I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in the Philippines. While traveling in Asia, we were able to spend an entire month in the Philippines. What surprised me the most about our time there was how little I actually knew about the country before we arrived. When most people think of the Philippines, they might think about boxing and tropical storms. Non-travelers may not even be aware of its exact geographic location. After spending a month traveling around the Philippines, we learned so much about the island nation. The more we learned, the less we felt like we actually knew, though. These ten items were just some of the things that stood out to me as being super unique and interesting about the Philippines, that perhaps will be new to you like they were to me.
#1 English is recognized as an official language
English speakers in the PhilippinesPeople always say you can get by just fine in Asia speaking only English, but that isn’t necessarily true everywhere in the region. I usually just assume that English won’t be spoken and then I can be pleasantly surprised if it is. Filipino people speak a great deal of different languages that change depending on which one of their many islands you are visiting. However, English is spoken by roughly 3/4 of the country’s population. Not only could we “get by” speaking English, but we were actually able to have plenty of meaningful conversations and make plenty of friends because of the shared language. What’s even more interesting is the sound of the accent. Some people hardly have an accent at all while other’s sound a bit more latino when they speak English, with rolled r’s and such.
#2 Catholicism is the dominant religion
Cathedral in the Philippines This comes in sharp contrast to Muslim majority neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia and of course the Buddhist majority countries that make up the rest of Asia. Catholicism made its way into the Philippines during the colonial days and as things tend to go on the islands, it never left. Almost the entire population considers themselves to be Christian. The temples and shrines that are commonly seen all over the rest of Asia are instead old colonial cathedrals. Roseries hang from every rearview mirror and the virgin Mary can be seen painted on every tuk-tuk and motorbike. We walked through a massive outdoor mass in Cebu city and it felt no different than those we have observed in Latin America.
#3 Basketball is the national past time
Yes, the name Manny Pacquiao is a household name in the Philippines and it is hard to escape the legacy that the world famous Filipino boxer has left on his home country. Boxing matches are played on television in every bar and restaurant and draw sizable crowds for watching them. However, while the sport of boxing is the favorite spectator sport, basketball is the preferred sport of play for most Filipinos. It can be a bucket without the bottom tied to a coconut tree for all anyone cares. Crowds will gather and teams of shirtless, barefoot players will play until the sun goes down. Basketball has taken the country by storm. Everyone can be seen out and about wearing their counterfeit Golden State jerseys and pick up games take place on the beach, in the countryside and in the inner cities. Filipinos LOVE basketball.
#4 You eat with your hands
While this custom isn’t unique to only the Philippines, it is pretty unique in Asia. Eating with your bare hands comes in sharp contrast to the chopsticks and soup dishes that are common throughout the rest of Asia. It also comes in sharp contrast to the overly sanitary eating behaviors you see in places like Korea and Japan (although sushi is sometimes eaten with hands.) In the Philippines, sticky rice is served with every meal and is used to push around and grab other food from your plate. Chicken, fish and lechón (pork) are indisputable finger foods in any Filipino restaurant or households. Some restaurants even provide plastic bags or plastic gloves to wear on your hands if there is not a sink for washing them after you eat.
#5 The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 Islands
I was once told that the number of islands fluctuates year over year because of changing tides and sea levels. I can’t even imagine how the Philippine government is able to keep up with all of those islands and their inhabitants. Flying between the islands is cheap and easy and many locals do so often. However, the majority of islands can only be reached by ferry or slow boat. There is a vast and complex transportation network for traveling between islands in the Philippines. It is organized chaos at best and makes the journey all the more exciting. We usually don’t fly between cities within a country, but at $20-$30 a ticket to save you a 32 hour boat ride, it seemed only logical.
#6 They build custom vehicles for public transport that don’t exist anywhere else
Ask a local for a “tuk-tuk” or a “moto” in most parts of the world and you will end up riding on the familiar looking motorcycle with a passenger cart. However, in cities around the Philippines, the “Jeepney” reins supreme. Jeepnies look like a mix between a hot rod and a short school bus. They were originally made from decommissioned military jeeps and have now become the most common form of public transportation in the country. Jeepnies are known for their decorations and bright colors as well as their overcrowded seating. We road on many Jeepneys on different islands throughout the Philippines. The best thing about them is that they usually only cost some pocket change to ride all over town. Many foreigners have attempted in recent years to map out the routes and numbers of the Jeepnies in some cities. However, the Jeepney cannot be tamed. You had better know where your going or make sure there is someone riding who does.
#7 Endangered Tarsiers live in Bohol
The Philippine Tarsier is an endangered species and the Philippine government has put forth great efforts to help preserve and restore the species’ place in the ecosystem. The Tarsier sanctuary on the island of Bohol has received international recognition for their successes in restoring the local Tarsier population. The sanctuary uses all proceeds to go towards their conservation efforts and aims to educate tourists and locals alike on the importance of maintaining and protecting the Tarsier population as well as other endangered animals. The Tarsier is such a beloved national treasure in the Philippines, it is even featured on the 200 Peso banknote.
#8 You can swim with whale sharks in the town of Oslob
While the Tarsier sanctuary exists purely in the name of conservation, this attraction can be a little more controversial. The whale sharks are not captive in any way, they are just fed on a consistent enough basis that they have decided to stick around. So on the one hand, their natural migrating patterns are being disrupted, but on the other they are able to stay alive and healthy and not get caught and killed by fishermen. There are plenty of other places in the world where you can encounter whale sharks in the wild or book tours to dive with them. It is a bit of a spectacle in the town of Oslob, though, where the entire local economy basically depends on this one attraction (hotels, taxis, restaurants, etc.) They do briefly educate you before letting you swim out and they try to teach people to be respectful and keep their distance during the whale shark encounter. It is ultimately up to each individual whether or not they feel like they should participate though. I will say that you protesting it will never stop hundreds of other tourists from doing it every single day.
#9 The Philippines has the world’s longest underground river
The Sabang Underground River, also known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, is located on the island of Palawan, between the towns of Puerto Princessa and the popular tourist town of El Nido. The river is another point of pride for the country and draws many visitors ever year. It is a UNESCO word heritage site and was recently deemed one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The river can be navigated upstream by boat for about 4km starting on the coast of the West Philippine Sea. This fact also makes it the worlds longest navigable underground river. The intricate cave formations and delicate cave ecosystem has researchers and environmentalists scrambling to keep the site protected and well preserved. External funding from international groups is helping greatly. You can book a tour of the river from the town of Sabang (only do so from the headquarters at the docks) and go on a fantastic boat ride through the dark and enchanting cave.
#10 There are hills made of chocolate
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol were affectionately given this nickname because in the dry season the grass turns brown and they resemble Hershey’s kisses chocolates or chocolate chips dotting the countryside. They are actually grass covered limestone rock and there are over 1,000 of them. The Chocolate Hills in Bohol are another point of geological pride for the Philippines and a growing tourist attraction. You can rent a scooter from the city and ride out to the Chocolate Hills viewing station for a great ride ending with a great view. On the island of Bohol, you can visit the Tarsier sanctuary and the Chocolate Hills in the same afternoon. The hills are also featured on the 200 peso banknote alongside the tarsier.