Leisure

The Philippines is the Cinderella of the Far East. Over two million tourists visit every year. It may seem a lot but is nothing like the numbers that flock to Thailand and Malaysia - countries where the tourism infrastructure is far more developed - but the numbers are growing.

The advantages and attractions: Filipinos are a charming, courteous, fun-loving people. Most speak English. Throughout the islands, frequent fiestas are celebrated and foreigners are always made especially welcome.

The Philippines offers long, white sand beaches, an immense variety of marine life and a tropical party lifestyle. With over 7,000 islands, and a coastline twice the length of that of the United States, the Philippines might one day become Asia's holiday capital.

It is also home to Boracay, whose four-km White Beach has been hailed as the 'finest beach in the world.'

The famous jeepney is the most popular mode of transport. It's cheap, it's fun and you can get on an off practically anywhere you want.

The Philippines is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of flora and fauna that are found nowhere else in the world such as the Philippine Eagle, the biggest eagle in the world.

It has the extraordinary Banaue Rice Terraces - a world heritage site and 'eighth wonder of the world - carved from the high Cordilleras over 2,000 years ago.

Given the country's many scenic attractions and its people's well-known hospitality, the Philippines should be a natural tourist magnet. However, principally due to negative publicity and the lack of funds to launch a worldwide and sustained marketing campaign, the Philippine tourism industry has not quite really taken off.

The Department of Tourism trumpeted 2004 as a 'banner year for tourism' for setting a new record in tourist arrivals despite the travel advisories issued last year by the UK, US Australia and Japanese governments.

This year Tourism Secretary Joseph 'Ace' Durano says he is confident that tourist arrivals will exceed the department's 2005 target of 2.5 million visitors.

'I know this is not much compared to the arrivals our neighbours are getting, but if you consider where we were before, then, this is already quite a significant achievement for the industry.'

Tourists from the US make up the biggest group of visitors, accounting for just over 20 per cent.

Senate President Franklin Drilon says that the Philippines is lagging behind in the global air travel race due to inadequate and outmoded air transport facilities.

On the question of security, Durano says: 'Let us put this in the proper context. First, there is really no country in this world that is 100 per cent safe, even developed countries have crimes. Second, if we are not a hospitable place for foreigners, why are there so many of them who have decided to make the Philippines their home? In fact, among Asian countries, we have the biggest number of foreign retirees in this country.'

Eating and drinking

Filipino cuisine has Chinese, Malay and Spanish influences. Popular morning and afternoon snacks are called merienda, and pulutan (small morsels). Barbecued sticks of meat or seafood are popular evening snacks.

Standard dishes, always served with rice, include meat and vegetables cooked with vinegar and garlic, grilled grouper, meat stews and a huge variety of soups - rice, noodle, beef, chicken, liver, kneecap, offal and sour vegetable. Side dishes include strips of unripened papaya, fermented fish or shrimp paste and bite-sized pieces of crispy pigskin. Halo-halo is a dessert made from crushed ice mixed with sweets and fruits and smothered in evaporated milk.

Added March 2007 by KT:
I've been visiting the Philippines since 1987 and am a great beer drinker. Although I do enjoy San Miguel Pilsen it has become quite apparent that there is a lack of other brands available for the discerning beer lover here. Outside of the San Miguel brands there is "Beer Na Beer", Carlsberg, Budweiser, "Colt 45", "Tiger", etc. With all of the Microbrewing going on in the Western world, and seeing so many beer drinking Western Expats living and vacationing here, I'm very curious as to why i've seen no microbrews (Fat Tire Ale, Red Hook ESB, etc) popping up anywere here as i've seen in other places I've visited in the West. Something to do with brewery monopoly?