CPH Post Philippines 2018

PHILIPPINES DECEMBER 2018

FIESTA:

7,641 islands to choose from!

Food: Sizzling, succulent, so so special Filipinos: Friendships to last a lifetime 1

The Philippines and Denmark:

Philippine Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia arriving to present her credentials to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark last May at Fredensborg Castle

The Philippines and Denmark share an abiding interest in the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of their people. I believe it is this common people-centered vision that has steered Philippines-Denmark bilateral relations.

The Inaugural Bilateral Consultations between the Philippines and Denmark, held in Copenhagen on 16 April 2018, provided an institutionalised venue for an exchange of views on matters of common concern for our countries. As evidenced by our alignment on various issues – including human rights, maritime affairs and the environment – the Philippines and Denmark have maintained friendly ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1946.

While we have deepened our political relations, I believe it is our economic partnership that has seen the most progress in the past few years. The Danish business delegation that visited Manila last May saw first-hand why the Philippines remains one of Asia’s bright spots.

The Philippine economy has grown an average of 6.5 percent in the last five years and it is expected to maintain that momentum this year.

Foreign direct investments have also grown. The Philippines welcomes new investments in transportation, communication and energy infrastructures, industry, healthcare and biotechnology – among others by both multinationals and SMEs.

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To achieve the Philippine Government’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), the Philippines aspires to be a middle income developed economy by the middle of the century. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development agenda is designed to provide the necessary infrastructure to reach the country’s SDG goals.

This program is intended to improve transportation, communication and energy facilities, and housing – the backbones of the economy.

The Philippines’ major exports are integrated circuits, spare parts and agricultural products. There is also a push to encourage SMEs to produce environmentally-friendly products for local and foreign consumption.

There is emphasis for more rapid development of the healthcare, biotechnology and agriculture sectors. These areas present investment opportunities for Danish companies.

Sustainable social programs are being promoted in various parts of the country to spread the benefits of development up to the remote areas of the archipelago. Free education from kindergarten to college, as well as universal healthcare, have been introduced to ensure the presence of an educated workforce. This young, highly-motivated and skilled workforce has made the country a major back-office operation hub in Asia.

Like Denmark, the Philippines has a strong maritime tradition. The

Photo: Keld Navntoft

SAILING CONFIDENTLY INTO 2019

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Denmark hosts some 12,000 Filipinos. I am always proud to hear stories of their positive contributions to Danish society. Filipinos have integrated very well wherever they settle. Au pairs have contributed to the education of thousands of Danish children.

With such a large diaspora, in Denmark and all over the world, the Philippines remains forever at the forefront of international migration issues. The promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas remains a cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy. In this vein, we look forward to working with Denmark and other countries in realising the framework for international co-operation on migrant issues known as Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.

Tourism is also on the rise, with more than 18,000 Danes visiting the Philippines this year and learning that, indeed, “it’s more fun in the Philippines.” Filipinos have also rediscovered the beauty of Denmark and have shown great interest in visiting the historic sites of the country.

I would like to invite everyone to visit our pristine beaches, majestic mountains and endemic animals, whilst experiencing our balmy weather, varied foods, festivals and culture. The warm hospitality of the Filipino is endearing to visitors and will certainly contribute to expanded cultural and people-to-people interactions.

The Philippine Embassy in Oslo, Norway is pleased to announce that a Philippine Embassy will be established in Copenhagen in January 2019. This is a testament to ever-deepening ties between our countries following the establishment of the Royal Danish Embassy in Manila in January 2015. With both countries represented diplomatically in each other’s capitals, Philippines-Denmark relations are sure to reach new heights in the coming years.

As the landmark opening approaches, our long-time Honorary Consul General, Mr Poul Krogh, is preparing to wrap up his duties.

I take this opportunity to thank Mr Krogh for his invaluable role in facilitating Philippines-Denmark relations and diligently attending to the needs of the Filipino community in Denmark since 2009. Our Honorary Consul in Aarhus, Mr Henrik Lindberg, will remain available to assist the Embassy in Copenhagen.

This special edition on the Philippines in the Copenhagen Post is a swan song of sorts in Denmark for me and the Philippine Embassy in Norway, but as the saying goes: when one door closes, another opens. The door for more vibrant Philippines-Denmark relations is wide open in 2019, and I am excited for more opportunities for both of our countries to sail through.

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Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia Philippine ambassador to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland

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Bowing out after ten years: POPULAR CONSUL TO RETIRE Poul Krogh has been facilitating relations between Denmark and the Philippines for a decade CPH POST talked to Poul Krogh about the ins and outs of his job and his enthusiasm for the country of 7,641 islands.

Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you became involved with diplomacy?

I used to have a company called DK Partitions that exported all over the world. I ran that for 40 years or so. Some years ago I was asked to be consul for Tunisia. I was consul for Tunisia until the revolution. Then I was asked by the Philippines and the confederation of Danish industry, Dansk Industri, to be Consul General for the Philippines – a task which I happily accepted.

I’ve been Honorary Consul General for the Philippines now for 10 years and my term will end on 13 January 2019, so I only have one and a half months left. I will be succeeded by an embassy that will open in February or March.

The president, Mr Stroessner, took his son-in-law up in a helicopter and threw him out, so I sent all the papers back. I didn’t want to represent a country where that sort of thing goes on.

How do you become eligible or selected to become an Honorary Consul?

Countries normally ask DI to recommend maybe three or four people.

DI works together with the chair of the Association of Honorary Consuls, Fritz Schur. They both recommended me, and Arne Simonsen, the consul at that time, also recommended me, so I was recommended by three people!

What does the post actually entail?

First of all, we issue visas. We also legalise all sorts of documents and help Filipinos in Denmark who are in trouble. This could be because they have overstayed their visas in Denmark or have other problems with the authorities. We take care of them.

How do you actually assist Filipinos in Denmark?

How do you feel about being out of a job?

We’ve just had an example of that with someone who had overstayed his visa for about three years. I had to tell him what to do to get back and help with travel documents, because he had lost his passport.

Have you served in any other countries as Honorary Consul besides Tunisia?

Sometimes there are Filipinos in hospital and, like any other people, we also see deaths amongst the Filipino community. We can help with documents to repatriate them to the Philippines.

That will be nice. I’m 79 so I think I’ve earned my pension by now!

Around 40 years ago I was consul for Paraguay, but only for two weeks.

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People who have overstayed their visas are sometimes caught on buses or trains and jailed for 40 days. We will, of course, try to get them out earlier or stand guarantee for them so that they can return to the Philippines as soon as possible.

There are also a lot of Danish companies calling us because they want to connect up with a company in the Philippines, and vice versa with Filipino companies that want to export to Denmark, so we will recommend a Danish company to them.

How do you see relations between the two countries?

I would say that they are excellent – no problems at all. The very fact that the Philippines is opening an embassy here rather proves that there are good relations between the two countries.

An increasing number of Danish companies have been setting up shop in the Philippines. One of the leading ones is from Aarhus and they make luxury eye-wear – Lindberg Optik. They have a huge factory in the Philippines that employs around 1,000 people and they export their product worldwide from there.

There is also Green Jakobsen, a maritime consultancy firm. They are based in Manila and also act as crewing agents to a lot of shipping companies worldwide. There are also a number of software companies as well.

Another aspect of the relationship is that in Denmark there are always around 3-4,000 au pairs. I should also add that these au pairs are very much appreciated in Denmark – they are really popular.

The total population of Filipinos here is around 25,000 encompassing three generations. The first Filipinos came to Denmark in the late 60s/early 70s to work in the international hotels. There was a shortage of labour at that time, so a special law was passed to allow them to come.

All these girls are still here – married – with children and grandchildren.

You can now meet a lot of third-generation Filipinos as doctors and teachers and whatever, and they are all working. There’s no unemployment amongst Filipinos in Denmark.

I would imagine that you’ve travelled in the Philippines widely ...

I usually go once or twice a year to have discussions with various ministries.

Consular outreach missions Until early next year, the Philippine embassy for the Nordic Region is situated in Oslo. It is obvious that not all Filipinos can travel there to avail themselves of whatever consular services they need, so consular outreach services have been an integral part of the embassy’s operations since its establishment back in 2007.

For Denmark, consular outreach missions have been sent as far afield as the Faroe Islands and Greenland along with other missions conducted in Finland, Iceland and Sweden. During 2015, some 1,421 Filipinos were extended consular services during these missions.

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Poul Krogh: a friend to the Filipino community

Do you have any tips for foreign visitors?

It’s a fantastic country for tourists because they have these wide beaches and no fewer than 7,641 islands. You can always find an island that is virtually uninhabited. The water and natural beauty is fantastic. I don’t dive myself, but a lot of people come to the Philippines to dive. It has the reputation of being one of the best places in the world for that.

The population are also extremely nice – very friendly people who are always smiling and laughing, doing what they can to help and assist you.

Honorary Consuls in Denmark The Philippine Embassy in Oslo provides consular services to Filipinos and the general public in the Nordic countries.

Services include the processing of passports and dual citizenship applications along with providing notarial and civil registry services for all Filipinos. The embassy also issues visas to Nordic nationals and other foreigners intending to travel to the Philippines.

In addition, the embassy also regularly brings its passport and other consular services to selected cities and regions with large concentrations of Filipino nationals.

Visas and the authentication of documents are regularly provided by the Philippine honorary consular offices in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland under the supervision of the embassy.

As detailed in the interview, in Copenhagen the Honorary Consulate has been headed by Honorary Consul General Poul Krogh since 2009.

Henrik Esmann Lindberg was appointed Honorary Consul in Aarhus in 2013, to cover Jutland.

Photo: Rosemarie Christensen

For the last three years, a lot of delegations have been coming to Denmark from the Philippines. We have been helping to arrange visits with the various ministries and the different departments here.

A true friend to Filipinos A TRIBUTE TO POUL KROGH FROM BUKLOD CHAIR ROSEMARIE CHRISTENSEN

Even before Poul became the consul, he was already a staunch supporter of the Filipino community, and it was no surprise when our first collaboration with him in his official role was such a success: the visit of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to attend COP15, the Climate Change conference at Bella Center in December 2009.

I would like to sincerely thank Poul for being so very accommodating in providing us Filipinos with such exemplary service all these years. We wish you all the happiness that you deserve for the great work you did for my country and its people in Denmark! MABUHAY KA, POUL!

Thanks to Oslo

I would also like to thank the Philippine Embassy in Oslo for all the great opportunities you have provided to the Filipino community in Denmark, whether it be public service or the chance to take part in voluntary work. For a great many years we have enjoyed close ties in what has been a highly operational and efficiently functional relationship.

At the same time, I look very much forward to working hand-in-hand

with the new Philippine Embassy in Denmark. We’re so thankful to the Danish and Philippine governments for making this available to us from January 2019.

Together with the whole team at BUKLOD and my family, may our future mission take place in due time and place!

MAY GOD BLESS THE FILIPINOS AND ALL OUR ACQUAINTANCES IN DENMARK WHERE WE ARE DESTINED TO RESIDE! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!

Seasonal greetings

I would also like to thank the Copenhagen Post for giving us this great opportunity to reflect on this significant change in our history – a diplomatic enrichment that will mean so much for the Filipinos based in Denmark!

MABUHAY SA THE COPENHAGEN POST! MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MANIGONG BAGONG TAON SA ATING LAHAT! Rosemarie Alonzo Christensen BUKLOD Chairwoman Contact: 6013 6764 or bukloddenmark@yahoo.com

Photo: Eric Uy

It is with great honour that I have had the opportunity to work with the Philippines’ Honorary General Consul for Denmark, Mr Poul Krogh, on various joint activities and events throughout the years he has stood as a pillar of the Filipino community in Denmark.

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Celebrating 72 Years OF DENMARK-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS Given that the island nation has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, it’s no surprise to learn that Danish exports rose by 82 percent between 2013 and 2017

by Robert Eyfjord

During the celebration of Denmark’s Constitution Day in Taguig in June, the Ambassador of Denmark to the Philippine, Jan Top Christensen, commended the strong diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Denmark and the Philippines have reaped the benefits of an effective, bilateral co-operation since 1946, with Denmark being one of the first countries to recognise the Philippines as an independent country.

The two countries have successfully partnered in both private and public sectors, such as education, development, shipping, renewables, cultural exchanges, technology, social services and trade.

The Danish Embassy in Manila closed in 2002 due to financial reasons, but was reopened in January 2015. Ambassador Christensen advocates that there is substantial capacity for greater economic engagement between Denmark and the Philippines.

A promising market

An assertion by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark shows the potential for economic co-operation and trade remains very promising due to the market improvement in the political and economic situation in the Philippines over the past decade.

The Philippines has emerged as an investment hub and it is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, becoming more and more competitive each year since 2010. The country is projected to maintain its growth momentum in the following years, as estimated by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank.

Maersk, Lindberg and Sonion are among some of the most prominent Danish companies present in the Philippines.

The Denmark Trade Council Philippines, often abbreviated to DTCP, is the bridge for creating reliable business relationships between Danish and Filipino companies.

The DTCP lists the endurable infrastructure, tariff reductions, attractive investment incentives, efficient business policies and sustained political and economic reforms as some of the factors that contribute to the renewed confidence in subsidising in the Philippines.

English is taught in all Philippine schools and with a literacy rate of 94.6 percent, the Filipino workforce has a unique edge on other Asian countries in terms of labour quality.

Attracting attention

“The Philippines continues to attract attention from Danish companies,” Ambassador Christensen recently told the Manila Stanard.

Denmark’s exports of goods to the Philippines rose 82 percent from 2013 to 2017. The inflation in trade is primarily due to the EU-granted preferential trade scheme known as GSP+, which allows Philippine manufacturers to sell tariff-free products to the European market, including Denmark.

In 2017, the Danish Embassy in Manila reported that more than 25 percent of the Philippines’ goods went to the European market.

“European companies are playing an important role in the Philippine economy,” Ambassador Christensen emphasised.

Embracing both cultures

Promotion of cultural activities and outreach is another integral objective for the embassy in Manila.

Ambassador Christensen has previously stated: “We stand ready to facilitate all kind of initiatives within the cultural field to further develop relations between Danes and Filipinos. It is our ambition to feature a broad spectrum of Danish culture, but we are also ready to facilitate presentations of Philippine culture in Denmark.”

Increase in tourism

Enderun Colleges in Taguig, where Constitution Day was celebrated. (Courtesy of Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines on Facebook)

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Brian Mikkelsen, the former Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, announced in May that Denmark is targeting a 10 percent rise in the number of Filipino tourists this year.

Denmark has been bolstering marketing and promotional initiatives in the Philippines due to heightened tourism as a result of the Southeast Asian country’s “very impressive economic development,” according to Mikkelsen.

Additionally, Ambassador Christensen has also expressed that “expanding the Philippines’ tourism offerings beyond its popular beach destinations would attract more tourists from Denmark”.

Integrating and thriving: HOW FILIPINOS ARE PROSPERING IN DENMARK Over 100 community associations in the Nordic pay testament to how well the people have settled Working conditions are generally good in the Nordic countries. The labour sectors in these countries are governed by comprehensive laws/ rules/regulations that ensure that mechanisms are in place to address workers’ concerns and basic human rights.

Labour unions are also strong in these countries, ensuring that the rights of workers are usually promoted and protected. National labour laws in Nordic countries generally provide sufficient protection for all workers regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

While fiercely proud of their heritage, Filipinos in the Nordic region have also shown a remarkable capacity to integrate into their adopted culture while at the same time contributing elements of their own heritage into Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish or Icelandic society. The positive contributions of the Filipino community in the Nordic states have helped to further strengthen the friendly relations between the Philippines and these countries.

for their parents’ house, their internet, their medication and food. So having work is often more important than learning the culture of the host family.

A helping hand

Babaylan Denmark is an organisation that offers a weekly counselling service for au pairs from the Philippines. The advocacy of this organisation is helping the au pairs – for example, providing orientations and conducting weekly counselling services.

One such service Babaylan Denmark provides is financial literacy seminars so that these women are able to better manage their remittances, so the money they send home can generate jobs, be used for education and building sturdy houses, instead of just being spent on consumer goods and non-essentials.

Au pairs working in Denmark have specific rights. These rights and rules are defined in a contract, and in Danish legislation. The au pair as well as host family are obliged to comply with these rules. For more information on these rules and au pair guidelines, visit aupairnetwork.dk.

To date, there are about 100 Filipino community associations in the Nordic region that are registered with the Philippine Embassy. The embassy regularly reaches out to many of these organisations to partner with them in extending assistance to Filipinos in distress.

The ethos of Bayanihan

The Danish Government defines an au pair as a young individual, between 18 and 29 years of age, unmarried and without any children, who is placed under a cultural exchange arrangement with a Danish host family for a maximum stay of two years, as permitted by Denmark’s immigration authorities.

The Filipino people are known for their good spirit and sense of community. They adhere to the values of the Filipino word ‘Bayanihan’, the spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. It means: to help each other, because this is what should be done. If you are an au pair for a family in Denmark, it is the basic idea that you live on an equal footing with the rest of the family members.

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Although many of the au pairs in Denmark enjoy the chance to learn and discover Danish culture, it is important to acknowledge that the exchange can be a bit more of an adjustment for some. Au pairs are encouraged to learn Danish, but in some instances don’t get the opportunity because they work too much. But learning the Danish culture is part of the experience.

The money that many au pairs earn is also sent home to the Philippines. Most of the wages of these young women go towards paying Publisher: CPH POST • Editor: Hans Hermansen Journalists: Ben Hamilton, Stephen Gadd Layout: CPH POST Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +45 2420 2411 Cover photo: Simon Gurney

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Emerging from hostilities WITH SPAIN, THE US AND JAPAN TO STAND STRONG

Spanish colonial rule

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan landed on Homonhon Island, claiming it and its surrounding islands for Spain. But the Portuguese explorer would never return home, as he was eventually killed in battle with Lapu-Lapu, the ruler of Mactan, when he tried to claim his island.

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Lapu-Lapu’s efforts, for which he is still revered, set the Spanish back 40 years, but they eventually established a power base in Cebu in 1565, and then at Manila six years’ later, which was established as the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Spain further consolidated its power and waged many religiously-motivated wars against Muslims in the region.

Spanish rule continued into the 1800s amidst resistance from many local factions. But the writing was on the wall when in 1892 the Katipunan, a secret society set up to overthrow Spanish rule, was founded

by Andres Bonifacio.

The supremo would be executed during the Philippine Revolution (1896-98) and never live to see the country celebrate independence.

That mantle fell to Emilio Aguinaldo, his rival after the Katipunan first split into two factions. Aguinaldo, with his eyes on the long game, agreed to a truce with Spain and was exiled to Hong Kong.

In 1898, with almost every Philippine province in a state of uprising, the Spanish-American War broke out in Cuba – the death-knell for Spanish interests in the islands. Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron in Manila and invited Aguinaldo to return to the Philippines. On 12 June 1898, Aguinaldo declared the islands’ independence in Cavite and established the First Philippine Republic.

Occupiers then liberators

Although the Philippines hadn’t foreseen the terms of the Span-

MacArthur Landing Memorial Park, Palo, Leyte. MacArthur landed in Leyte in 1944 to reclaim the Philippines from the Japanese

Photo: Rosemarie Christensen

The history of the Philippines is key to understanding its unique nature among the Southeast Asian nations

It is thought that the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines arrived there 700,000 years ago, although carbon-dating can only confirm a human presence 67,000 years ago.

On Palawan, the long and small island in western Visayas, human bones were found dating back to about 26,500 years ago, while some stone tools found on Palawan are estimated to be about 30,000 years old, and it was around this time that a migration from the Indonesian archipelago and other islands is believed to have occurred. But nobody can be sure, with plenty of theories floating around as to the origins of the early islanders.

Over time, social and political organisation developed and evolved, and the inhabitants evolved into four distinct groups, with the seafaring group eventually trading with the Indianised kingdoms of the Malay Archipelago and nearby East Asian principalities, adopting influences from both Buddhism and Hinduism.

Photo: Wikipedia

ish-American War peace treaty, when the US refused to support Philippine independence, they must have had their suspicions.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, Spain yielded the Philippines to the US, and in 1899 the Philippine-American War broke out after two US soldiers killed three Filipino soldiers in Manila. The war lasted for three years, ending with the capture of Aguinaldo.

Relations improved over the next decade, and in 1916 the Jones Act created a Philippines senate with a promise of eventual independence. On 24 March 1934, the Tydings-McDuffie Act created the Commonwealth of the Philippines and a 10-year transition period to full independence.

If only they had a crystal ball, though. Just one year away, the Philippines was caught by a surprise attack on Clark Air Base by the Japanese, which were left to announce the kind of Second Philippine Republic the islanders hadn’t been banking on.

Jose P Laurel served as president, and the guerrilla and underground activity against the Japanese was intense. It was left to their former enemy, the US, to expel the invaders and clear the way for the long overdue independence.

The age of Marcos

The Third Philippine Republic would last for two decades as five presidents came and went. The government signed a military assistance pact granting the US a 99-year lease on designated military bases in the Philippines. Land reform was introduced and poor people from the populous Catholic North were relocated in traditional Muslim areas in the south, sparking religious hostilities. And then came Ferdinand Marcos.

The long-serving president’s first term was marked by economic prosperity, paving the way for his re-election in 1969. However, corruption and disputes with the New People’s Army and the Moro National Liberation Front slowed down economic growth and caused widespread civil disobedience and unrest.

In 1973 the constitution was changed with the government switching from presidential to parliamentary, enabling Marcos to stay in power.

He appointed Cesar Virata as prime minister, creating the Fourth Philippine Republic. In August 1983 worldwide condemnation rained down on the Filipino political process when Marcos’s biggest threat to his continued role, Benigno Aquino Jr, was assassinated upon his return from exile in the US. The nationwide grief was immense and animosity towards Marcos exploded.

Eventually in 1986, following years of disapproval, a peaceful People Power Revolution forced Marcos into exile and installed Benigno’s widow Corazon Aquino as president.

A statue of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island

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Aquino wasted no time in changing the constitution, making the government presidential again, and six presidents have so far served under the fifth Philippine Republic, including Corazon Aquino’s son Benigno Aquino III, who was in charge from 2010-16.

Under his term in charge, the Philippine economy grew significantly thanks to various economic policies. The government and MILF signed a peace agreement, which further bolstered peace and order and a positive economic outlook for the country.

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Top 10 Philippines holiday destinations FROM WHITE SAND BEACHES, MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AND HISTORICAL WONDERS TO INTERESTING NATURAL FORMATIONS, THE 7,641 ISLANDS THAT MAKE UP THE PHILIPPINES ARE BURSTING WITH MANY EXCITING EXPERIENCES FOR SUCH A SMALL ARCHIPELAGO. For tourists, the country offers just about everything you can imagine: from wholesome family vacations, honeymoon retreats and stunning weddings, to thrilling adventures, nature treks, non-stop partying, impressive music and entertainment, island hopping, volcano sightings, unforgettable spas and sporting facilities, world class medical tourism, amazing food, and much more!

Wonders in the water

And that’s just on land! With the fourth longest coastline in the world, at 36,289km, nobody is ever more than two hours away from a beach!

This could explain why everybody knows how to smile and have fun on these warm, tropical islands.

VIGAN

Photo: Wikipedia

There are countless activities in the water. Go scuba diving and explore World War II wrecks and UNESCO World Heritage Reefs. Try surfing, windsurfing and kite boarding. And go swimming next to whale sharks, dolphins, sea cows and hundreds of species of fish and coral.

Let’s get started!

There is never enough time to see everything, so with that in mind, here is our list of the top ten destinations you try to visit.

VIGAN

The City of Vigan, a World Heritage Site, is one of the few colonial Hispanic towns left in the Philippines with most of its structures remaining perfectly intact. Renowned for its cobblestone streets and architecture that melds Philippine, oriental and Spanish building design and construction, the city serves as a time capsule for visitors who want a peek at colonial life under the Spanish Empire. And because of this, Vigan City was officially recognised as one of the New7Wonder Cities in 2014.

BORACAY

Boracay is small island in the Visayas that can be navigated by bicycle or motorbike. However, don’t be fooled, as this little island is home to some of the best white sand beaches in the world. In addition, the island has become well known for being Asia’s 24/7 island. Parties occur all over the island non-stop with international acts frequently dropping by to keep the music going on all night. It also offers quiet spots like Balinghai Beach for visitors looking for more tranquil spots to sunbathe and relax.

Photo: Pinterest

BORACAY

BOHOL

Albay province is located in the Bicol region at the southeastern end of the island of Luzon. Mayon Volcano is the symbol most associated with the province. This perfectly shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the municipalities and cities of Albay, including the surrounding provinces. The region is also known for its extremely spicy and flavourful cuisine.

BOHOL

Bohol is an island province located in the Central Visayas Region. Most

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Photo: Wikipedia

ALBAY

known for the Chocolate Hills, it is a prime tourist destination in the Philippines. The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation comprising more than a thousand hills spread over an area of more than 50 square km. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the summer season, causing them to resemble chocolate bonbons – hence the name.

MANILA

SIARGAO

Photo: JC Gellidon

Siargao is situated in the province of Surigao del Norte at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. A surfer’s haven, the island is most known for Cloud 9, a right-breaking reef wave that serves as the site of the annual Siargao Cup, an international surfing competition sponsored by the local government, which attracts some of the best international professional and amateur surfers from around the world.

BANAUE

Banaue Province is home to the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. When it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 it became the first Philippine location ever included in the cultural landscape category of the list. The majority of the Rice Terraces were constructed in a short time span after the Spanish arrival in the Philippines.

The Ifugao tribe created rice terraces that reached a higher altitude and were built on steeper slopes than many other terraces in other parts of the world, illustrating a remarkable feat of adaptation to climate pressures as well as the drive to develop new ideas and technologies.

SIARGAO

Caramoan Municipality is located in Camarines Sur and is located at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula. The municipality has many uninhabited islands accessible via boat, filled with wildlife, fine powder beaches and wild fruits. The location proved to be so beautiful that it has been used twice as the venue for the US reality competition Survivor as well as its Swedish, Israeli, French and Indian counterparts.

Photo: Mark Fritz

CARAMOAN

BANAUE

MANILA

Photo: Wikipedia

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is listed as a megacity and easily one of the biggest cities on earth. Intramuros, the old walled city, is located in the heart of the city, with its Spanish era buildings and old early colonial period walls. A few kilometres east is Makati, the country’s financial artery. Filled to the brim with places to shop and eat at ridiculously cheap prices, it is a theme park for travellers who want to have fun but still within a budget.

PALAWAN

The island of Palawan is a nature lover’s paradise. It is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. A unique sight, it is the world’s longest navigable underground river. Situated within a protected national park, guided boats allow tourists to see it in all its splendour. In 2012, it was named one of the New7wonders of Nature and has been a staple of trips to the Philippines ever since. From Puerto Princesa in Palawan divers can also see the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. UNESCO declared the Tubbataha Reefs a World Heritage Site as a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species. Its north islet serves as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles, offering spectacular colourful views of corals and marine life.

BATANES

Photo: Wikipedia

BATANES

Why travel to Ireland, when you can find it in the Philippines? Majestic lofty cliffs, rolling hills, boulder-lined shores and deep canyons await in this distinct landscape in the most northernmost archipelago province of the islands.

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Top 10 Filipino foods to sample FILIPINO FOOD MAY NOT BE AS FAMOUS AS CUISINES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, SUCH AS THAI AND VIETNAMESE, BUT WITH ITS NATURAL ABUNDANCE OF TROPICAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, COUPLED WITH ITS VIBRANT CULTURE, IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH TRYING! With more than 7,000 islands, there is no shortage of different dishes to try, and its colourful history of colonisers and immigrants has yielded an interesting fusion of Chinese, American and Spanish cuisines.

These influences are reflected through the cooking styles and tastes of the various regions in the country, which makes it difficult to pinpoint a specific style of cooking or taste.

Nevertheless, we’ve done our best to trawl through the many varieties to present a list of the top ten foods you must try while you’re in the Philippines.

Adobo

No list of Filipino food would be complete without adobo. This is a staple dish in every household in the Philippines. It’s Mexican in origin, but Filipinos found that cooking meat (often chicken and pork) in vinegar, salt, garlic, pepper, soy sauce and other spices was a practical way to preserve it without refrigeration.

Chicken inasal

Grilled chicken, but this is no ordinary grilled chicken. The meat is marinated in lemongrass, calamansi, salt, pepper and garlic and brushed with achuete (annatto seeds) oil. Every part of the chicken is grilled in the Philippines, from the paa (drumstick), pecho (breast), baticulon (gizzard), atay (liver), pakpak (wings) and corazon (heart). It must be eaten with a generous serving of garlic rice, with some of the orange oil used to marinate the chicken poured over the rice.

Lechon

Seafood, duck, chicken … none of these come close to touching this Filipino favourite: suckling pig whole-roasted on a spit. Lechon is derived from the crisp, golden-brown skin being served with liver sauce. In Cebu, the stomach of the pig is stuffed with star anise, pepper, spring onions, laurel leaves and lemongrass resulting in an extremely tasty lechon, which needs no sauce.

Lumpia

These Filipino–style spring rolls were inherited from the Chinese. The filling varies, but one thing remains the same: you can eat them by the dozen.

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Pancit

When Filipinos have guests, they don’t skimp. The pancit palabok served at most birthday parties is oozing with flavour and textures. This noodle dish is layered with rice noodles – a rich orange sauce made from shrimp broth, pork, hard boiled eggs, shrimps, chicharon (pork rinds) and sometimes oysters and squid.

Sinigang

A hot and sour soup of Tamarind paste and calamansi (or Philippine lime) juice infuse the broth with its signature sour flavour. Variations may call for salty chunks of pork and a splash of creamy coconut milk to round things out.

Balut

You have no excuses as vendors peddling these eggs on the streets, chanting “Baluuuuut!” to entice buyers, are everywhere! This 17-day-old duck embryo is boiled, served with rock salt or spicy vinegar, and is often consumed with beer.

Sisig

Nothing goes to waste in Filipino food.

In the culinary capital of Pampanga, they turn the pork’s cheeks, head and liver into a sizzling dish called Sisig. The crunchy and chewy texture of this appetiser is a perfect match for a cold beer. Served with hot sauce and seasoning to suit your preference.

Biko

Biko is a sweet sticky rice dessert. It is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients, but it still packs a ton of flavour. It is garnished with equally addictive latik, or cooked-down coconut milk or cream.

Cassava cake

This is a creamy, not-too-sweet dessert made from cassava root and coconut milk. Although it is sweet, it is not overpoweringly so.

Ten things you might not know ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

by Ben Hamilton With 7,641 islands, of which around 2,000 are inhabited, the Philippines archipelago has the tenth highest number of islands in the world (funnily enough, six of the top ten are in the Nordics). Up until 2013, the official figure was given as 7,107, but then the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority added 500 previously unknown islands to the list. However, some of them, people complained, weren’t much bigger than large rocks.

With a population of 106.5 million, the Philippines is the 13th most populated country in the world, the seventh biggest in Asia and third largest Catholic. A further 12 million ‘Overseas Filipino Workers’ live and work overseas. Last year, the population rose by 1.5 million people – a rise of 1.52 percent. Around 80 percent of the nation is Catholic, with Islam the second most popular religion. Every Good Friday, somebody is actually nailed to a cross during a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ. Like in some other Catholic countries, divorces are not permitted, but annulments are.

longest festive period. The countdown starts in September 1 and does not officially end until the second Sunday of the year.

Beyond the Marcos and Aquino families, the Philippines has produced a number of internationally famous people, of whom the boxer Manny Pacquiao, a world champion in a remarkable eight different divisions, is probably the most famous (basketball is the most popular sport, though!). Recently, he has used this fame to become a senator. There are also a number of famous stars of television and music who have at least one Filipino parent, including singers Bruno Mars and apl.de.ap (of The Black Eyed Peas), actor Darren Criss (Glee, The Assassination of Gianni Versace), and actresses Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) and Hailee Steinfeld (the central character in True Grit). Furthermore, the Philippines have won Miss Universe an impressive three times – which is three times more than Denmark! Pia Wurtzbach was the most recent recipient of the title when she won in 2015.

The Philippines are named after a future English consort. Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos came up with the name during his expedition in 1542, honouring the future King Philip II of Spain, who at that time was the heir to the throne, as well as the duke of Milan.

He was married to Mary I, the queen of England, from 1554 to 1558. Out of interest, the British briefly occupied Manila for 18 months from 1762 to 1764.

The Philippines has two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season lasts from late November to May, and the wet season continues from June until October.

Filipinos refer to themselves as Pinoys, although this should not be pronounced Pee-noys, rather P-noys with a short ‘P’. Female Filipinos can be technically referred to as Filipinas.

The Philippines has two official languages: English and Filipino, a standardised version of Tagalog. Overall, around 180 languages and dialects are spoken on the islands.

The capital Manila has a population of just under 2 million, but it is part of a conurbation called Metro Manila, which includes 15 other cities and has a population of more than 12.8 million people.

The most popular form of transportation – both private and public – is the jeepney. Inspired by the US military jeeps left behind after World War II, they come in lots of flamboyant colours, and there is never one far away should you need to get somewhere. Fortunately, they stop everywhere. Other popular forms of transport include sidecar motorbikes (known as tricycles) and pedicabs, a form of rickshaw.

When the pop band Wizard sang “I wish it could be Christmas every day”, they probably didn’t realise that this is true every third day in the Philippines, as the island nation celebrates the world’s

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