| Somewhere in Southeast Asia between the Philippine | | | | A Pocketful of Paradise |
| Sea and the East China Sea, east of Vietnam, south | | | | The nation is divided into three main regions, each |
| of Taiwan and just north of Indonesia, lies a much | | | | with its own metropolitan hub and particular points of |
| neglected but historically and ecologically prized | | | | interest. Luzon to the north is the most populated |
| archipelago known as the Philippines. This understated | | | | region, with the expansive capital city Manila as its |
| cluster of 7,107 islands is the perfect tropical | | | | main destination. Travel farther north to Banaue |
| getaway balanced with just enough colonial cultural | | | | where a spectacle of rice terraces had been etched |
| intrigue and undulating urban energy to keep you | | | | up along the hillside by the Ifugao tribespeople over |
| going. Despite the country's somewhat turbulent | | | | 2000 years ago. Also, don't miss the truly isolating |
| recent history, the Philippines has reached a level of | | | | beauty of Hundred Islands National Park where you |
| stability making no better time than now to travel | | | | may just find a beach all to yourself, as there are |
| the wonders of the island-nation. | | | | literally hundreds to choose from. The central region |
| Colonial Legacy, Indigenous Heritage | | | | of Visayas is mostly smaller island clusters and |
| The first western encounter with the Philippines | | | | famous for Boracay Island's White Beach and |
| occurred when Spain's Ferdinand Magellan arrived in | | | | surrounding resort and aquatic activity areas. Make |
| 1521, initiating over 300 years of Spanish colonization. | | | | sure to explore the island's less crowded, but just as |
| A tremendous amount of today's Filipino population is | | | | white-and-turquoise beaches. The southernmost |
| a fraction Spanish, although a negligible number of | | | | region of Mindanao is home to Davao, the largest city |
| residents are completely Spanish. The United States | | | | in the world by land area, and the stately Mount Apo, |
| took over colonization in 1899 until the Japanese | | | | the Philippine's tallest mountain. Enjoy a thrilling river |
| invasion of the strategic islands during World War II. | | | | rafting trip in Cagayan de Oro or get back to basic |
| Following Japanese defeat, the Philippines received its | | | | Filipino life in the Tiruray Highlands where the remote |
| independence in 1946. American cultural and military | | | | shores of Lake Sebu are peacefully inhabited by the |
| influence still permeates through island culture, | | | | T'boli tribe. |
| although the last U.S. military base has finally been | | | | While the Getting's Good |
| closed. Original human settlement in the region began | | | | With nearly 40,000 kilometers of coastline, a |
| about thirty thousand years ago when people | | | | fantasy-like landscape of tropical greenery, and |
| crossed then-existing land bridges from Asia. | | | | world-class cities offering world-class cuisine and |
| Malaysian and Indonesian settlers joined the fray a | | | | lifestyle, it's hard to imagine that this puddle-jump in |
| few thousand years later to constitute a most | | | | Southeast Asia will remain a secret for long. See for |
| interesting blend of semi-indigenous cultures still | | | | yourself why the Philippines is one of the last |
| present in the Philippines today. Direct descendents | | | | remaining gems of biodiversity and indigenous culture |
| of the first arrivals currently live in the northern | | | | in this ever-growing region of the world! |
| province of Zambales. | | | | |