Philippines travel information
There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippine archipelago, volcanic in origin and forming part of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'. The climate is tropical with heavy rainfall and dense forest, and the terrain is mountainous with large coastal plains where sugar can, hemp, copra and tobacco are grown. The two largest islands are Luzon in the north and Mindanao to the south, with the capital Manila on the southern coast of Luzon. The Philippines' clear waters, tropical climate, abundant coral reefs and varied marine life make them an excellent destination for snorkelling and diving, and among the many projects of the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation is a project in which volunteers can participate in the south of Luzon.
Successive waves of immigration account for the country's ethnic diversity, with native Aetas and Igorots being joined by Malay and Indonesian peoples between the 24th century BC and 11th century AD, and a significant number of Chinese traders establishing themselves by the 15th century at which time there was an influx of Islamic communities from Borneo. Spanish colonists arrived in the 16th century with US colonisation following after 1898. Filipino religions, languages and traditions reflect this diversity, although the most evident and widespread are the Spanish and US influences.
