingers. A condiment that is often rejected by Western visitors is bagoong, a paste made from fermented shrimp.
Tourist Attractions.
Volcano Mount Mayon
The famous rice terraces of Banaue and Batad as well as the volcanoes Pinatubo, Taal and Mayon (which many consider the most beautiful volcano in the world as it rises as an almost perfect cone from a flat plain) are located on Luzon.
About two hours from Manila in the Laguna province are the famous Pagsanjan waterfalls.
Also noteworthy are the many beaches that the coasts of the Philippines have to offer.
Important sights are part of the world cultural or natural heritage, such as the baroque church of San Agustín in Intramuros (Manila). Not known to many is the historic Spanish old town of Vigan, which is worth a visit.
The Rizal Park in Manila is of great national importance. Outside of Manila is the Baroque church in Daraga, Albay province (Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church), built in 1773 and declared a National Heritage Site in 2007. The church stands on a mountain hill in Daraga, from which one has a panoramic view of the famous Mayon volcano.
On Bohol there are the Chocolate Hills, which are reminiscent of Toblerone chocolate in their shape and have been declared a National Natural Monument. A total of 1268 mounds of this shape have been counted in the area.
The most famous national park is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which is home to the longest underground river in the world.
About two hours from Manila in the Laguna province are the famous Pagsanjan waterfalls.
Also noteworthy are the many beaches that the coasts of the Philippines have to offer.
Important sights are part of the world cultural or natural heritage, such as the baroque church of San Agustín in Intramuros (Manila). Not known to many is the historic Spanish old town of Vigan, which is worth a visit.
The Rizal Park in Manila is of great national importance. Outside of Manila is the Baroque church in Daraga, Albay province (Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church), built in 1773 and declared a National Heritage Site in 2007. The church stands on a mountain hill in Daraga, from which one has a panoramic view of the famous Mayon volcano.
On Bohol there are the Chocolate Hills, which are reminiscent of Toblerone chocolate in their shape and have been declared a National Natural Monument. A total of 1268 mounds of this shape have been counted in the area.
The most famous national park is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which is home to the longest underground river in the world.
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Concert of Freddie Aguilar
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Concert of Freddie Aguilar
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