7 Unique Facts About the Philippines, Land of a Thousand Islands

The Philippines is known as a holiday paradise that draws huge numbers of tourists, with beautiful islands and colorful traditional festivals. On top of that, this land of a thousand islands has many fascinating features that not everyone knows about.

Officially called the Republic of the Philippines, the country has more than 7,600 islands large and small in Southeast Asia. Located close to the equator, it has been blessed by nature with remarkably rich and varied resources. The Philippines has a total area of about 300,000 km2 and a population of over 110 million. The host of the 2019 SEA Games also has the following unique features:

The Philippines has over 7,641 islands large and small

This is a standout feature that few countries share. For decades, Filipinos believed their country had only 7,107 islands. But in 2013, NAMRIA, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority under the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources, used new technology to survey more of the land above sea level.

By the end of 2013, NAMRIA had officially identified over 500 previously unknown islands, bringing the country's total to about 7,641 islands.

Manila: the most densely populated city in the world

Anyone traveling to the Philippines surely wants to visit and experience the development of Manila, the country's main city. Manila is also known as the most densely populated city in the world (within its city limits), and its traffic is often congested.

In fact, Manila covers only about 62 km2, yet it is home to about 1.8 million people, with a birth rate of about 3 children per woman. So when traveling in the Philippines, try to avoid rush hour to keep from getting stuck in traffic.

The Philippines is home to some of the oldest schools in Asia and the world

The Philippines is also famous for having some of the oldest universities in Asia and the largest in the world. The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, founded in 1611, is one of the largest Catholic universities in the world.

Then there is the University of San Carlos in Cebu, a Catholic university founded in 1595 by a Spanish priest. It is known as one of the oldest universities in Asia, older even than Harvard University in the United States.

Most Filipinos speak English

Although it is a Southeast Asian country, English is one of the Philippines' two official languages (alongside Filipino) and is widely used in schools and offices.

So foreign tourists don't face any language barrier in the Philippines. Besides English, about 175 languages are used here, of which about 171 are considered "living", while other tribes have about 4 languages spoken by few people. Today the most widely spoken languages are Filipino (Tagalog), English, Cebuano and Ilocano.

What's more, English courses in the Philippines are good quality and quite cheap. A trip to the Philippines is a great opportunity to improve your language skills.

Ride a jeepney, the Philippines' most iconic sight

You can't talk about the Philippines without mentioning jeepneys, the symbol of the host of the 30th SEA Games. These vehicles were modeled on US military jeeps from World War II. They are the most common means of transport for middle- and lower-income people, with cheap fares starting at about 13 pesos for the first stretch.

Riding a jeepney is a fun experience that nearly every visitor to the Philippines wants to try, cruising along the streets. Each jeepney runs a fixed route painted on its side, so passengers just hop on one heading where they need to go, hand the fare to the driver and ring the bell when they reach their stop.

Although jeepneys are mainly used by ordinary working people, they are a source of pride for Filipinos. They are usually decorated with unique patterns and religious images, and play music to entertain passengers. Today there are over 50,000 jeepneys running in Manila.

The Philippines, land of beauty queens

Everyone knows the Philippines is beautiful, not just for its scenery but also for its people. The country has won more than 15 titles at the world's four biggest beauty pageants.

The Philippines is gradually taking the lead in the Big Four pageants: Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss World and Miss Universe. And as host of the 30th SEA Games in 2019, the country's beauty queens will parade with the athletes of the Southeast Asian nations at the opening ceremony.

The friendly manners of Filipinos

One reason more and more foreigners visit the Philippines is the way people treat them. Locals usually address visitors as Sir or Ma'am, whatever their age.

Filipinos also use honorifics such as "Kuya" and "Ate" (big brother, big sister) to address people slightly older than themselves. Special groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities always get their own priority lines when waiting at restaurants, banks or bus stops. In some cases, though, their manners can lead to funny situations and test visitors' social skills: you'll rarely hear a Filipino say "no" when you ask for something or ask a question.

The Philippines, land of a thousand islands, always has plenty of special and fascinating things for visitors to discover. We hope you'll find time to experience them and see for yourself how wonderful the Philippines is, from its people to its nature.

Hà.R (Compiled)